No Comments

Best teacher i have ever had. Really explains the concepts very well. Will take him again for 189. Great teacher. Made biology easy.

I really liked Dr Merkler's class. She works off power point slides but also uses material from the book so if you take good notes and read the book, you can do well. The tests are, by no means, easy so you have to study hard but you'll learn a lot. I highly recommend taking BIOL 95 before taking BIOL 189. I found that it helped me considerably.

lots of studying!!Could have used some type of outline prior to tests;were very hard..Get looselesf textbk.w/cd's; CD's help.Her course content printable lecture notes are exactly like her in-class lectures, but class attendance is import't, cuz of the iclicker ?'s. focus on listening &understanding concepts, rather than word 4 word note taking.

She's amazing. You need to read the book if you want to fully comprehend what she's teaching or at least use the mastering bio software. She is always available for help. I aced everything in her class.

I enjoyed her class, however, it is challenging. She uses powerpoint along with lecturing Reading the book is necessary. Outlines are provided online for study purposes. Her tests aren't easy but if attend lecture and study you will do fine. Also, she is always available for additional help if you need it. I would take her for other classes.

After hearing the horror stories about the other teachers, I felt grateful. She does have stuff on exams not covered in class, but you can find most of that by reading diligently. I came out with a C, but I'm sure that's only because the lab boosted my grade, and I had only moderate effort. She's very spunky. I'd definitely recommend.

She is very nice, and truly knows a lot about biology! READ THE TEXT BOOK and her tests will be a piece of cake. She uses a power point with her lectures that comes straight from the book but doesn't cover everything that will be on the test. Her lectures are pretty interesting. I would take another class with her if I needed to.

She is an awesome professor! She has power point notes in class and also more notes on the angel website for you to print out. Her tests are what are in her notes... Very nice and helpful! Take her!!!

LOVED Dr. Merkler! She was extremely helpful and very clear when explaining things.Don't miss a class and you will do fine. You do have to study. Taking bio 95 helped me pass bio 189. if i wouldn't have taken her before i took 189 i don't thinki would have survived.

189 is hell...but prof merkler was such a sweetheart and really made concepts clear to understand. Highly recomended. Her average test scores of 70 were higher than the other instructors (though I did better than that), and the final included questions from tests and homework. Study and be present and youll be fine.

I found her to be a great professor. Her tests are very clear from her lectures. As she explains with her power point, it is easier to understand. She is willing to answering our questions. Take her!!

Absolutely looove Dr Mekler she is funny, helpful, sweet, and knows what she is talking about! This class is not scary you just have to keep up since there is a lot to be covered study do hw read you'll be fine :) plus dr merkler is ALWAYS willing to help you! highly recommend!

Dr. Merkler is awesome. She definitely knows her stuff and I have already recommended her to all of my friends. Her tests aren't hard and she will help you with whatever questions you have.

Dr. Merkler is an excellent professor, very helpful, clear and concise. Five quizzes(open book), four exams the last one being cumulative and 5 or 6 homework assignments. She loves her subject! If you are a biology major, take her! If you are an allied health major she will really help you understand the fundamentals of life too.

Dr. Merkler is an amazing professor who cares about everyone passing. she is willing to help you out and makes biology easier to understand. lots of notes.

She is a great teacher who wants you to pass her class. You only have 4 quizzes and 8 homework assignments. Test are directly from lecture notes. Really didn't use the textbook, but its very helpful to read along with lecture notes. Take her !

GREAT TEACHER! She is more than helpful and really wants you to succeed if you show interest. She will answer questions, meet anytime she is available. Usually answers emails right away. Helps you with what you get wrong on exams. Wrote letters of recommendation for me and it got me into the first Biology Workshop even though I'm a freshman. GREAT

Professor Merkler is a wonderful teacher. She is very passionate about what she teaches and goes over everything very extensively. There is alot of note taking and if you are someone who skips class you will not pass this one. Homework is posted every week which takes about 5 min online to do. This class is Interesting & fun !! Highly recommended!

Dr. Merkler is a great teacher. I really enjoyed her class. She made biology interesting and something that I looked forward to every Monday and Wednesday. She obviously knows a lot about biology and is willing to help if needed.

Professor Merkler is a very knowledgeable woman. She is eager to help, and really cares about her students. Her exams are hard, and it's not an easy class. She explains things clearly and leaves room for students to ask questions. If you study the notes, read the book, and ask questions, you will learn a great deal. Best of luck.

Overall Professor Merkler is an awesome teacher, I would recommend. I took BIOL 189 with his in the spring of '12. Very clear, very helpful..if you have any questions just ask and she will help you. It is a bio class so you will need to do all the assigned reading and take notes in class, if you study hard you can get an A (as I did :D)

Best Biology class! She's always willing to help. 4 tests 8 Homeworks. 1 homework dropped. Final covers whole semester. She answers emails clearly. Tests are directly from lecture. Attendance not mandatory, but you do earn points for going. Recommend a study group lots of material covered. Take Merkler!!!

Merkler is so nice and always willing to make sure you know the information before moving on to new material. I think she explains things very thoroughly and uses the white board a lot which helps visually! I didn't have a problem in her class and would take her again any day.

I liked the professor, the only complaint is she argued with the book and shed skip around a lot, so you never know where you were. But I DID NOT LIKE HOW MUCH CHEM YOU LEARN! ITS A BIO CLASS! But she is definitely willing to help wherever you need

I liked her and her way of teaching. There are a LOT of notes but they help for the exams!! Bio is a hard class but she is willing to explain things to you and help you whenever needed. I would recommend her and would take her class again.

The class overall requires you to STUDY! A lot of notes that will help you with the exams. This professor is willing to go above and beyond to help you understand the material. Don't be afraid to ask! She takes pride in teaching! Always finds some funny jokes to compare the information you are learning. Best PROFESSOR EVER. TAKE HER, or regret it!

Dr. Merkler is a great teacher who thoroughly understands her subject and makes every attempt to help her students understand as well. She is the best Bio teacher I have ever had. It is important to study and attend class. I would have done better had I put in more time studying.

Amazing! She moves mountains to help students! Took her online course&was anxious but workloads fair(2-3 ch/wk) She's so helpful&organized! Replies to emails w/in hrs. Grading is fair. 10pt quiz & short essay due/wk. Tests(50 m/c) arent super easy. Read &review b4. Good profs are such a rarity, ill literally take anything shes teaching.

Dr. Lois is very nice, always willing to help students after class, provng her time whenever needed, but she is very difficult. She is very fast pace and likes to keep on schedule if that means speeding up lectures. I have a complete notebook of notes that I have taken while attending all of her classes, she gives no study guides just tests and HW.

She's cool and all but I was disappointed. I didn't pass and I had a 4.0 GPA before taking her class. After my third exam I knew I wasn't going to pass. So for those who aren't bio masters I wouldn't recommend her. No study guides, online homework-mandatory, attendance-not mandatory. I'm pretty upset and sad because I have to take bio 189 again.

The best teacher I ever taken. She does put out lots of notes for you to copy but if you listen, pay attention and study. You will pass her class. She makes learning fun. She brings in visual aids and is willing to explain things slowly for you to understand. Don't be afraid to let her know you don't understand because she will help you.

She is a wonderful teacher. It's a hard class but she did a good job breaking it down. Read the chapter before the lecture, take good notes and listen, study the notes for the tests. I earned an A and I mean EARNED. I felt lucky to have her...could have been much worse.

Very good teacher she tells you up front that its a fast paced class. she reminds you of drop dates and gives you a chance to move to a lower level bio class if you cant handle 189. i didnt really need to use the book i went off notes. hws are fairly easy except dna. test are straight foreward as well. all around good teacher

I took her for natural history and it was somewhat challenging. The tests are based completely off lecture notes. There are 4 identification tests (plants, birds, reptiles, mammals) that are impossible to pass if you don't study; however, she gives a study sheet for them. Various field trips throughout class. Very interesting class.

Merkler actually bides her time when lecturing. She wants you to succeed and is more than willing to help if you ask for it. Read your textbook for reinforcement, but mostly study the notes and you'll do alright. The tests are a little challenging, but she does not believe in nasty ambushes. Believe it or not she'll do job if you do yours.

Dr. Merkler is a great professor! She takes the time to answer question in class and lab. I enjoyed her class very much! She teaches off of power points, they contain useful information. She does have them online in case you want to print them out. Her tests aren't too bad if you take the time to study. Overall great professor would def recommend

One of the best bio instructors I have had at CSN As a health science major I''ve had many and she is one of the best for sure. Bio 189 can be hard course if you do not have experience in chem or bio but she is very help and will take all the time needed to help you understand the topics Best instructor

Lois is a great teacher, and very kind! She does not post her lecture notes online, so I highly recommended you read the textbook! Take notes, listen, and study hard. If you put in the work, you can pass this work with a A or B.

Professor Merkler is a great teacher. The class itself is fast paced and difficult, but Dr. Merkler made it as easy to understand as possible. I started to take 189 last semester with Preite and had to quickly drop because of how difficult it seemed to be. Merkler also is always available to answer any questions via office hours or email.

Dr. Merkler has a really tough class to teach and she is remarkable in helping you to tackle the task and pass the class. Put in the time, effort, ask for help when you need it and you will do well. Don't show up, don't read the textbook, ignore the smaller assignments and you will not make it. Need help? Ask for it and she will help you. Awesome!

The class is hard, but most biology classes are hard. Do not expect just to get by in this class. This professor is so helpful in this challenging course. I definitely recommend her.

I loved Dr. Merkler and her class. It is by no means easy, but her lectures are upbeat and anything from boring. She will not give you PP slides and you must take all note by hand which I didn't mind. Her tests are difficult, but if you study your notes and watch a lot of YouTube videos you will be fine.

Dr. Merkler is the professor for you if you are willing to put in the work. By all means, if you are not a biology person, do not take this class. This course is for dedicated students who are dedicated to coming to class everyday, taking notes all lecture long, and asking questions. Absolutely enjoyed Dr. Merkler's class.

Dr Merkler was totally amazing, made sure you understood the concept versus trying to complete chapters and lessons. Their is a lot of work between vocab, chapter summaries, quizes and tests but it is all doable.

Dr. Merkler is fantastic!189 is a tough class in general, a lot of info to absorb. If you work hard, she is welcoming & will help you. This class requires good note taking skills. There are videos and vocab journals to submit. It's all worth it & I learned so much. Dr. M prepares you well for upcoming bio sections. She cares & wants you to succeed!

Dr Merkler is an obviously competent and inspired Biologist that happens to also be a professor. She has a very clear teaching style, is willing to take the extra time during lectures to insure her students fully understand the material, and is super accessible outside of class for any student that finds themselves struggling.

Please read some of these with a grain of salt. Merkler is fantastic! No, doesn't give study guides & powerpoints. She helps you to become an excellent note taker & helps you actually understand info. Bio's are hard! They are not easy A's, you must work for it. She's willing to help, if you put in work. She prepares you for higher even harder bios!

Dr. M is a great teacher.

Dr M is a great teacher. She is not easy, biology is not easy. I agree with the review below that states to take these negative reviews with a grain of salt. She really does help you a lot and you need to dedicate a ton of time to this class. I personally love her. Yes you need to show up to pass, it's college. Read, show up, do work!

First of all, Biology requires a LOT of work. You have to do a lot of studying outside of class in order to pass. Merkler is a wonderful teacher. She is caring and tries to make sure everyone understands. Very fair and clear on what she wants. There are exams, online quizzes, and vocab words due regularly. Easy if you read the book and go to class

Best bio professor ever! Lectures were entertaining & engaging. Related the subjects to real life which made it relatable. Really flexible & willing to meet outside of class for however long. When I didn't get something, we'd go over it. Class will require studying a lot. There's no study guides, so make sure you understand the material for tests!

You HAVE to do what she says to pass #1 read the chapters before class or you'll get lost in the lecture Don't miss lectures/leave early, her exams are identical to the PowerPoint wording so take notes. Flash cards are an easy way to memorize her wording. Don't get exam wording confused Spends unlimited time helping you STUDY. Best teacher ever

Lois Merkler is an amazing professor. She always will meet you after class if you are having any trouble understanding the material and will review exams with you. I personally do not think the exams are difficult, as long as you READ THE TEXTBOOK, do not just go off her lecture notes, chances are you will not pass. I got an A. I would take again

I wish she was teaching the higher level bios , I would take her for all of them too. I highly recommend her , she has amazing lectures with real life examples , power points. 4 exams 1 final , 5 quizzes and she drops the lowest one . Read the book, take notes during lectures , use mastering biology that is provided and you will do just fine.

I'm not going to lie and say I had an easy time because this class was the HARDEST ever. As long as you attend the class, don't daydream, study, and take good notes: YOU WILL PASS! Dr. Merkler is always willing to make time for you if you reach out and let her know you're struggling. It really makes a difference to just ask for help!

The breakdown: class consisted of 5 exams, 1 final, and MANY hmwk assignments worth a few points each. I recommend to do ALL of the hmwk because these may gain you points if you're at a grade cut-off. Exams aren't difficult if you read & take lecture notes (she doesn't provide ppnts or study guides). SHES CARING & HELPFUL! Ask for help if needed!

Great teacher. Very knowledgeable. If you're not committed, you'll have a hard time in this class. Lectures are long, no guidelines or online PowerPoint and you won't be participating. You may want to find a study partner to discuss chapter and test items with.

BIO 189 is hard for most students but Merkler gives great lectures and answers any questions you may have. This is a class you have to actively try to learn in, no matter what prof you take it with. The homework she gives is easy and actually helps you study.

I am surprised by these reviews. I took her for 189 this semester and I had so much fun. She goes over the lectures in a fun way and helps you to understand. The only tough part of the class was the tests but if you studied and read the book, you were set. Put in the work and you'll be fine.

She is hands down, the best teacher Ive ever had. So thorough, willing to go out of her way to help you & make sure you understand the topics. You can schedule one on one time to review your graded tests to make sure you learn the things you missed. This is a harder class and she really makes it easier. 10/10 recommend.

Her lectures are very thorough and she uses lots of analogies and examples to aid in student comprehension. Yes, you have to read the book, but you should be reading the book anyway if you want a deep understanding of the topics (which you need for biology courses of any sort). Take her, she is better than a lot of profs in the bio department @ CSN

Dr. Merkler is straightforward, knowledgeable, passionate about her subject and ties in analogies, stories and diagrams to help you connect the concepts in the book to the lecture. Watch her lecture online before class, go to SI and watch Ninja Nerd on youtube. This is not an easy A and is readying heavy no matter which teacher. Dr. M was great.

I've never rated a professor but Dr. Merkler was so outstanding I could not resist. She is the sweetest! She has a sense of humor & cares about her students/ their success. There is no discrepancy on anything in this class: grading, due dates, etc. She is readily accessible outside of class and answers emails with haste. Take this professor!

You have to read the entire chapters on your own to supplement the class but as long as you do that and stay on top of quizzes and assignments you should do well! Enjoyed her lectures would take again!

Was intimated to take my first Biology class but Dr Merkler made her lectures easy to follow and made the class interesting. Like any other class, if you don't put in the study time you won't pass. Dr Merkler gives the resources to pass and always explains further if needed. Great professor, would take her for every Biology class if I could.

Dr. Merkler does a great job explaining a complicated class.

Merkler is clear, kind, & makes the many many concepts of this course easy to grasp. Lectures are an intro to each chapter, you HAVE to read & study yourself, YouTube and SI sessions are your friends. Her tests are completely multiple choice and all the quizzes/HW is open book. She cares about your success and is extremely passionate about biology

Just do the work. I got lazy but I know that if I put in more work, I would've been fine. She is very kind and was willing to help me and meet me one-on-one. Show up to class and read the textbook. Lowest exam score is dropped if you take the final. There are six exams including the final.

Professor Merkler's lectures were always understandable. If you read beforehand, you'll understand her lectures better and find that it's just going over what the chapters were about but more in depth. During lectures she also gives side stories to help people understand.