Great guy, he really is. Goes OUT OF HIS WAY AND BEYOND to make sure everyone passes and GETS it. Tutorials whenever you please, no stupid questions, and exams extremely fair. I hate physics but I gotta admit hes a great prof. Kirk, you dont even need ur ed degree, but ur students are gonna be lucky

Kirk really cares about how his students do. He runs extra help sessions so you can get time with him and not just some TA. Sometimes he goes a little to deep and you may find yourself scratching your head. Overall PHYS 144 (Calculas and Physics) would be hell with most profs, Kirk makes it bearable and even understandable.

Amazing prof, definitely my favorite so far. His tutorials are awesome, and really add meaning to what is done in class. He will do whatever he can to help you and won't make you feel stupid in the process, that makes all the difference. Even if you don't like physics, he will make it bearable for you. If you have to take physics get in his class!!

Great teacher, knows what he's talking about and how to teach it.

Great prof! Knowledgable and very approachable outside of class. He runs his tutorials according to his students schedule and he truely wants everyone in his class to do exceptionally well, which you don't find with lot's of profs now of days. Basically, take a class with Kirk!

Great professor, however the midterm and final were brutally hard. Keeps lectures fairly interesting and knows his physics REALLY well. Overall a really nice guy and goes out of his way to help his students.

He is a decent instructor, and he is always willing to help out when he can. His exams, on the other hand, are sooo hard, that just finishing them is a miracle in itself.

Kirk is an awesome prof, really knows his stuff and is always willing to help. Tutorial sessions were awesome, which is good, cause the notes were crazy/unorganized a lot of the time. Brutal final, I didn't even finish it!!

AMAZING Prof... He knows just about everything you could ever imagine going into first year physics... believe me I thought I knew it all going into his class.... boy was I wrong... He knows how to test you on exams... they cover EVERYTHING on a higher level than your used to...in a word[bell curve] He will go out of his way for anyone for anything

Quite simply, an excellent prof. He goes very much out of his way to help students, scheduling out of class tutorial sessions that anyone can come to. The tests were brutal, but well written. The average ends up being very good, and you won't do bad on the test relative to your standing in the class. Plus, he worked on Sting theory!

Great guy who will go above and beyond to help students. He understands the students plight a he still takes courses himself... he is going for his ED Deg. last I heard. His tests are brutal... but I believe this was his first years as a prof so I forgive him. Besides how can you not... he is the best prof on campus. The answer is 42 if in doubt!

Is very understanding of his students, although his teaching abilities are still developing. For the non-calculus based physics courses he has a habit of resorting to calculus to explain things. His midterms were a little tough, but okay. His finals tend to go long. By which I mean 4 hours (originally scheduled for 2). That was a rough exam.

Moves quickly but is carefull to make sure everyone understands

helpful, cares about students

Great teacher, he is always carefull to make sure everyone understands. Tests are difficult but not if you put in the effort you are supposed to (it's university). Also he spends so much time with extra curricular help like tutorials and lots of office hours. I wish some of my proffesors were more like him.

I think hes one of the best prof.Great notes and HELPFUL!He really cares and wants us to do well. His final exam was SO SO HARD..but physics is hard in general. I think hes the best prof you can get for physics.it was one of the few classes i actually looked forward to going. Great Job Kirk!!!

Puts in so much extra time to make sure everyone understands and gets the help they need. Tries really hard to make class interesting. Has a tendency to mention the string theory a lot.

stop blaming the prof when someone's mentally-challenged enuf to have failed the course. to all the ppl who will have him, lucky you. there's no other profs as passionate and knowledgeable as he is. that being said, you're expected to work hard, since you reap what you sow - only a dumb*** would confuse his incompetence with kirk's teaching ability

Really good professor. He really wants you to do well. His tutorials were really helpful and worth attending. He does move a bit fast with the notes, but if you actually do the assignments you should be fine. I did find that his exams were difficult, but fair.

Amazing teacher, but I felt like he would go into too much detail about the math and derivations (which went over most of our heads), and then rush through the examples. He also seem to choose the most difficult examples which were hard to learn from. Powerpoint notes were AWESOME. Midterm was ridiculously easy and final ridiculously hard.

Kirk was great! he might have been a little beyond us lowly first years but more than willing to help! He made class enjoyable and funny, and went far above and beyond to teach us physics. The tutorials were very helpful. A great guy and professor!

I have never witnessed a more dedicated and caring professor than Kirk Kaminsky. He is extremely passionate about teaching and knows his physics inside out. Not only has he taught me an enormous amount of physics, but he has instilled in me a deep interest to further my education in other physics courses. You will not regret taking Kirk's class.

Great Professor, he knows his stuff, he knows how to teach it, and he is very helpful.

He's really helpful and wants everyone to do well. He's obviously very passionate about teaching. The exams are moderately hard but fair, and he marks relatively easily.

Wow, what a great prof. Kirk is just awesome. He actually cares about his students and wants everyone to understand. He really knows what he's talking about and he knows how to teach. He is without a doubt the best prof in the department. But you will have to work hard to do well in his class since the final is really hard, but still fair.

Great prof, really tries everything to help you understand, tutorial sessions help a lot since he can't cover everything properly in class, exams are brutally hard though and notes can be confusing at times

Cons: Occationally speaks a little fast to follow. Sometimes you can't read what he wrote on the board (but just ask for claification and he'll give it). Difficult exams. Pros: He runs over material in a productive manner. Really nice guy with a sense of humour. Suggestions: Print off the powerpoint presentations prior to class. GREAT PROF OVERALL!

He made the class alot of fun

Taking 126 now and i miss Kirk so much. He is a fantastic prof who wants to ensure everyone knows the material. exams are tough! final was ridiculous, he had to remove so many questions otherwise the average would have been well into the 50's. makes you learn the material though, if you attended his lectures and did exams at another prof...an idea

Laugh aat him, laugh with him. He expects you to be highly intellegent and always says how he hopes he insults your intellegence by showing you something elementry or giving you a simple example.

I found he moved very quickly through his notes and examples, which made them hard to follow. His tests were also very hard, but tended to be very similar to his assignments. I did find him very enthusiastic though and he made the material interesting.

He is the most dedicated teacher I've ever witnessed. He will explains something until you get it. Exams are hard but not so much if are good at math and study. Overall best Physics teacher that I've ever had in my whole schooling.

Awesome prof. Goes over theory well then does lots of good in class examples. He does go over material a bit quickly though. Doesn't like stupid questions or comments - avoid them. Exams are not that difficult. Well maybe for the science folks, the ENGG people should find them alright.

Awesome prof! Really dedicated to teaching, I'm pretty sure he has a freaking ed degree! Goes over a lot of examples. He did tend to skip over the theory a little bit, but that was fine with me (I hate theory)

awesome guy//highly recommended

Teaches extremely fast, quite hard to keep up with. Sometimes skips smaller steps and loses students. He is very helpful tho, and his use of Simpson's clips is quite entertaining. As good as he was, I still dropped the class

One of the best profs I've ever had!!.. Highly recommended!! you can tell he enjoys teaching a lot. His simpson clips inclass are acutally very helpful. Has an education degree so farely clear in explaning. He's AWESOME!! =D

Honestly he's a very nice person, helpful outside class in office hours. He jumps around concepts alot, assignes very difficult questions for a first time, first year class, and exams are very long and extremely tough. If possible find an easier proffesor, his toughness overmasks his helpfullness. Must practice daily to do decent in his class.

I enjoy physics, took it all throughout high school, did very well. I thought that his helpfulness would compensate for how hard it was made out to be on here, but was wrong. The assignments are average, but the midterm and final were brutal. I have never felt so owned by a exam in my life.

great prof, brutal exams but tries his best to help his students. Love simpson clips. Recommond to take his classes =) really fun!

High quality prof. If you have the will to learn, you can't do poorly in his class - the guy gives weekly tutorials to do various problems, (plus lecture is all problem solving) and he assigns relevant assignment questions. He gives all the material needed to do well on the exams. Thanks for not making physics a pain in the a--

The man has an Ed degree so he knows how to teach and make tests. He makes beyond fair and the classes are curved. He moves quickly through material and uses every minute in class so attend them! help sessions were good. Assignments easy, Midterm fair but no time to finish, got raped by the A05 final. Overall he's a good prof as long as you try!

he's a good guy, helpful outside of class. Tries to make physics fun. One thing, if you have never been good in physics, avoid him, as he is difficult, and never goes into the basics, just dives immediatly into the porblem. Also assignments and exams and are brutal in difficulty. Also phys124 isn't best course to take with him, 271 is.

Very helpful prof, really wants his students to understand. concepts can be challenging but since he goes over alot of examples, we know what is expected.

ok prof. ok ass'ts, brutal exams do extra probs & stay on top of this class. likes to combine physics methods into 1 prob. jumps right into tricky stuff w/out going over basics. assigns hard probs & does hard ex's in lecture notes which is good. attempts to explain and help out as much as possible but hardness of class 'overrides' his help

Incredible prof. Very passionate and tells great stories to make his points. Loves what he does.

Sweet dude. I loved the fact he would show simple derivations and give hints as to what the 144 students were doing with calculus - I'm actually taking 146 because he made seem interesting enough. Good stuff.

Entertaining, and a brilliant prof! I actually enjoyed physics for the first time in my life, and did well too!

Its not that Kirk's class is too difficult- the problem is that Kirk's class is much, much more difficult than the 124 classes taught by other profs (seen exams from a few different profs). And because of this I would not recommend taking the class with Kirk. With this said however, maximum respect to Kirk he is an excellent prof.

He is passionate about what he does and always has been. Great class - Simpsons episodes were popular 10 years ago and still are - he makes you want to take higher level Phys/Math courses (even when you shouldn't).

GREAT Prof. I loved him to death. He explains physics in a way that make you actually understand the concept and derivation not just plug in numbers in a formula. He is very smart and has a passion for physics. I highly recommend him. You have to study his notes well and you are guaranteed an A. :)

Absolutely amazing prof! He actually makes you love physics even when originally, it was my most hated subject. He teaches very well and his exams are very fair. Understand his notes/questions and you will do well on his exams. I highly recommend him. Best professor I have ever had!

Great prof, loved going to class. Be warned, he speaks reallyreallyfast, so pre-reading the outlines is a MUST in order to understand what he's talking about and to keep up with examples.

very enthusiastic and intelligent prof.His method of teaching is very unique yet effective.Course was very challenging,just keep up with him and practise his problems you should be fine.His explanation is very clear but a bit fast.Surely he's considered one of the best profs in school.

Excellent physics teacher he defiantly knows his stuff. Make sure you show up to every one of his classes, because he goes through important material that will defiantly show up on the midterm/final!!!

Education degree, loves physics, brilliantly explains concepts down to the smallest details without losing a drop of enthusiasm. Literally sprinted down the rows of desks at the Butterdome during the final exam to answer students' questions. 17 out of 100 people in his class got an A+ on the consolidated final in 2009. Enough said.

Moves really fast so if you don't know physics before hand you may struggle.

Kirk is very enthusiastic, but you do not have the liberty to drop off. If you drop the ball in one of his classes, it will be very hard to pick it back up. midterm test was brutal, but this was still one of the most rewarding classes i have ever taken

made physics fun and frustrating all at the same time

Awesome. I learned a lot in his lectures. Both his passion for the material as well as the ability to lecture it well makes him superb. Consequently, it hightens my interest level in the material even more. I can't comment on his exams though, seeing as how I wasn't registered in his class. I kinda wish I had though...

So awesome! His tests are hard but fair. If you talk to him after class, he'll not only help you but give you insight into a lot of other things too. Also rather cute in a nerdy way haha!

One of the best profs on campus. His tests are hard, but very fair. He has passion for his subject, and makes class very interesting, I definitely recommend him.

For a first year course, I'd recommend Kirk. He's really enthusiastic, interesting and gives great examples in class. Basically free marks in assignments. Very difficult tests. The midterm was hard and the final was crazy- pretty well no one left until all the time was up. However, if you look at his examples and put time into it you should be ok.

If you have a T,Th class, be prepared to sit through it without a break. He covers as much material as he possibly can. Homework was easy, free marks there. Midterm was tough, time management is definitely essential. Final was rough, but study and do his class examples and different variations of them and you will have no problem on the final.

Dr. Kaminsky is enthusiastic and really wants the best for his students. He prepares you well for the exams but do not interpret this as an easy class. His midterm was too long for the amount of time we had... I failed miserably. The final was easier though, this is what saved me in the class. I ended up with a B+ and I hate physics. Recommend.

Really nice guy, really fast talker. You cannot fall asleep in lectures because he tries to cover as much content as possible and talks really fast. Homework was easy for the most part, but exams were really difficult. Make sure to understand his examples inside out, and you will do fine.

Kirk is extremely enthusiastic! he loves physics and want you to love it too, but his assignments and finals are extremely hard. you def have to attend every single class and pay attention! there was barely enough time to finish his midterm, and the final was just brutal. he's an amazing guy, but he's way too brilliant!! study your butt off!!

Loves what hes doing and it shows. Hes insanely knowledgable so he expects a lot from his students. You really need to work hard. The course itself can be quite difficult though. He's very funny and had simpsons clips to explain concepts. He often has very interesting real life examples too.

Great prof, really nice guy. Could not write a harder test though. Averages are usually below 50, so the curve helps a lot.

Super awesome instructor. I wish most of my teachers were like him. Dr. Kaminsky really knows Physics, but more importantly, he knows how to teach, how to bring it... Definitely attend every class, pay attention, ask questions, and you'll be fine.

Definitely a good & funny prof but be prepared to work. Go to every lecture and make sure you understand all the examples/assignments. Midterm average was about 30%. Hope you're good at math since his exams are more math exercises (setting up equations) than the usual physics formula 'plug and chug' that other profs do and they do make you think.

I hated physics going into 124, but he made me like the subject. Really enthusiastic and passionate, and an overall amazing prof. Take physics with him if you can!

Very funny prof! Easy to pay attention

Great prof, expects students to know their math very well. His exams are hard but make you understand the actual concepts of the course. If you want to really learn physics take his course. If you just want to pass, try to get another prof.

The most enthusiastic prof i've had the pleasure of having. A real work horse, during and after class hours. Course is interesting, and tests are pretty difficult.

helpful prof but he expects a lot from you. my advice, if u are great at physcs and would like a challenge, stay in his class. but if physics isnt taht great for u, transfer right away bcuz he most fast and his examples and exams are hard.

Kirk is amazing, he is so brilliant and he makes me want to learn about physics, but does not make me want to compute it. BUT he is too much of a genius to teach this first year course. His exams are HARD, but not impossible. I would take him though because the curve works for your benefit. His averages are low and sometimes thats a good thing.

Kirk is an awesome teacher, and an awesome person...class is hard, but curved, so it does go in your favour...I don't like physics any more than I did before, BUT the way Kirk teaches made me go to every class.

Simply amazing. Hard, but amazing. If you want a challenge to learn REAL physics and think it's interesting, take it with him. Has awesome Simpson's clips. His "claims" that're "trivial" make physics seem like a joke, but it isn't; he's just simply amazing. No other way to put it, I swear he's from another planet. Helpful too.

such a awesome prof. really interesting and clear. and he is funny to make you laugh during the class.

Kaminsky rocked. He was so interested in the subject matter, and made it interesting and relevant. He covered everything pretty quickly, and didn't really have time for any questions, but he was available a lot outside of lectures, so it wasn't an issue if you actually took advantage of office hours.

Amazing prof!! Honestly is way too smart to be teaching, he should be off solving the worlds energy crisis. Very interesting and helpful, always made me want to go to class even though I hate physics. Class is hard but he does an excellent job breaking down the material and exams so as long as you do the homework and his class examples you'll be fi

Oh Lords his exams are hard. But he's really funny and a good prof. If you're not physics intense you...probably dont want to take his class. But Hey, Each to their own.

A very awesome person with a great personality. Super into Physics. His class is great, but... his exams are a bit challenging/stressful. If you're good and interested in Physics, he is the prof you want. But if you're not so into nor good in Physics, might want to reconsider enrolling in his class. He does try his best explaining concepts though.

Great teacher, incredibly hard exams but questions similar to assignment and classes. Go ask for help.

O my god... The final just owned me. I still had A-, but I don't know how I managed. I learned a lot in this class as he teaches extremely well.However, the exams are SUPER STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT! If you are very much into physics and like the depth, go for it. But if you have a tough course load already, then just avoid.

He's very very very smart, but he expect his students to be as smart or if not, like atleast have a fraction of his smartness. His lectures are fun, though i have always hated physics but i wouldn't mind going to his classes :) but it's almost impossible to get a good grade...avoid if you are already bad at physics, hard exams!

An extremely engaging lecture, covers the material very well. His approach is a great supplement to the high school physics pre-reqs. Assignments are challenging but good for learning the material, tests are tough so do the examples. Take his class if you have the option, you won't be disappointed.

Do not take class if you are not strong with rearranging formulas. Go to class since he is a great lecturer and you will need his examples to get the homework.Set aside ample amounts of time(5-7 hours) for homework assignments. His tests are hard but if you absolutely memorize how to do his problems in the lecture and assignments, you can do well.

Very knowledgable but talks to students as if they are already physicists. Extremely difficult assignments and midterms. Final makes you want to die after you scan through the test and know NOTHING. Overall, quite a fair prof and cool guy.

loved his class but still hate physics. class was very enteraining but final was insane. homework wasnt bad if you go to the help room and it should take you 2hrs max but overall i would def take a class with him again

Best physics teacher I have ever had. He might make you love physics. However, if you have difficulties with the subject avoid him as he goes fairly fast. Recently (2011) he has stopped his 'hard exam' tradition. Nevertheless he was both "proud and disappointed". Many people got 100%, others 50...

The professor is not concerned with the student's objective of taking the course, it's not easy for a physics prof to act very humane when his passion is "abstract". He punishes his students by hard exams "Without realising". He's nice, but students might not share the same love, which he should accept.

The greatest physics prof I have ever had. I have taken a lot of physics courses and never have I had a teacher so passionate about the subject. It made me fall in love with physics all over again. I wish he could teach all the rest of my courses, I could listen to him all day long.

Great guy and super lecturer. Really cares about his students and that showed. Exams were really tough - assignments were tougher. Study hard for the final. I went with an A and came out with a A-. If you don't get the theory you won't get the questions. iClicker questions used - good study tool too.

2 of the greatest advice that allowed me to do so well in this class..1. Make physics interesting to you by relating it to everyday tasks! 2. GO SEE YOUR PROFF!!! Kirk Kamisky= one of the greatest proff's and person I have ever met!

It is indescribable how hard he makes the homework for this course, resulting in most of the class downloading the answer key, copying every answer, and miserably failing the exams. The exams aren't bad at all if you actually do the homework.

Took his class twice, once in fall and I withdrew cause I would have failed, then again in spring where I got an A. He class is much easier in spring because he has more time to devote to individual students, and he will tell you the same thing. My only advice is you must take his class in spring; put in a little effort, and you'll do will.

Awesome professor and really nice guy. Because he's so passionate about the subject, he actually made me like physics. He is challenging though, but that lowers the average so that a 75 can be an A-. If you do the problems in his notes you should be fine. Attend his review sessions and go to his office to ask questions because hes really helpful.

I really think he's very helpful! At first you would think he is a Sheldon from the Big Band theory, I love his passion, once he dives into a concept and takes it further it blows your mind, although his assignments are hard and the math is sometimes hard to grasp if you never took calculus. Do a lot of extra questions from textbook, READ it!!!

Great physics teacher, very passionate about what he teaches. Course is the most difficult I have taken but is also very rewarding once you begin to grasp the concepts.

Good prof, the exams are very rushed but once u get used to it you'll ace the exams. I didn't use the textbook at all just did assignment questions online.

Hands down the best Physics prof! He is a super genius and makes the most easiest exams. Best thing ever, averages are super low (<50%) so if you have a brain by the end of the day you'll have an A+ in this class.

This course should not be taken in a 50 minute block. There is not enough time for Kirk to completely explain concepts and not nearly enough time to write the midterms. The physics dept requires exams to be MC and Kirk wants to test thorough knowledge so questions are tricky. Kirk seems intimidating but is a nice guy. The course is just brutal.

DO NOT TAKE THIS IN A 50 MIN PERIOD SINCE THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THE MIDTERMS. HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF TEACHING KIRK IS A GREAT PROF. UNDERSTAND THE MASTERING PHYS QUESTIONS AND EXAMPLES IN CLASS AS WELL AS I-CLICKER QUESTIONS AND YOU ARE GOOD TO GO

Solid Prof. Works really hard to ensure the class learns, always available for help and all-around good guy.

Nice prof. Just study and do well in Final. you got an A

BEST prof I've had so far in engineering. Very passionate and enthusiastic. Extremely hard subject but he makes it do-able. Don't expect to do well unless you attend his lectures and labs/seminars. He wants his students to do well and will do just about anything to help you succeed. Study hard, ask questions, attend seminars. HIGHLY recommended!!

AMAZING prof. Honestly, he needs to be given an award. He's so passionate about physics that you WISH you understood what he was saying. MC exams, which is okay, but the time crunch is an issue. Final is 3 hours and not too bad if you redo all practice questions. Class avg is low so don't worry. I BOMBED first midterm and still ended up with an A-.

Great Professor, he definitely knew what he was talking about, very passionate about the subject. Good thing the homework has 5 tries because you NEED them all. Tests are brutally hard, but don't worry the average is ridiculously slow, curve works in your favour.

He loves what he is teaching. Very enthusiastic and entertaining in class. Sadly that is overshadowed by very tough exams. Didn't find midterms too hard but there were questions on the final i swear i had never seen before. Curve is low and that tends to help some people.

great

Great lectures! Super engaged and fun! Puts lots of work in his lectures! Learn a whole crapload! Need more profs like Captain Kirk!

He was a really great prof! Enthusiastic about what he was teaching and always tried to make the class excited about the topics! He put a lot of effort into his notes. Some topics were rushed, but the class is fun. I wish there was more profs like Kirk <3

Captain Kirk is awesome! I hope he teaches more physics courses I plan on taking in the future! Best prof yet in Uni! <3

Really good at teaching. His exams are brutal though. Maybe physics just doesn't work with me but I did all the assignments and still felt the exams were hard.

awesome teacher, knows his stuff, homework is actually interesting rather than simple

The effort he puts in is unparalled, but his teaching style simply did not work for me. He goes fast, mostly teaches orally, and scribbles writing down that is hard to read and often isn't in his printed notes. Assignments were hard, but useful if you put in the hours. I suggest just listening in lectures, reviewing his notes a lot, and practicing.

He's a nice guy, a good speaker, and certainly puts in the hours, but having 244 and 271 with him gave me a hard semester. He goes fast, wastes time trying to reteach math courses, and left me feeling unprepared for future courses, especially 372. I've never said this before, but I wish he would slow down and not be so thorough with proofs.

Good instructor but his exams are waaay too tough and unfair in difficulty.

Super passionate about subject matter, really great lecturer. Exams/assignemnts are MUCH harder than with other 124 profs, though. Still, he's worth it.

Dont be afraid to make an appt with him if you dont understand. he's really nice.

Kaminsky is very knowledgeable in the topic of physics and his assignments and exams are enjoyable yet sometimes challenging. I highly recommend taking his course, even if your knowledge in physics is limited. I was never a good physics student, but I learned a lot about the subject and learned to love it thanks to Kaminsky.

People who are complaining that his exams are hard - did you even try the assignment questions? Because if you can do THOSE, you're WAY over-prepared for his exams already! Assignments are difficult, but only worth 0.5% each. VERY helpful, hilarious, interesting, and mind-blowing lectures. Your grade reflect your ability & effort.

Incredible prof! Exams are brutal but you are very well prepared for them. He makes physics enjoyable and his lectures always include some humour. The only thing is that the exams are VERY difficult but it will only prepare you that much more for the final.

He genuinely cares about what he teaches, but his teaching style is not made for first year physics students. The assignments are difficult but helped me to understand the concepts better, however their difficulty level didn't correlate to that of the midterms. I advise anyone who took physics by distance in high school to run from this professor.

Textbook isn't needed, but it'd definitely help you if you don't understand his notes. Assignments and midterms were difficult, but it is physics. He keeps class interesting with The Simpson's videos, and cat jokes/memes. If you want to learn, take Kaminsky. If you want to do well, take Meldrum. Effort needs to be put in, but it's well worth it!

Good notes and formula sheet. I still use them in higher courses. Very good prof. His exams and homework make you think, which if your smart is a good thing. If not, you end up writing one of the fear mongering reviews on here when you get a 30% on the final. Which is still a pass on the curve.

I loved Kaminsky. Such an interesting guy, and totally engaging in lectures. My issue is with the course - the assignments, lab work, and exams require a ridiculous amount of dedication for something that's just a pre-req course for med, not meant for physics majors. His tests are impossible to complete in 50 minutes, I didn't finish a single one.

First of all, this course is difficult. I do not blame Kaminsky for that. Go talk to him during his office-hours! I promise you will realize how good of a prof and person he is. Yes, exams are challenging; that's why it's curved. Both classes have around same class averages. One more rating after the final; hopefully, I won't get destroyed.

He is a very good proff. Yes, the course material is hard but this is university physics and you need to put a bit of effort. The class average is very low and since the class is curved, it's very favourable for you if you work hard. Very helpful and friendly guy!

Great prof, with a really funny subtle sense of humor. I wasn't really planning on taking more physics courses, but he really teases you and makes you want to learn more!

One of the best in UofA. Very passionate about Physics. There is probably nothing you can ask him about Physics that he won't be able to answer. Motivates everyone to do their best. May seem condescending but is really approachable and helpful. Better for those who are really into Physics and not just high marks. I got an A through hard work.

He sure takes PHYS124 being a "weed-out" course for prospective Medicine students seriously... Assignments took hours to complete, often requiring groups of people just to handle the extraordinarily complex nature of each problem. Labs required all-nighters to finish. Midterm exams needed 2 hours not 50 minutes to finish. But he's nice and helpful.

Kaminsky is a really great lecturer! He makes physics interesting while he teaches it. But his homework and tests are much harder than other physics 124 classes. So although you may enjoy the lectures, you really have to know your stuff to do well in his class.

He is quite clear but often gets sidetracked. The entire course he was worried about our timeline so would skip many examples but would find time to go into things beyond the course. He knows what he is talking about but he assumes that everyone follows his logic when doing examples. The exams are MC and seem not that hard but one mistake and ...

Charming lectures, can almost make physics appealing. Until you hit the exams. About ten times harder than assignments, which says something. I killed Physics in high school, Kirk's class killed me. Made for Physics majors only. Take Meldrum if you can.

Kirk is awesome, best 1st year phys prof. Midterms were moderate, but with really low (<50%) averages, so not too bad.

He is an excellent prof and he will teach you physics for sure. But his exams are hard. However, if you keep up and understand how to do the problems, you should easily beat the curve and get at least A- . Really wish if kaminsky was teaching 126 now!!!

This course is extremely hard, IF you want a 90 (A+). However, 75% gets you an A-, and honestly, that's very doable. All the ratings are so negative; this guy is extremely nice in-person, and very helpful. Go see him if you need help, and put some effort and you will do fine. Remember, people tend to over exaggerate things here...It ain't that bad.

It's understandable that any first year who is not a physics major would be intimidated by Kirk. The lecture pace is brisk, but man is he passionate about physics! Kaminsky will teach you what you need to know, and make you love it. He is incredibly helpful, very intelligent, and the nicest guy. I hope they keep him despite the budget cuts.

I was a bit hesitant after reading reviews to take his class in spring but he ended up being a great and extremely helpful prof. I thought his exams were tough but they were fair. I was never surprised by any of the questions he asked. I would highly recommend him, but you have to put in the effort if you want to do well.

Say what you will, Kirk was an phenomenal instructor. Are the exams hard? Yes! Does that mean you have to work hard? Yes! I still hate Physics but Dr. Kaminsky helped me to appreciate it. I highly recommend taking his class!

Yes Kirk's exams were hard but physics in general is just a harder class so you have to work hard - But I actually took a lot from this class. I am leaving this class with a new appreciation and understanding of physics!! I also found him really approachable and helpful whenever I had a hard time with anything!!

My favorite teacher all year. He was funny, interesting and sarcastic. Text books were irrelevant. His notes are crystal clear, leaving examples blank to follow along. His assignments were fair both in length and easiness. His exams were crammed for time but were easy enough if assignments were completed and class was attended. Simply a great prof!

Amazing Prof! Really can see his enthusiasm make lessons interesting. Legitimately loves Physics and wants you to as well. Some people say he is mean but he only speaks the truth.

The lectures are clear and his notes and in-class examples are great. Assignments are hard but useful. Exams are brutally hard but completely fair. As an aside, the labs are really tough too. Be prepared to put in a lot of effort but a good mark is achievable. Physics is what it is.

This guy was amazing. His exams might have been terryfingly hard but if you did his inclass examples the exam is VERY VERY similar. This guy is amazing. He'll help you out in anything no matter how silly your question is and actually cares for his students. Take Kirk if you can! He's awesome!

WOW SUCH LEARN. MUCH DEGREE. WOW.

Good prof, however he does have extremely difficult compare to other classes

He is humorous and funny in class and gives extensive notes on solving problems. But it could be hard to follow him all the way through a problem if you dont know the concepts and formulas. He practically lost me for the last chapter, but eventually I went over notes and caught up. Good prof overall.

Go to EVERY class. This man is brilliant. Cannot emphasize enough how well he could coney the concepts, and made the class entertaining with his constant crazy antics! Expect the worst though, the class is challenging and Kirk will not slow down for one person. Make an effort, and he's the best.

One of the most interesting profs i've ever had, but also the hardest class i've ever taken. This class single handedly made me lose hair early and caused ulcers to ravage my gastrointestinal tract. To those entering this class, good luck

He has a deep knowledge of what he teaches, and the concepts behind them.

He is a great prof. He takes one of the hardest courses (PHYS 230) and helps you to thoroughly understand the concepts. He has very difficult exams but he is great at lecturing and they are often entertaining. On top of all this he is a very intelligent guy, this allows him to be able to teach even the most complicated topics to idiots like us.

His lectures are heavy and fast, but he is very good at expaining the concepts, he is super intelligent, and the examples he did during lectures were very helpful. I'll definitely take his class again.

Great class! I learned a lot :)

This class wasn't easy, but Kaminsky was an amazing prof from start to finish. Our midterm average was hella low, so it's understandable that he was giving a bit of an attitude for a week after the marks came out, considering how much work he put into us. Class was never dull, easily most enjoyable class for me in this semester.

Amazing well respected professor, amazing help with anything regarding the course and even help with planning future classes and helps with other courses aka linear algebra, calculus, etc. Amazing man would definitely take his class again!

Extremely insightful homework questions, but at the same time could be difficult for someone who is not really good at his high school physics. Amazing lectures which let you have a deep understanding to physics. Best physics teacher!

Kirk is very funny, engaging and made an effort to know everyone in a class of 100 students. but his tests are hard. even though he would tell us the basic concepts and what general ideas to study for the test, he picks the hardest possible question from this. not going to lie I cried a bit after the final. but if you put in the work you'll do okay

Kirk is a really smart and kind professor who will help those who need it. His lectures could be intense at times but his notes were great. The tests and assignment questions were difficult if physics isn't your best subject, but certainly doable. Had to put in a lot of work to boost my mark after a hard midterm but would definitely recommend him!

Awesome professor! He gave plenty of study materials and made sure to cover every part of the course in great depth. The unfortunate compromise to that though is that this is a big course. He doesn't waste a second of class time and moves very fast. I often had a sore hand after taking notes! He has a lot of character and is really likable!

I loved this class. It was very difficult but definitely one of my favorites. Kirk is a very nice guy who really tries to help the students understand. Passionate and amazing to listen to in lectures.

Great and Knowledgeable Professor

Best professor I have ever had!

This course is incredibly difficult; it includes mathematics well beyond that expected of a first year student. It also has hw sets that will cause early hairloss. However, once making it through the experience, it all comes together and makes sense. Kirk cares and the difficulty of this course is only because he wants to prepare us for the future.

Kirk is the best physics instructor Ive ever had. He truly cares about preparing his students for the future and treated our 100 level class like we were a 400 level group. He took the time to learn everyone in our class name, which is a great show of how he likes to develop student relationships to give meaningful feedback.

One of the best and most solid profs I've ever had! He can also teach u lots in easiest way, he is so caring that he is willing to provide u the clearest explanation about anything on courses.

He teaches realllly fast and sometimes it was hard to keep up, but it is understandable because it is a large course. A great prof and advisor. He is really passionate about the subject when he is teaching it which makes any class better.

Kirk has to be one of the best profs that University of Alberta can boast of. All those who are really interested in physics and want to work out of their comfortable zone, Kirk is the guy for you. You cannot absolutely miss him.

Kirk is an amazing prof. Super great for first year phys, loved having him for 2 sems. Assignments are the toughest thing you will ever do, I only passed 1! Go to class, work hard, go to office hours, go to the physics teaching and learning center! He will help you love physics and it's clear he does. Also so freaking SMART! The guy knows his stuff

Takes time to get to know his students even in a large lecture, I didn't put in enough effort in 144 (hence the D+), but I think I understand the concepts from it a lot better now, and also in 146 I got a CR, but it would have been higher. He puts far more effort into his exams than other profs and even has an Ed degree so he can help better.

You will not find a single professor at this university who cares about his students the way kirk does. If you are at all interested in taking a physics class, TAKE IT WITH HIM!

Kirk provides an extremely tough 144 experience, but in exchange you gain one of the best introductions to the rigour, but also the underlying beauty of physics. This course challegened me and made me cry so much but in the hardship I really gained such an appreciation for physics, if you can take a mentally challenging course, please take this.

Physics is in my opinion a course you cannot do easily online. But Kirk did his best to accommodate everyone (he did more by himself than teams of professors have done in my other classes) there was still some issues (TBE) I will say though however, this class needs to be your priority, once you fall behind its next to impossible to catch up

This is an amazing course! The content isn't too far beyond Physics 20/30 (AB), but be aware that his questions are VERY challenging! He tests fair, takes it upon himself to accommodate people, and ensures that we learned content well in preparation for future courses. One of the best experiences ever, and would definitely take it with him again!

BEST prof ever! When the class was over, tbh, I was gonna cry cuz this guy was sooo nice and I have never enjoyed a physics class sooo much! Even if you know NOTHING about physics, just TAKE his class and put efforts, you will succeed I promise. keywords: considerate, caring, respected, easily accessible, inspirational...(and sooo many good words)

Kirk is a very nice prof and he teaches the material in this class passionately and very well.

Great prof, really cares about not only the material he's teaching but his students as well. Helpful explanations, hilarious, and really wants his students to succeed.

If you don't mind your gpa taking a hit I highly recommend taking his class solely for him. Easily my favourite prof. Incredibly passionate and makes physics so much fun. It is difficult, lots of pre-class videos, and the assignments (10Q) are hard but when you get them right it is so rewarding. Very funny and always there for his students.

Kirk is just awesome. Yes, the class was hard af, but he made sure everyone understood the materials. He really cares about everyone. And he is just inspirational and a fun prof. Hands down, best physics prof at UofA.

Hardest course I took in year one and a rude awakening to university. Honestly, the difficulty of the course demolished my mental health, but now nothing surprises me. I think now that I am used to uni, it might not be as bad as I thought. Kirk is a great guy though - amazingly helpful in office hours and genuinely cares about knowing his students.

Phys 244 was taught at a very high level, which is fantastic for some and horrible for others. However, his questions tend to be on the long side, but they are insightful. I loved the detailed derivations, proof of the Euler-Lagrange equations, the week on the calculus of variations, and Hamiltonian mechanics :). Absolutely brilliant instructor!

It was a hard class, but Kirk made it a wonderful time! It was the second the course was ever offered, so there were a few kinks here and there, but overall the course was fantastic. It essentially tried to combine ODEs/PDEs into one, but despite that, Kirk was able to teach what he needed to in the time required! Office hours were also useful!

Definitely recommend Kirk. He teaches to a high level, his homework assignments are lengthy and can be challenging, but his exams are quite fair, and clearly outlined. He is a very passionate teacher, who takes the time to learn about his students.

Kirk is the definition of a goat! Had him for a spring class and I looked forward to it everyday; He's amazing in every way. Although his evaluations are really hard; he's always there to help you understand them and sometimes stay hours after class to explain them. He treats students with so much respect and becomes a friend more than a prof!

Kirk was a great professor all around but be forewarned: this is an insanely difficult course. It combines what was previously two or three different classes and puts them together in a matter of 13 weeks. There's a lot of course content to cover and Kirk goes fast. That being said, he made a really hard class a lot of fun which is saying something

Best Prof I've had.

One of the best professors I've ever had the privilege of studying under. An incredible lecturer who cares deeply about his class and will take the time to get to know his students. Absolutely hilarious (I would pay to see this man on TV) and makes incredibly difficult concepts and problems fun and satisfying to solve. 100% would recommend.

Tough course, but Professor Kirk makes it an engaging experience. Utilize the textbook, attend class, and consider tools like unstuckstudy ai to ace the challenging assignments. Overall, a rewarding class if you put in the work.

Kirk is an amazing prof and he makes the difficult content in this class easier to understand. Super funny guy too. Beware his assignments are tough and time consuming. Go to his office hours they will help. His quizzes and midterm were fair with a little tough final. Just make sure to not fall behind because this course is very content heavy.

Kirk is bar none of the best lecturers I've ever had. He explains concepts so well and so succintly, it's crazy. This course is extremely content dense and would be literal hell if Kirk wasn't teahcing it. Assignments and exams are extremely tough, but are fair and graded on a curve. Get ready for a tough time in this class, but it will be good.