4.1
Quality3.6
Difficulty65%
Would Retake179
Reviews65%
Would Retake
179
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
103
4
39
3
12
2
10
1
15
What Students Say
“Oceanography was a tough class, but Professor Syverson did a great job teaching it”
GEOL102 - 5.0 rating“THIS guy, is amazing :) Not only did he teach Oceanography, but he left us all inspired to do something more with our lives”
GEOL102 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
52%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.87 avg changeRatings by Course
GEOL202
5.0
(1)GEO115
5.0
(1)GEOG115
5.0
(1)GEOL104
5.0
(1)GEOL101
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
GEOG0102
5.0
OCEAN102
4.8
GEOMORPHOLOGY
4.7
GEOL345
4.0
GEOLOGY102
4.0
Reviews (179)
funny professor, fun labs, kinda hard tests. but good overall. :)
Tests were VERY hard and there were no assignments, so you had to do well on them to succeed in the class. Attendance wasn't counted, but his participation thing where he would just point freaked me out.
tests were really hard, but he makes the class REALLY fun and entertaining, especially with his stories about shackleton, his horrible phd trip to glacier bay, and when he strips down to his UMD shirt and runs around, he's so passionate about geology
He's a very interesting professor--he really makes the class fun. I learned a lot and liked the class, although tests are challenging.
freakin hilarious! the man went nuts when day and sang a song about his home school?! tests hard, but take good notes and study them, shouldnt be a problem. easy to stay interested.
Excellent prof and person, tough grader and extremely nit-picky with projects and exams-- which helps us in the real world. It is refreshing to see a conservative in this endless, psuedo-intelligent, liberal world known as academia.
Great professor....class is usually entertaining and fun, but the tests are killer!
HARD TESTS. Interesting lectures. Calls on students randomly and asks hard questions that he expects everyone to know the answers to. You can't just memorize notes to do well...
tough tests, he is hilarious fun to listen to him lecture, i would reccomend this class
He gives the hardest tests of any professor that I've ever had. Each multiple choice question is trying to trick you. It is so unfair, you can study for hours and only pull a B on the test. Nice guy, loves geology, but unreasonably expects you to understand everything about geology!
HARD tests, totally about application and not about memorization. Calls on you in class and asks hard questions. But he will help you prepare for the tests outside of class. Expects you to know everything about glacial geology and hydrogeology
funny guy, hard tests -- but i managed a b- with minimal studying. class got pretty boring, i skipped a lot.
Great prof. Awesome pics and stories. Take good notes and pay attention and things should be ok for the tests. I got by without the readings...it's just for a little extra knowledge I guess. He knows how to break things down to make sense.
AWESOME PROFESSOR!!!! I think definitely one of my favorites. He makes lecture soooo interesting. He is so passionate about it and his voices make it so much better! I definitely suggest taking the class for a GE! He's awesome! yay Kent Syverson fan club!
Syverson is super cool - he has really corny jokes and his human sound wave is great. When filling out the evaluation at the end of the year, I couldn't think of anything bad to say about him.
tests seemed hard and class was boring at times, but I pulled a B with almost no work outside of class. If you put the time in you can get an A no problem . Also he has a strange sense of humor but it is enjoyabel once you get use to it.
kent is an awesome guy.His tests are very hard and hard labs but the guy knows what he is talking about. Must take! Awesome guy but can be weird at times.
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syverson kicks butt. he wants you to learn, not memorize which is great. he's funny and quirky. super helpful and clear.
He is a great guy who is easy to talk to. His test are hard. He keeps things interesting with the goofy things he says and does. One of my favorite professors.
This class is not a marine biology class...as he let us know on the first day. However, he is very funny and wow, does he know his stuff. Sometimes lectures are boring, but sometimes they are fascinating because he's done so much travelling and really brings his adventures into class. A very nice guy, but tests are hard. You learn a lot.
Wow, Kent is an awesome guy :) If you are good at science I would really recommend his class.. but if you're not you might want to stay away from the Syverson. Again, love the guy, but very challenging class.
great guy, tough class. entire grade based on 3 amazingly hard tests. makes it fun, but can't miss classes b/c of pop quizzes and notes that are pretty mandatory for the tests.
This class is not hard. There are a lot of readings you are supposed to do... but if you go to class you don't have to read a word. Everything on his test are covered very thoroughly in class. If you don't at least get a B you are a total idiot, or just skip a lot.
Professor Syverson is a nice guy. His lectures are boring. You don't really have to do the readings because he covers a lot of the material in class. The tests are hard. His class is boring, but he can also be funny at times.
VERY good professor! He's very passionate about his work. You don't have to read the book, exams only on lecture material. He explains things really well to make it easy to understand. He's goofy which makes the class fun and interesting. You will do well if you pay attention, take good notes and study the material before exams.
The tests are VERY hard, but as long as you study and attend class, everything should be fine. He also curves, which helps a lot. Go to his office hours and he'll clarify anything you have trouble with, I would highly recommend doing so. He really knows what he's talking about. Definitely my favorite professor.
excellent professor. His lectures are very interesting and he makes everything he teaches fun. Loved his jokes and overall wacky behavior!
The class was really easy, no assignments, just 3 tests (including final). As long as you go to class and pay attention, it's an easy A. Have to be careful with the tests though, they are all multiple choice but some questions can be tricky!
Dr. Syverson is the best professor I've had at UW Eau Claire. He made the subject extremely interesting and his fifty minute lectures flew by. Yes, the tests are difficult, but he makes you want to learn so studying isn't a problem. He's also willing to help you outside of class - which is really helpful.
Kent is definitely one of the best professors at UWEC. He is very passionate about the material and does an excellent job of relating geology back to everyday life. Tests require you to really know the material.
Excellent professor. I would recommend him to everyone.
Excellent Professor! I am not a science person, but made the class interesting and fun. very funny guy. knows what he is talking about and easy to understand. tests are a bit difficult, though.
Kent is awesome. He really sparks your interest in the subject and is very good at explaining concepts and relating them back to everyday life. His tests can be difficult and require you to know the material, but if you go to class you should have no problem. He cares a lot about what he is doing to the point of wackiness, making him all the cooler
Kent is a great prof. He makes the lectures very fun. He randomly calls on people throughout the period which can be pretty intimidating when you don't know what's going on. His test are pretty tough but if you study you'll do fine.
Kent is the best proffesor. He genuinely cares about each student and their grade, and hold "pre-quizzing" sessions which are so helpful. If you work hard, there's no reason to not get a good grade. He's also really interesting to talk one on one with!
While there is no denying that this is a hard class, particularly for a non-science person like myself, it is definitely the good kind of hard. He expects a lot, but is also completely willing to help, and if you are willing to work hard and ask for help, you can do really well in this class.
Kent was my favorite professor this semester. He made class very interesting. SHOW UP ON FRIDAYS...he usually does something really funny. He also was the most helpful professor that I had. Go in for his office hours and you will do fine in the class. I recommend him to everyone.
Hes very very passionate about teaching this subject and really wants you to learn. Its an easy class as long as you show up for most classes (no attendence policy). He's very clear on what's important to know for exams and willing to help you outside of class. Definatly take him!
good prof
Best teacher I've ever had. He really knows what he's talking about and really knows how to teach it. He's extremely helpful. He made the class very interesting. He is also very funny and has good stories to tell. Take him, you won't regret it!
He really knows how to grab your attention while teaching. Hes known to walk up and down the lecture hall, he'll randomly call on you regardless if you know the answer or not. And if you answer the question, he'll never make you feel dumb if its not right. He'll always make time to meet with you. Hilarious guy! class is fun!
Syverson is awesome!He knows his stuff and makes the class very interesting.The class is REALLY hard though.If you don't know chemistry or physics-even a little-this class will be hard.He is super helpful though-always show up for class-especially on Friday's!There are only 3 exams for the entire semester and 4 quizzes!READ THE BOOK!It will help!
Kent is probably the most passionate teacher you will find at this university. He understands that many kids are taking geology because they think it will be easy, and he still teaches to them like they're geology majors. I learned more in this class than in my other 4 classes combined this semester. Take Kent, he rules.
yeah...yeah, he's a "great" and "passionate" teacher. This is only if you like the teachers that hold your hand every step and baby you like it's some highschool class. Don't take this class if you like a challenge.
BEST PROFESSOR EVER. If you don't take geology with Kent, you're truly missing out. Go to office hours with any problem, including life problems, and Kent will solve it.
AWESOME PROF! He's really helpful and easy-going. Tests are easy. You don't have to read the textbook. Study before the tests, though. He likes to randomly call on everyone during class, so pay attention. Makes a boring subject fun and interesting. Great guy, great prof! :)
Very good, learned alot, show up to class and you will get a decent grade, never touched my book
One of the best teachers I have ever had. He loves what he does and it shows in class. He is very energetic and it makes class fun. Class is hard but if you pay attention and actually go you will do fine. Study hard and if need be go to his quizzing sessions. Calls on people randomly so pay attention. He is awesome and i recommend him to anyone!
So boring! The material he teaches seems clear in class, wait till you take the test. You'll think he brought a test for a different class!
This guy really cares about the students. Has office hours and makes you learn the stuff. The tests can be hard, but if you go to his office and show him you are trying you'll do great. Really interesting subject, and he does a great job teaching it.
Awesome lectures, one of the most interesting classes I've ever had and it's not even my major.I'm a B/C student and got a C+ in this class.I studied a few hours before the exams and that was about it.If you study more than that,it should be easy for you.Great class to meet GE for.Attendance taken but not mandatory,can get notes and you'll be fine.
Lecture is funny and interesting for the most part. Some times can get a little boring. GO TO CLASS! i skipped class and my grade suffered for it, if i would have went i am sure i could have gotten an A.
Syverson is my favorite professor i've ever had! he makes class interesting and is crystal clear in his expectations for his exams. If you go to class and take notes you'll do well.
Syverson has been my favorite professor so far! He cares a lot about the students, and I recommend going to his study sessions, and you'll do fine. Study for his tests but once again--the study sessions help so much! Probably one of the funniest professors as well. TAKE THIS CLASS!
Kent knows his stuff and is sooo funny. Just go to class and take good notes for exams. The toughest thing is the exams which are multiple choice. Pay special attention to diagrams he draws in class/ on quizzes. He usually repeats these questions on exams and are worth multiple points. Overall a fun class to take as a science w/o a lab.
Syverson is awesome! He is passionate about what he does and a good teacher. The class is too hard for a 100 level class so be ware of that. I learned a lot. he calls on people all the time so if you are shy you should not take this class. you will be put on the spot. Great prof one of the best at EC! hard tests, studied for hours
Best professor at Eau Claire. Even though the tests are hard, this guy makes it worth it. He's super nice and a brilliant orator. Take this class!!! It's the most fun you'll have in a lecture.
I don't get how he has gotten such good ratings. This class was incredibly hard and even after studying for hours and going into his office for help the tests were still impossible. He expects you to know everything and will randomly call on you in class. I would avoid this class, major GPA kill. Each test is 31% of your grade.
I pretty much agree with everything that's been said. He's an awesome professor, really interesting and funny guy. But the class is really hard.
I look forward to this class SO much! Such a funny guy and is a very good teacher. The way he explains things makes it all clear, and even though he calls on people, it keeps you awake. But the tests are BRUTAL! And 31% of your grade. So enjoy but BEWARE!
This class was awesome!!! I looked forward to going to class every day. The tests were pretty difficult but if you go to class, pay attention, and study you will do perfectly fine. I can see that people have troubles with this class if they don't care about it but I found it extremely interesting stuff.
Kent is the best professor I've ever had! If you go to class and listen, you should have no problem getting an A. You also never have to open the textbook. You will actually look foward to going to class!
A GREAT professor! I really enjoyed his class and I learned a lot! Everything ties together, which helps everything make sense. A great guy who loves what he's doing. Hands down I would definitely take another class with him!
Don't miss Friday classes, in his own words, "If they skip class on Friday, let's make them pay"
He is the best teacher at this University.
Doesn't use the textbook at all, so no reading. He doesn't require that you come, although he does take attendance, for statistics I believe. Doesn't require you to know any dates, he believes it's much more important to know the logic behind something, I couldn't agree more. VERY VERY HELPFUL. Really funny. COME TO CLASS FRIDAY. Rock on Kent
Syverson is a great teacher. I am not a science person at all and he really helped me learn. He pushes you to think for yourself which can be intimidating but he is funny, passionate and very clear about things. I highly recommend him. Still found the class to be hard but with this teacher you can still succeed.
Such a great teacher and a fun guy, but super hard class. You have to take all notes from him talking so pay close attention. It's a fun, interesting class, but make sure you study a lot for the tests. They're pretty hard. And do not miss Friday classes before the tests, because that is when he will always give you the pop quizzes.
I took Oceanography with Dr. Syverson over 20 years ago-how can that be??! At any rate, he stands out as one of my favorite professors. He is so passionate about Oceanography\Geology that I found myself enjoying his class. His tests\quizzes are hard. He did help me to love Earth Sciences and I am going to visit the parks on his list with my kids.
Honestly if you want to do well in this class it is absolutely necessary you go to his office hours. And you won't regret it. He quizzes people the entire time and it helps so much. Probably the most caring helpful professor I have ever had. He really wants students to enjoy learning and wants to actually teach something. Best class ever.
This is the best class I have ever taken! I am not good at science but this class was extremely easy because he is such a good professor! This class is super fun too! I would actually look forward to going to this class! If you want help prepping for his exams he will spend a whole hour helping you too! He really cares about his students!
Not an easy professor by any means. Really challenges you to learn the material. Great guy though. Really enjoyed taking his class.
Although there is no homework or reading from the textbook, this class isn't exactly a walk in the park. Attendance isn't mandatory but if you want to pass the tests, it's crucial that you attend lectures and take good notes. Pay attention in class, because he calls on students randomly throughout the entire period. Study hard and you should do OK!
Best college professor I've had. He's nerdy and hilarious. Very interactive class, excellent teaching style, and kind of fun. The class wasn't that difficult for me, but others struggled a bit (depends on how quickly you can pick up on things). No homework, just tests and quizzes.
Don't let anyone tell you the exams were hard. It is just a few concepts you need to learn for each exam. If you got less than a B on any of the exams, that means you skipped too much class.
Dr. Syverson truly cares about his students! Go to class everyday, learn the important three star concepts, and go in for his "quizzing" sessions- they are very helpful reviews. The tests are hard, because they require you to really know the material. But if you put in the effort, it isn't too bad, and you will actually learn a lot!
He's such an amazing professor, he makes lectures about rocks so interesting and funny! It was one of my favorite classes.
Kent is a hilarious guy. It takes a few weeks to really warm up to him. This class is a 140+ student class. No homework, but 3 exams and 4 pop quizzes. Exams are pretty hard, pop quizzes are easy if you attend lecture nearly all of the time. He's always willing to help in office hours. Overall, he's fun but intimidating, hard class, study, attend.
The Greatest lecture class I've had in College! Kent is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and interactive. He does not grade on attendance, nor is there any homework, but he makes you want to come to class plus study your text and notes. The test can be tough, but as long as you study and are engaged in discussion, you will be just fine.
Oceanography was a tough class, but Professor Syverson did a great job teaching it. Be prepared - even in a big lecture hall, he will call on you randomly to answer a question. You might have no idea what the answer is, but your effort is what he is looking for. If you're struggling, go into his office hours a week or 2 before an exam. It helps!!!
THIS guy, is amazing :) Not only did he teach Oceanography, but he left us all inspired to do something more with our lives. If you EVER have a chance to take this man's class, DO IT!!! Just take notes that you can understand later, pay attention in class, maybe answer his famous question a few times "Who cares?!", and you'll have fun :)
Kent is an awesome guy. His lectures make a boring subject pretty interesting. He grades you on 3 exams and 4 pop quizzes (drops lowest quiz grade). His exams are difficult, but if you go to class, study a decent bit outside of class, and see him during office hours you'll do fine. I wouldn't call Kent's class easy, but it is far from difficult.
This was an amazing class. Lecture was always interesting. You'll never have to read the textbook, and there are just 4 pop quizzes and 3 exams. He puts in the effort to make sure you don't just have key words memorized, but that you can work through everything yourself. I learned more in this class than any other and I'm not even a science major!
The lecture itself is interesting, but the exams are God awful. He is a nice guy, but the information just is hard to interpret by the way he words exams. Randomly calls on people in every class and makes people go to the front to teach. I would not take this again.
Kent really wants you to do well in his class. Go to office hours and keep up
Professor Syverson is the most hilarious man you will ever meet. Going to class was fun and the time flew by. His lectures are stories from his experiences. You may not think oceans are interesting, but after experiencing his lectures you will be amazed. There is no homework, rather 3 large exams and 4 pop quizzes. What's your logic? Common sense!
I am graduating this year, and out of all 4 years, Kent is by far my favorite professor at UWEC. He's tough, but all you need to do is be in class and take notes. No homework. The #1 reason why he is my favorite is because he actually teaches the material. I took his class my freshman year and I could still recite to you all of his 3 star concepts.
Kent is hilarious. class is rarely ever boring. however, i do think the material is a little heavy for a 100 level class. if you don't do well on the exams, you're kinda sol.
Syverson is the best. If you put the work in, oceanography is one of the most rewarding classes you can take. Instead of just lecturing at you, he actively engages the entire class by asking questions in order to advance discussion, and his personality makes people want to participate and learn. By far my favorite professor for science.
He is a great professor, makes lectures interesting and engaging. He will randomly call on people, this can be intimidating at times but overall forces you to think and use logic to answer questions. I would recommend going to his office hours for quizzing sessions, they are extremely helpful and are similar to test questions.
Kent is an incredible professor!! I loved oceanography so much that it inspired me to switch to a science major. Course content and exams are tough for a 100 level class, but you'll learn a ton. He knows students by name in a 100+ student class and tells hilarious stories--definitely take this class!
One of the best professors I've ever had. Lectures fly by because he keeps them interesting and he's hilarious. Office hours are super helpful and he really cares about all his students, he learns everyone's name which does mean he'll call on everyone. More of a Socratic style of learning which is refreshing. He doesn't talk at you, he engages you.
Clearly knows the material and is passionate about the subject. The class is very test heavy, and he does not meet with students one on one typically. He often talks at you, and is bad at guiding you to the right answer without making you feel stupid. Very unforgiving if you miss class, regardless of the reason.
Kent is clearly passionate about the subject, but expects his students to also be that passionate. The class is very test heavy, hard tests. Attendance is mandatory, he is unforgiving of missed classes-regardless of the reason. Class is very heavy for a 100 level.
A very smart and helpful guy. I didn't like how he would ask a question over and over until someone got it right-it wasted a lot of time. He has almost no powerpoints, so you need to take notes carefully & diligently. Do not miss class, you will fall behind.
As a non-science major, I have really enjoyed Professor Syverson's class, though it has been more difficult than I expected. He's made me reconsider my minor and how I can potentially diversify myself as an English major. He's very funny, but the class is EXTREMELY test heavy. Each exam is 31% of your final grade.
Great professor, learned so much! BUT, this class is extremely test heavy. This isn't just geology, it's chemistry, physics, astronomy, marine biology, geography, AND geology. VERY hard for 100 level class. I did learn a lot, and he does care about his students. Office hours help a lot. But I studied 10+ hours for every exam and got Cs on all.
Great professor. Thoroughly enjoyed his lectures because he had so much fun teaching and expressing his passion. Geology isn't that appealing to me, but he made class enjoyable. Tests are not that hard. I never studied once and got A's on everything. Just take notes and remember his "three star concepts" and understand how to apply them.
If you attend class and take good notes, it will be an easy A. He likes you to think for yourself and use logic you develope to answer questions. Kent offers review sessions before each exam during his office hours. Go to them; they are very helpful.
Very test centered but very fun for a lecture
You don't read the textbook. He teaches everything you need/ have to know in lecture. GO TO LECTURE! He is a good professor if you go to class. I haven't gone to office hours but he encourages it. His tests are hard so make sure you study. Also you have 4 pop quizzes and one is dropped. Just pay attention and you'll be fine.
Kent is really great. He stimulates a lot of thinking during lecture. I find the material very interesting. He teaches a lot of concepts and his tests are difficult, but his office hours are VERY helpful.
Syverson is a very relatable and funny guy and he is clearly passionate about what he does. Lectures are easy to follow and he encourages class participation. Class is test heavy but if you show up to class, and you are awake, you shouldn't have any problem passing.
This class was very difficult. There are only 3 exams the whole semester worth 31% each. Kent is a hilarious guy but if you want an easy A don't take this class.
Kent is great and so funny- he explains things really well in lecture- as long as you go, you will probably do just fine. If you skip class you'll definitely have trouble as he doesn't put the powerpoints online and uses a lot of his own stories, definitions, and explanations. Great guy, love him, would recommend for Oceanography.
Kent is a really nice guy and he's so funny. You can tell he really cares about his students. The class is pretty difficult though because there are only 3 exams and they are all worth 30% of the grade. I would recommend going to his office hours as often as you can because he really tries to help the students and will explain further during this.
Professor Syverson is definitely passion about the subject and wants the students to know that. The lectures were amazing and very intriguing even for someone not majoring in a science. Just beware that there are only 3 exams which make up your grade. Highly recommend going in to see him at office hours.
Wonderful professor who strives to make personal connections with his students. Attendance is not mandatory, but without attending lectures, you will have a hard time on the exams. He always keeps his office hours open and holds question/answer sessions to ensure that you have a good understanding of the material. Lectures are entertaining
Really great professor, who really loves his job. lectures are interesting, but he cold calls on everyone in the class, so being an introvert I really struggled with that. Exams are ridiculously difficult for a 100 level class, and almost all of your grade is based on those exams
Dr Syverson is an amazing lecturer. Oceanography is a heavy class but he makes it interesting and stimulating. It's extremely important to go to him with any questions you might have as grasping some of his concepts are essential to doing well in the class. Even so, be aware that the class can be harder than some 300 level classes here.
Kent was by far the most enjoyable professor I have ever had. If you're looking for an easy A this isn't it but a B is easily achievable. HAVE TO GO TO CLASS! To learn the information you have to be in class. However, the class is very enjoyable. Super funny and smart professor. Would recommend to anyone.
Kent makes class fun and interesting. He's a really cool guy and very funny but he makes you work for the grade. His tests are very hard. He also randomly calls on you throughout the class and the class is only graded on 3 tests and 4 quizzes.
Three multiple choice exams. That's your whole grade. Has very clear lectures and is straight forward about what will be on exams. If you have good logical thinking skills this class with be easy.
I loved oceanography. Kent is so passionate about what he teaches and teaches it in such a clear way. The only thing we were graded on was exams and pop quizzes, but as long as you go to class and pay attention you will do fine. Would recommend!
Kent is a really good professor. He's super enthusiastic when it comes to teaching, but his exams are super tough. Since it's exam-focused, best to read up a lot and go to his office hours. He also calls you out at random every class session to answer his questions, so if you want to avoid it, best to do so if you have anxiety or something similar
Your entire grade is based off of 3 tests and one project. The tests are ridiculously hard I dont know how anyone gets a good grade. When I finished the project it was 21 pages of hard work and I received a 63%, which was also the class average. Would never take this class again or this professor.
Kent is a great guy and very funny. He has lots of stories to tell. His class is very interactive and calls on students using large name tags made in class. This class is solely graded on tests so if you are not a good test taker I would not recommend taking this class.
He's a really good professor, but to do well you need to go to office hours every chance you get. It's a pretty hard class. I would have gotten a 4.0 this semester if it weren't for this class.
He assigns many online lectures and does not give much feedback on the few assignments we have. And when confronted with problems he gives excuses and doesn't offer any help. Kent is a nice person overall, but he is not a good professor. The amount of work for this class does not reflect the amount of in class time.
If you don't pay attention to the lectures you will not know what is happening. He was a really fun professor. At first I was behind so the class was hard, but once I got caught up it was pretty easy. TAKE GOOD NOTES!!!
This is a 100 level course that I took only to fulfill my integration credit, and it was not worth it. Take any other integration course. This guy gives so much out of class work. It's just a waste of time for anyone that isn't studying this for a career. He also has no compassion. He isn't understanding to your situation and expects too much.
Professor Syverson is a nice guy, but is not a nice professor. He's very rude and doesn't make you feel comfortable when speaking in front of class. If you don't have to take this class, I definitely wouldn't recommend it.
I did not like this professor. His class was very hard and whenever I asked for help it felt like he was calling me stupid. Nice person but his teaching style isn't my favorite.
Kent seems fun at first. But I became increasingly frustrated with this course later on. The required Zoom sessions are an absolute disaster. They're just stupid interrogation sessions wherein he grills you in front of your classmates until you feel so confused that you forget what the class is even about. Lecture videos are long and boring.
Professor Kent is a tough professor, but a good person at the end of the day. I struggled in his class severely. Use his office hours. If you ask for help, expect to be interrogated and have to answer your own questions... Lectures gave me anxiety each time. Hard grader. He's understanding if you reach out to him with personal issues, but good luck
I don't care what anyone says about this man DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. His class could be so helpful and entertaining if he was focused on teaching students instead of students teaching themselves. If he calls on you and you don't know the answer, you're out of luck, his response will always be "Well I don't know either".
The class itself was difficult but Kent teaches it in such a way that its actually interesting if you arent lazy. The content had little to no use in my major but I do not regret taking it in the slightest.
Kent is an amazing professor. I took the class because it seemed interesting and Kent made it that way. He was funny both intentionally and unintentionally. The class itself is not too hard but you definitely need to take decent notes. Be ready to answer questions because he will randomly select people to answer everyday. I highly recommend him.
I took Kent's class my first semester of college and I do not recommend. He lectures all hour and be ready to be called on to answer things using "logic" as he stated. He is a nice person but expects too much of his students. There are three tests that make up your whole grade. Better listen and take good notes or you will be in trouble.
Hands down best professor I have ever had. Show up to class pay attention and go to his office hours and his class will teach you much about life and how to better yourself as a person while learning new habits about yourself. I have no intention in studying geology, but the lessons this professor has taught me I will use to better myself.
dropped after the first day, he was very rude and made the point to try to humiliate students in front of the class. I had anxiety the whole time, also expects you to be just as passionate about oceanology as him. didn't seem to have much compassion for the students
Professor Syverson is one of my favorite professors I have ever had. His lectures are interesting, he gets the class involved, and he is very approachable. That being said this class is very difficult. 3 exams make up about 90% of your grade and it is essential if you take this class, you go to his office hours for quizzing.
Do not skip lecture or you will not pass.
Terrible professor! He refuses to share any content covered in the lecture, as he believes attendance is most important. You're graded solely on exams and pop quizzes, with no way to make up points. Classtime is just an hour of public humiliation. Exams are extremely difficult, as you are supposed to use "logic" to pass. Don't bother taking this.
The best professor I've had! He cares about students and will do what he can to help you succeed! No need to read the book if you pay attention to the points he stresses in class you will do fine. Great and interactive lectures, if you're not there then you are missing out, and shooting yourself in the foot. It will be way harder to teach yourself.
A phenomenal professor but a hard course
Kent seemed to be controversial so when I started this class, I was a little nervous. Once I got into this class, I loved Kent. He calls on people at random a lot throughout the class period and as someone who is very shy and anxious that made me so nervous to go to class. Although you need to go to class, he takes attendance everyday.
Even though this was a 100 level it was pretty hard because most of your grade is just 3 tests. If you take good notes and pay attention you should be fine, I put in medium effort and got a B so not too bad, he also curves a little.
Kent is the best professor. He is funny and will make you smile. He seems intimidating at first but he is just doing what is best for the students. He has a lot of hope for his students but make sure you listen because the coursework is hard and very test heavy.
Syverson is a unique professor and has his specific ways of teaching. His lectures really do not make any sense, if you ask to go to a previous slide on a powerpoint he will not go back, 4 pop quizzes throughout the semester, mandatory participation, and you WILL be called on dozens of times by the end of the semester. He expects logic to be used
Kent is one of the most interesting people I've ever met and I genuinely like him as a person but this class is insanely difficult for a 100 level. It is near impossible to get a passing grade if you don't go to his office hours for quizzing. Make sure you know your 3 star concepts or you're not going to pass a single exam. 3 exams, 4 pop quizzes.
Great and super passionate teacher. Do not expect to pass if you don't go to class. He also expects you to go to office hours or the supplemental instruction lessons, which greatly help. He cold calls all the time in class. If you do not put in a lot of effort, the class will be very difficult.
Truly a fantastic teacher he really knows what he is teaching and is great at making it understandable. However, simply going to every class and taking notes and being attentive is not enough to do well in this class. He has office hours for quizzing that help immensely. Pay attention in class bc he randomly calls on at least 15 kids per class.
I don't like this teacher. He seems a bit careless as he makes the students try to learn on their own. It's a whole new unit every single day and he just throws information as if you can just soak it up. He does call on random students a lot and can make the lectures interesting from time to time, but it's just too much to soak. Wouldn't retake.
Kind of terrifying but keeps his lectures active and engaging. Passing exams does pretty much require you take some time to meet with him outside of class, but his feedback in these sessions was good when I was able to make them and he pays a lot of attention to each student.
RUN. I've seen enough.
kent is one of the most interesting people ever. Too hard for a 100-level course.
Kent is the best professor ever! he has done so many cool things and he really loves what he does, I learned so much, just make sure to always go to class and go to his office hours and after the test review that is the reason I passed!
Kent genuinely strives to see each student understand course content. He knows what he is talking about and is passionate in his lectures. Your grade is based on three exams and some pop quizzes, but he sets up lots of times outside of class if you need help understanding content in order to do well on exams. Not an easy A, but it's a good course.
Dr. Syverson is fun and gives very interesting lectures, and he held constant office hours. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed his class and learned a lot. However, the tests were pretty unreasonably hard based on how the questions were worded (is it a, b, c, some combination, all, or neither?) Also, be prepared to be randomly called on.
Professor Syverson's lectures were very good and he really tries to involve everybody, but his classes are very test heavy. Your grade is based off of how you do on these exams.
LOVE Kent. He is a badass he is extremely knowledgeable about oceanography with his life experiences out at sea and his adventures in Glacier Bay. Beware he likes to call on students during class but it keeps you engaged and the topics during lecture are very interesting and can be applied to life. Highly recommend to take his class.
do not take this class, just take my word for it.
To be honest, it took awhile for Kent to grow on me, but this man is genuinely so funny and is so very passionate about what he teaches. the course was difficult, and he will call on you at random, but overall I did genuinely enjoy this class. I'm a music major and was just taking oceanography to fill a science credit, but Kent made it fun!
no way to obtain notes other than paying attention to every word he says. good luck
Very easy class if you just simply go to all the lectures and pay attention. No homework at all ever, yes he will call on people by random but it makes you want to pay attention. This class was easy and fun, and that is coming from someone who hates school. Outside of class I study maybe for 2 hours on quizlet before each exam. 10/10 teacher
Professor Syverson is super knowledgeable about all things oceanography and you can tell he loves teaching it. With that being said, he will call on you during class and make you feel kinda bad if you don't know the answer to his questions. If you go to his office hours outside of class and make an effort you'll be fine.
Close to no homework. You get most of your grades from exams. Lock in during lectures because he's GONNA call on you.
I could not stand this man. I don't know how he has such a high rating on here. He blabs on and on, completely dumbing down the content of what he is teaching. He sits there asking the same question over and over again until someone answers. He only grades you on tests, so there is no way to fix your grade if you bomb a test.
Professor Kent's lectures can be a bit intense, but engaging if you stay focused. Use unstuck AI and the textbook to supplement and prepare for exams. Attend office hours for personalized feedback.
You will learn a lot in Kent's classes. However even with hours of studying Kent has a very hard grading style. It's very difficult to do well in this class if you can't memorize word for word the exact answer. Be prepared to get called on and try not to take his responses personally. Overall he really is a good professor, but you gotta be tough!!
He teaches in a very different style and is very strict when it comes to lectures.
He is one of the funniest professors I have ever had, such a nice guy. Class was fun and interesting. His style of lecturing though is quite difficult. Alot of critical thinking is needed. He cold calls on everyone. No one is safe. Come to class or you won't understand, he does not post slides. No homework. Only exams and pop quizzes basically.
For oceanography, there are 4 pop quizzes. During lecture, he will call on students randomly (about 15-20) per class. He does this to test your intellectual thinking. Office hours are very helpful. Grade is not accessible on Canvas so you'll have to ask him.
Great professor. Always cracking jokes. Easy grater. tests are hard only if you dont pay attention.
This class can seem very challenging, unless you are willing to put in the work. I highly recommend attending Kent's office hours, they are extremely helpful. He will call on you in class, but don't let his sometimes provoking responses get to you. Overall, I really enjoyed this class, he is a wonderful professor.
Only take this class if you can handle being called on at random, and don't have test anxiety. 93% of your grade is based on 3 exams, the other 7% being pop quizzes. You have to go to class to do well. Take advantage of office hours if you can! Overall, his teaching style is intimidating and the class is hard, but he is a fantastic professor.
Kent is an awesome professor. He makes this class rather hard, and it will put your study skills to the test. The biggest thing that you can learn from Kent is how to use logic in problem solving, and how to effectively take notes. The best way to succeed is to go to his office hours, and build your understanding on the basic concepts!
Tenure is ruining the quality of education. He gets a class average test score of 60% before the curve and goes on to blame students for missing a class or two. The curve basically just takes everyone to a C. I had a 67 curved to a 75 and a 73 curved to a 76 so I'm just defeated at this point. I was 5 points over the class avg and still got the 76.
In his oceanography lecture he cold calls people and if you don't know the answer he will call on who is sitting next to you. Make sure you're taking notes and paying attention. Overall, I enjoyed his class and his style of calling on people, however I can see how some people might not.
The professor is a good guy. Class is just very lecture-heavy; you must show up and pay attention. He cold-calls on people and gives pop quizzes. Every time I thought I knew what I was doing, my test scores told me I didn't.
boycott fred meyer. (take his class, he's a funny guy & you'll understand this reference) show up to lectures and you'll be fine, he doesn't post slides on canvas so make sure you make friends with the person next to you if you have to miss a day.
You WILL be called on at random, but it's to show you're paying attention. If you don't attend class, you aren't going to score well. Lectures aren't posted and notes aren't allowed on tests/pop quizzes. Course material is very interesting; take lots of notes and study. He will call you out for using a cell phone during class.
A very difficult professor but such a great class. He really is engaged in the class and very knowledgeable. Super difficult the only reason I passed is because I went to all the office hours.
While the information in this class is very difficult (in my opinion), Kent is so passionate about it that it makes you want to learn. He is a hilarious professor, and if you have the chance to take a class with him, you should. I feel very lucky to have experienced being taught by him!
Dr. Syverson is great and I learned a lot in this course- not just oceanography but also efficient and effective study skills which was very beneficial. His test questions are tough, but if you're a good studier and pay attention to lectures well, it's very possible to get an A.
Kent is a one-in-a-million teacher. Yes, he will cold call you, and yes, you will probably get the answer wrong the first time. But that's okay! I am certain that despite the challenges of this class, I will apply what I learned throughout my career. It's a hard class, but no one can teach it the way Kent does!
If you don't want to be treated like an adult with responsibilities, then take this course. He WILL call on you and you WILL feel a hit to your self-esteem. He doesn't homework until the last week of class when you will be the most stressed. Don't take this class if you have test anxiety; exams are 28% (3 of them) and pop quizes are given.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
52%
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B
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