3.2
Quality3.8
Difficulty49%
Would Retake140
Reviews49%
Would Retake
140
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
43
4
29
3
21
2
30
1
17
What Students Say
“Is condescending also,so, do what you want”
CHEM121122 - 2.0 rating“Dr Wallach is SO condescending when almost anybody asks him anything, youre better off asking any of the TAs questions to avoid being embarrassed in front of the whole lecture”
CHEM123N - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
81%
Textbook Required
28%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM117
5.0
(1)CHEM0000
5.0
(1)121
4.5
(2)CHEM115N
4.0
(3)CHEMCHEM
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEM116N
5.0
CHEM135N
5.0
CHEM115N
4.3
CHEM123N
4.2
CHM116
4.0
Reviews (140)
His teaching style is very strange. Very hard to learn from. He does get behind which is good, but he expects that you know things before class so unless you have alot of time to go over the notes dont expect to really understand him.
No Comments
Do not take this class. Avoid taking his class cause you wont understand chemistry. He gives you practice test that are nothing like the real tests. His hw is extremely hard and will NOT prepare you for the test either. If you take him make sure you really understand chemistry cause he expects to be a genius in it. I got an A but dont know how.
A lot of people say he's a jerk, but the fact of the matter is that he just EXPECTS YOU TO LEARN. You can't be lazy in this class; this isn't high school. The fact that people complain just exemplifies why this is a weed out class. HW is easy. If you have problems with it, e-mail him and he will give you the answer. The exam reviews are helpful.
He tries to use examples to help you remember the material and if you have issues with the homework just ask and he will walk you through it or give you the answer. Many call him a jerk he is just very upfront about his opinions and will not tolerate excuses.
Not especially helpful, sarcastic and pompous.
Arrogant and condescending at times. Refers to every topic as not hard, as if students have a PhD like him. Stresses the importance of learning the material, but also will tell you the answer to homework problems if you email him (go figure). You can get through it, but you will have to work ridiculously hard for a B.
Miserable. He does not help you with answers on the homework. He will post a practice test but will not give you the answers to the practice test. Says everything is easy when he is going through the problems. Expects you to know everything and thats why he doesn't teach. Not good at all.
If you expect this teacher to hold your hand through chemistry...you're in a whirlwind of hurt. Awesome teacher, does not take excuses from poor students who will not help themselves when failing. Many do not like his attitude and teaching style, but honestly....its college. If you cant take initiative and do your work/read....go flip patties.
Wow. How boring can one man be. Also looks and almost sounds like Sid the Sloth from the Ice Age movies. If you see him, you would know what I mean. Not very engaging either.
First of all I have him for a lab not lecture because I'm in 135. This man will barly ever help you. He is demening as all get out. He gets irritated if he has to teach you something more than once. He has humor as dry as a desert.
Comes right out the first day of class and says he can be an arrogant jerk; he can be, but if you show that you're making an effort, it's not that bad. Reading the book - as boring as it can be - is incredibly helpful. He'll answer emails promptly and help if you ask a specific question. He'll work through problems with you in his office, too.
Easily the best intro chem prof at ODU. Always helpful in answering questions during office hours or in emails. He really wants everyone to learn Chemistry but he won't hunt you down and make you learn.
Excellent professor. He gives a lot of examples which is really helpful.
Dr. Wallach is the man! If you put the work into it, he will be there to help you. Just dont ask any stupid questions in class. For our class he posted all the lecture videos but going to class was definitely a huge help in getting an A. I would recommend him!
Overall good teacher that knows his stuff. He can be a bit intimidating but is approachable and very helpful when need be. Key to getting a good grade is to be consitent with the test. Lab and HW shouldn't be a problem and are good buffers for avg test grades. Final is also easy
Has a supernatural ability to make you feel like a complete moron if you ask a question. Actively discourages in-class participation. You will learn a lot, but you need to work hard in order to do so. Not a bad teacher, but horrible personality.
When asking him questions, he makes you feel idiotic. He writes on a blank piece of paper that is projected on a screen and his drawling are worse than a 2 year olds. I found that it was easier not to go to class and just read the book. I found this out on the last of 4 sections. After that my grades rose from 50/60's to 80/90's.
Horrible teacher. Makes students who ask questions feel like complete morons. Don't expect to learn anything in class. Online homework is unforgiving with answer format. If you really want to learn chemistry you should drop the class and just read the book. You'll learn more.
Dr. Wallach is hilarious. He makes you feel stupid if your not listening and make him repeat himself. All the tests are much easier than the homework. If you put any effort in to the class and actually go, you will pass! Worst test grade replaced by final, hw 7% and attendance 3%.
I hear Pleiban's no better, but Wallach was definitely not my favorite. not bad, just not good. He seems like the kind of guy who'd probably be fun to hang out with if he wasn't your teacher. It's a weed out class so whatever. The final was curved which helped my grade out a lot. not impossible to get an A by any reach. just gotta do some work!
People who hate him it's because they didn't do their homework. Crazy grade scale: tests graded 120 out of 100. Pesimistic about the possible success of his students, discouraging, demotivating, terrible handwriting (but mine is too). Otherwise a pretty knowledgeable and effective teacher. Very informative, covering almost all material in class.
When I was in high school I had Dr. Wallach as an honors chemistry teacher, & I loved him. He was a great teacher. I learned a lot about chemistry from him. I thought he was hilarious. And he does look like Sid the sloth from ice age.
dont take him if you can, hes not a horrible teacher, but hes not good. not good at explaining the subject, very vague.
Dr. Wallach is a funny dude. People say he doesn't teach well, but he does... it's just you actually have to attend class. He grades fairly and the tests are 120 points out of 100, so it is possible to get better than a perfect score! DO THE ONLINE HOMEWORK! It helps. Also, the lab portion (124) reinforces class material well.
considering the type of class (chem 121), i feel he did a very good job. tests 120/100. final was something like 140/100. do the online homework and show up for class and you will do fine.
Freshman year at Old Dominion and taking Wallach for chemistry was a great idea. I know have been tutoring chemistry for about a year and a half and could not recommend anyone better than Wallach. Yeah, he can be rough around the edges, but if you are serious about his class, then he is serious about you. Go to class, do homework, and have fun.
Awesome Prof! Reading, doing the HW and practice exams and you will get an A!! People who complain about this funny/sarcastic guy just didn't do the work!!! The tests you can get up to 120/100 ... impossible not to get an A if you are willing to work and learn!
Professor Wallach teaches at his own pace and he does not like to be disturbed with questions during his lecture. He often gets opening irritated when students ask questions on the material. Based off the class I had with him I cannot recommend this professor. Some professors should stick to research.
Wallach is a terrible lecturer. He does not leave time for students to ask questions and therefore gets easily irritated when students ask questions in class. He is also arrogant. ODU may not be Harvard, but he's not a professor at Harvard either. With clicker questions, a weekly discussion course, and lab you will be quite busy in this course.
He gives to much work for the class to be 3 credits
Wallach is a great professor. He gives students every opportunity to succeed (posts powerpoints, video lectures, unit reviews, and answer keys online). His tests reflect what he teaches in class and are graded fairly. If you care about learning, you'll do fine. If you think you should get an A by doing nothing, then you're in for a rude awakening.
Good teacher! Very well taught class. Everything we do in lecture and recitation help when it comes to taking the exams. With homework, labs, recitation quizzes, and the built-in extra points on tests, he makes it way more difficult to fail than to pass. Every test isn't an easy A, but if you do what you're supposed to, then it sure is do-able.
This guy makes me laugh every day, with his references to zombies and star wars. Also he is understandable when you come to him with problems. Would definitely recommend him.
Wallach is a great teacher. Yes he is a bit arrogant BUT he knows the subject material backwards and forwards. The way he explains it makes it very easy to understand. Has his share of chem jokes but doesn't fully answer questions in class...thats what recitation's for anyways. Overall a great teacher to have. As long as you do work you'll dowell
He is a pretty good teacher in lecture, the the entire chem department has gone crazy. Tests are raw score (no curve) and his tests are very hard! The material is not bad if you read and study, but no amount of studying helps for most of his tests. It's like they want us to feel like crap. (New) Chem Dept & Tests = Impossible. And I got an A in 121
My favorite professor at ODU.
I found his lectures very difficult to follow, and he is the most arrogant professor I've ever met. I enjoyed 121 but now hate chem because of him. Unless you are a total chemistry genius, spare yourself the time, money, and destruction of your GPA.
Great class! DR. Wallach is awesome; best professor at ODU!!!
This class was way harder than it needed to be! He gives practice tests, but they're SO much harder than the actual test, they're not really practice. Study the hardest questions from the end of each chapter in the book if you want REAL practice. 50-60 OWL questions a week :(. I got an A, but I lost my soul. Take someone else if you can!!!
Dr. Wallach is great. If you ACTUALLY read the book and study then there is no reason why you can't pass his tests. Attendance is graded by "clicker" questions that he starts at the beginning of each class. He is willing to work with you and answer event he dumbest questions professionally and fully. I tried other prof. didn't like them. Loved him!
Professor Wallach is a horrible teacher, he lectures very boringly and makes the coursework very hard to understand. He's very arrogant and misunderstanding. I wouldn't recommend him unless you actually understand chemistry and want to put yourself through it. Take another teacher if you can!
Dr Wallach has a relatively good method of teaching chemistry material, compared to the other teachers at ODU. Although, if he deems any question as a common knowledge question, he lets you know how stupid he thinks you are. He gives about 2 times as much homework than is needed, and often times, with 18 credits, I dont have time to read after hw.
If there is an option do not take Wallach. His tests are really hard. You will have to really study and know everything to pass his test
His tests are not as hard as people say. Just pay attention in class and then go over the notes the day off to really let them sink in. If you do that and review before, the test shouldn't be that bad. The homework is the worst. Make sure not to do it all at once because it takes HOURS. If you don't pay attention in class, don't take him.
Terribly unhelpful! The class is impossibly difficult with a reasonable amount of work. Not willing to work with students and acts like we are the problem, might be better off teacher a higher level chem class because he expects you to know the material before you take the class. Tests are impossible.
He is an absolutely horrible person. He is condescending and rude. Don't ask questions in class unless you are prepared to be told that you are stupid. He isn't approachable. His tests aren't that bad, but he grades harshly on short answer. If you can, DO NOT TAKE HIM.
Awful Professor. Very rude, if you are thinking of asking a question, first ask yourself if you want to feel stupid. Very sarcastic and arrogant. Chemistry is already incredibly tough and he makes it worse. Test are incredibly hard
Terrible professor. Makes the tests a lot harder than they should be, doesn't like to answer questions and overall is very rude to his students. Out of all the teachers I've had in my life, Wallach is the worst.
Not a bad teacher, yes he can be rude when answering questions but he gives good examples. Reading the textbook helped me a lot. It's not hard to get a good grade if you pay attention and read. Homework is difficult but not impossible. I'd recommend him over other teachers
Dr. Wallach, while not an easy professor, is a very knowledgeable professor. Yes, he can be condescending and sarcastic, but I actually found it quite entertaining and it kept me engaged. He is helpful if you demonstrate responsibility and interest in the material, which I highly recommend you do.
WALLACH IS THE BEST PROFESSOR FOR CHEM AT ODU. Wallach is awkward, cocky, & impatient but he is a really good professor & he means well. He is willing to give extra help. Exams are exactly like the questions in class and on his old tests. The hw is a lot but gives you good practice. Clickers required. TAKE HIM & TRY HARD!
He posts his old tests online for you to look at. There is no reason why you should fail this class just study some, do the homework and you will do fine. I just wish he would give more than 3% for attendance.
Do not take this with him anymore. His tests use to be a lot easier. Now there almost impossible. The last one is the hardest and he wont let you drop that one. The most annoying thing about him is he complains about no one coming to his office hours.
This professor is awesome. Dr. Wallach was nice and very informative in class and wanted you to succeed. Any bad review of him probably came from someone who was unprepared or didn't try hard enough. I had never taken chemistry before and I did great. Just try hard and do not slack off and you will do just fine. He also has awesome curves on tests.
Yo, seriously if you can't understand chemistry then you need to take him. ignore all the other ratings. Hes a great professor and he really wants to help you understand what your doing. and if you go to his office hours he WILL help you out. TAKE HIM PLEASE AND SAVE YOURSELF FROM STRESS!
He is a great and helpful professor. Take him if you really want to learn the material.
He is a great instructor if you want to learn the material. So, take him.
He is a great and very helpful Professor. If you want to learn the material well, take him.
This is the best instructor I have ever had. I hated Chem in high school, but LOVE it now. If you don't pass, you didn't do anything. He gives more than enough opportunities to make an A, including extra test points. He also posts lectures, notes, and exam guides online. Attendance is technically mandatory, but he gives quite a bit of leeway.
Lectures are SUPER helpful & easy to understand with plenty of practice examples, gives plenty of homework for practice & recitation activities are really useful on tests *hint hint* He's not the warmest professor by any means! But he is the best professor besides Melzer (who doesn't teach 121 or 122). If you study and do the work you'll be fine!
Dr. Wallach provides plenty of opportunities for students to learn the material (posts lecture pwpt waudio, test blueprints, old *NOT* practice tests). Extremely knowledgeable. 20pts XC on every exam. Clicker required. Do not expect to skate through this class. He will make you work for an A, but you will definitely learn the material thoroughly.
He is a great advisor!
The only reason I didn't fail Chemistry is because Wallach knows what he's talking about. He's a little dry in lecture, but when it comes to the material, he knows how to teach it.
Dr. Wallach is a misunderstood man in many ways as he does try his best to keep everyone interested in the subject, however, like what many people said, he can be rather rude. There were instances where he ignored peoples' questions, indirectly called the entire class stupid, and even said some controversial things that he took back a moment later.
I have taken him for 2 semesters now for Chemistry and would recommend to anyone! Attendance not mandatory but it does help your grade if you attend. Lots of homework, but if you do it all you should be golden for tests. Extra credit built into tests and he has plenty of review sessions throughout the semester for material. Good sense of humor!
I heard he was one of the better chem professors compared to the other one, but tbh he was pretty tough too. Expect tons of HW on blackboard (Not pearson), but its essential to do them bc it helps you understand the material better. He was a monotone voice and he's pretty boring and expects a lot from his students. A clicker is needed!
Take this man at all cost. Very Very good chem professor. It will be hard for you to fail if you actually pay attention. He has lecture videos for all his chapters that will help you. There will be quizzes but they aren't bad if you know you chemistry. Better compared to other chem 121123 professor.
Dr. Wallach is a great professor. Yes, Chemistry is not easy, but this it isn't supposed to be. Dr. Wallach tells his students up front what is expected and if you studypay attention in class, you will easily pass. He also gives numerous resources if you need help outside of office hours. Everyone should pass this class. Be prepared to do the work
honestly GOD was the only reason I passed this class, after a whole bunch of all-nighters! put in extra work from the beginning because it only gets harder from there!
Dr. Wallach has a lot of students, so its best to go to your TA's for help during the review sessions. He explains things really well during class. Notes are put online, but you must take the effort into reading them. Don't fall behind in work or you won't pass.
He is clear and gives extra credit if you do extra work
Great teacher!! Lectures are very informative and he has great examples in class. He is an outstanding teacher and really allows you to learn the material he is teaching
Very disappointed I can't take him for the 2nd section of chemistry. He is an amazing teacher. There is extra credit built into the tests, and yes a lot of homework, but doesn't take hours to do. The HW really helps you learn. He replies to his email very quickly and encourages people to reach out to him. Chem is hard, but he makes it more bearable
He is a great teacher! He gives a lot of opportunities for extra credit. He does give a fair amount of homework but as long as you don't try to do it all at once it's bearable. As long as you try and attend class you'll be able to get a good grade.
LOVED every bit of his lectures. He has some passive humor which makes it funny when you catch it. He is by far the clearest instructor I have ever had. Responds to emails and is always in his office hours. One of the best teachers I have had in all of my student career.
The usual was mostly understandable but you have to study to know the material in details... That is what he expects from students
You will absolutely not find a better chem professor at ODU-- if you can, take Wallach over anyone else! He expects a lot from his students, daily homework and recitation quizzes, but you actually learn things. If you do all the homework and study a bit, the tests are not hard at all.
Chemistry is not an easy course. However, Wallach definitely makes the class simple enough to grasp. Just do all the work (yes, all of it) and study. As long as you do that you will get an A. For every test, he gives 20 possible extra credit points so study!
Dr. Wallach is a great professor who really wants you to know the material. He truly cares whether or not his students understand the material. He gives you all the tools you need to succeed; however, if you don't put in the effort, you will not be successful. If you do the homework, go to class, and study, it is possible to do very well.
This class has a lot of work. Daily homework, chapter homework, and recitation worksheets. Do not miss class because you are graded on attendance using clickers.
He is a great professor. I took Chem 103/105 and then took his class and everything clicked together. He has a smart mouth but he is very helpful. Study the daily homework and previous unit tests to pass his tests. Studying will get you an A! do the examples on his slides because they are similar to the daily homework questions! loved his class!
I highly recommend taking Professor Wallach for Chemistry. He explains the material very well for the most part and listens to student feedback. There is a lot of work involved between lectures, chapter homework, daily homework, recitation, and lab, but if you put in the effort, you will do fine.
Would recommend taking. Print the slides before and take notes on there. A lot of work, but the more practice easier it is. I think he has the potential to be a great teacher, but he is just rude. If you ask a question he makes you feel like your dumb. Not approachable because of that, but then asks why no one goes to his office hours for help....
He is the best choice for chem class in ODU.
**Summer Term** Didn't use textbook at all. He provided everything we needed to study in the form of practice tests, and lectures notes already typed out. He made changes to the summer term to lighten the load. Hefty curve to help you out, but you should still study. Somewhat abrasive, but it's probably because he makes it easy.
Honestly one of the most understanding teachers I've ever had, I had the stomach bug on exam day and I emailed him asking what my options were and he allowed me to take it in his office the next day no questions asked
-knows how to explain concepts concisely -very cool person to be around -takes things seriously, but can be very humorous sometimes -the people who fail just don't care about succeeding -mandatory work is to the point and doesn't waste your time (but also extra review work if you need it) -very efficient teacher, doesn't waste your time in lectures
Wallach is the best gen chem professor at ODU, hands down. Don't get me wrong, it is not an easy class and you will need to put more work into it than many other 100 lvl science classes. But, if you LEARN what he teaches, you'll be fine. Tests are hard, but he puts about 12 points worth of extra credit questions on each exam.
I LOVE this teacher. He is hard as heck but he is the best chem professor on campus. He's hilarious and savage as anything. If you do the work, you will pass. If you don't, you won't pass. This isn't a class you can wing. It requires a lot of dedication and Wallach is amazing at helping if you ask the right questions
Real good professor. Good lectures. Will answer questions in and after class, but is quick to point out any faults in your question. No textbook required - all homework is on Bb. Attendance recorded using ResponseWare.
He knows his stuff. Chemistry is difficult but he really spells things out and tries to explain it the best he can. Tests you need to study for. I personally hated the portfolios. He said they would help you learn but I found that they really held me back. Do the practice tests and you will perform better. But still do the portfolios
He is a wizard
Wallach is a great professor. If you miss a lecture than you can access the class via blackboard later so you don't miss anything. If you miss to many classes then it will effect your grade. Print or the slides and write your notes on them, that helped me. I wasn't a fan of the portfolios but it was an easy helpful grade. He grades fair.
Wallach is the best chem professor at ODU. If you dedicate yourself, do all the homework, and take the practice tests, and A is definitely obtainable. In his lectures he points out common mistakes students make and ensures you don't do the same, he knows the information extremely well! Take him take him take him.
Wallach probably has every aspect of Chemistry memorized in his head honestly. And the great thing about him he is always willing to help, even on weekends. Hands down the best teacher I've ever encountered. If you have to take Chemistry do whatever you can to take Wallach regardless of class time. He makes chemistry seem like its learning ABC's
He can be super rude if you don't know a lot about chemistry, he will literally call you out in class if you ask a "stupid question".
Dr. Wallach is a tough, but fair professor. He gives you everything you need in order to succeed, but the exams are extremely difficult. Mostly fill in the blank and very math heavy. Best chemistry professor at ODU for sure though.
Has a tendency to be very rude to students, if you have problems with things he will say "not my problem." he expects 75% of people to fail and refuses to help people pass.
I took his Chem121N class online. He thoroughly explained the material and gave us all of the material necessary to succeed on the exams. I would recommend taking this professor if Chem is a req class. However, there were many pointless and unhelpful homework assignments. There is a HW assignment due every day, even on weekends.
I took this class in person and I would not take it again. I dropped right before the last drop date in November because it took a toll on me emotionally. Be prepared to study for hours a day & rushed lectures. Stay on top of your homework and GO TO TUTORING if you're not good at teaching yourself.
very funny but blunt. sometimes does experiments in class which are fun. has 4 tests online out of a 100 with 20 extra credit, but some people see it difficult. you have to study and work hard for this course in order to succeed. also takes attendance using clickers. does demand an e-portfolios and online assignments.
Take him. He is the best of Pleban, Mopper, and himself. All of the chem121N professors assign the same amount of work; however, Wallach actually explains well and delves past his power points. No need for the book, but it is nice to have as background. I had to earn the grade I got, but if you don't do the work, don't expect to pass.
Fantastic professor. He was very organized and provided tons of resources to help students succeed. His tests all came with 15-25 points of extra credit built in. Most tests were curved by at least a few points. There was an assigned homework after each lecture which reflected the type of material on the test. I would definitely take him again.
Best chem professor at ODU!! He cares for his students even if he's harsh on them. Always reminding the class that you have to put in effort to pass his class. Very resourceful & will answer any questions you have. MAKE SURE TO DO THE PRACTICE TESTS & PRACTICE HW!! Put in effort in this class and YOU WILL PASS. Go to ur TA's if you need extra help
You're basically watching a youtube equivalent video and teaching yourself so good luck with that. Is condescending also,so, do what you want.
If you're looking for an online course where you're require to show up to lecture for "practice" on top of recitation, he's your guy. I end up taking notes to get the points and learning the material from other videos online. Kind of digs into the limited time I have to study but just hoping to push through and get a decent grade.
Online lectures that you must take notes on. Personally I prefer for my lecture to be in person, that's why I take in person lectures, then I look the material up online to help give myself a better understanding of the material. The videos don't help me and you have to hit key points in your notes. Good luck.
I have an A in this class and let me tell you that this class sucks. Its a reversed lecture, so essentially you go online and watch videos on the course and go to lecture to work on your homework while he and a few TA's go around trying to answer about 250 students questions. I hate this, i pay to go to a lecture, not watch videos and teach myself.
Amazing 20pt curves, I got over a hundred on every test so far thanks to them. However you have to work hard + adapt to teaching yourself or you will fail. Do the practice tests + Go to recitation even if you don't have to. He grades the tests very quickly and efficiently. The last test this mans graded in one day. He can be condescending at times
While he is a bit unapproachable, All the other professors who teach this class basically take his lectures so take it right from the source. He is very intelligent and quick to answer emails. You will work for your grade but he offers great resources to succeed.
He man gives you some badly made videos instead of lecturing in class. He says that this is so that he can have time to help students with the in-class nongraded activities. its just so that he doesnt have to give a lecture every class. we moved quickly through the hard and slowly through the easy. Also He is very condescending when helping
Its sad because it seems like people used to really enjoy taking his course. The reverse lecture isn't really my thing, I'd rather utilize my time outside of class mastering the material. Its more effective for me to learn new material in class and then study it further at my own pace. The "hybrid" course isn't for me personally.
Wallach has instilled a "flipped" classroom approach at ODU. Other instructors use his same videos. You watch videos (which don't really help) then bring in worksheets. The exams have multiple questions that aren't in any format we used, I took every practice exam. Take the practice exams and watch Youtube videos, or go to TCC and actually learn.
You watch online videos, take notes and bring in worksheets. Not ideal if you enjoy lecture. No curves anymore like some students were saying but does build in 20 points extra into the exam which is helpful but they do reword questions to confuse students even if they have studied the information. Wouldn't take him again if he wasn't my only option
Doesn't lecture in person. Basically post videos and has you take notes. Didn't really help me on any of the exams, just tedious work. He does build in an extra twenty points into exams, but they're not curved as previous people have said. If his videos work for you great, they confused me more. Do the practice exams and teach yourself if you can.
Best gen chem professor! Yes, he's intimidating/condescending at times, but students respect him. Organized, easy to follow online lectures, great at answering questions, FAST GRADER, review sessions outside class before the final (at odu and lives-stream). He goes above and beyond other prof. (other prof. use his teaching materials). Can be funny!
Dr Wallach is SO condescending when almost anybody asks him anything, youre better off asking any of the TAs questions to avoid being embarrassed in front of the whole lecture. His homeworks/quizzes are easy and the tests have 20 extra points built in but he is quite a mean person in general.
If I didn't have to take the 0900 lecture I would've avoided taking Wallach for a second time. The videos this semester are less informative and don't reflect the material on the exams. I already struggle with some aspects of Chemistry but not having a real time lecture to ask questions is just precipitating the problem.
Incredibly supercilious. Cannot communicate materials effectively. Tons of busy work which is not unit sensitive. He makes you learn it all on your own and then screams at you if you have questions. Sometimes his instruction techniques are not in concurrence with university policy. He belongs in the field but not in the classroom.
You can succeed if you finish the practice tests and really focus on the examples / videos! I see a lot of people skipping watching the videos but they are really the key to success
Wallach is the best option at ODU. All other professors in the chemistry use his videos. He gives a short lecture and has worksheets to practice in class. You watch videos and take notes that are checked in class. Builds extra credit into the exams and curves the final generously. I spent HOURS studying and solving problems but you can do well.
Chemistry is difficult. Wallach has found a way to make it easier to learn by flipping his classroom. This means it is up to you to go home watch his videos and take the notes then bring the worksheet to the class. In class, he provides you with TA's that will help explain what you don't understand and work you through the worksheet problems.
He is the best! all the other professors use his videos and he is very informed on chemistry! You have to be ready to work and study hard for a good grade but its possible
The flipped classroom is awesome. I love this form of lecture because it really allows students to better utilize class time. Despite that... Wallach is condescending as previous posts suggest. If you are dedicated to learning the material, you will do fine. I would avoid asking him questions or communicating with him unless you have thick skin.
He is the worst Chemistry teacher I have ever had. I usually am good in Chemistry and pass every time but not with him. He is rude to the students every class and makes it his goal to make those who aren't doing as well feel bad about themselves. If you have him get ready to cry yourself to sleep.
this was my second time taking chemistry so it was a little bit easier. At first he seems intimidating but he cares and wants everyone to pass and he can see the students who actually does the work and studies. If you watch the videos and dont fall behind and do the activities youll be fine and pass.
Literally the worst chemistry teacher I've ever had and the worst professor I've had at ODU. He is a major control freak: assigns seats for the first time since elementary, forces you to watch and take specific notes on his boring and often times uninventive videos which he then strictly grades, and generally makes the entire class overcomplicated.
Dr. Wallach is very knowledgable. He explains chem in a way that is relatable and keeps you engaged. He can be like "c'mon you should know this stuff" but will still take the time to explain it to you in a way you will understand. It's also helpful that he has an extra 20 pts built into the tests, so you always have a chance for extra credit.
Do not take his class. He is very rude, petty, aggressive, and makes students feel bad for asking questions. His flipped classroom is pointless, there is already an additional chemistry studyhall that we have to attend. There, questions can be asked about the same worksheets we do in class. It's basically an online class with mandatory attendance.
Rudest professor I have ever met in my life. So condescending and so mean to students who ask for help. Calls you out when you ask for help and loves to make you feel stupid. Protect your dignity because he will shred the last bit of it.
Awful. He does not know how to teach, and youre REQUIRED to go to every class despite his actual lectures being online. Do not take. He will shame you if you ask a dumb question. You will teach yourself 90% of the time.
At first I didnt think I would like the flipped classroom, but it forced me to learn the material. He gives several types of assignments, so your grade doesnt rely solely on tests. He also gives wiggle room on tests and allows you to get a few questions wrong on tests without penalty. I overall enjoyed the way he ran class.
This is my second time taking a chemistry class and I don't really understand chemistry is general. This class just made everything more confusing. He goes so fast in the Lecture, so be ready to go back and watch it again to take notes. His test are sooo hard and HE DOES NOT CURVE (Beware of that)
Very disrespectful and not understanding of his students. Should not be teaching college courses and would be suited better for high school with the way he lectures. Not the worst chem teacher Ive ever had but definitely not the best.
DO NOT TAKE HIM! He will give you review tests to study and then the actual test is something completely different, most of the time it's stuff he barely touched on in class. Went to his office hours for help and he basically said "learn better". The whole chem dept. is horrible. You can study day and night and still fail.
I definitely had to work for this A- ! You don't need the textbook, but it wouldn't hurt to have it to help you study. Wallach himself isn't very approachable and can be pretty condescending so I wouldn't take him if you like to ask a lot of questions. He's a pretty decent teacher, but I'm glad I won't have to see him ever again...
4 exams and a final, online quizzes, and recitation exercises. Exams have 20 extra credit points built in, and the final has a 20 point curve. Wallach is awkward and condescending in lecture, so I learned more at recitation with the TA. Exams require studying, but questions are similar to the practice exams.
This Professor was absolutely terrible his lectures were long and made no since at all, when scheduled for office hours he belittles his students I almost feel as though this dude is apart of the spectrum.
Lectures can be confusing, but using unstuck AI alongside the free textbook helps break down concepts. Attend office hours despite the professor's demeanor - it's worth the effort to pass this course.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
81%
Textbook Required
28%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.56 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM117
5.0
(1)CHEM0000
5.0
(1)121
4.5
(2)CHEM115N
4.0
(3)CHEMCHEM
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEM116N
5.0
CHEM135N
5.0
CHEM115N
4.3
CHEM123N
4.2
CHM116
4.0