Good prof very friendly, he makes the course very straight forward and if you stick to his lecture notes you should be fine. However the course material is quite overwhelming.

he's amazing, he's so kind and if u read the notes ur gonna be ok,

Great prof! he knows his stuff, has a great sense of humour(usually adds simpsons bits to his powerpoint slides) and his tests were all multiple choice...great prof to have!

GPA Booster! And the prof happens to be quite smart and nice.

Dr Lechner is super nice and very knowledgeable and enjoys the subject he is teaching. Is is always in the lab in his free time so you can tell he is passionate about what he is doing. I'm glad I took his class and hope i can take more of his classes.

Excellent professor!! Very nice lectures, powerpoint format. Good break down of marks. Open book quizzes, asks relevant questions on exams nothing too hard plus bonus marks! But you must work hard of course. Available for help, prompt responses. Great prof!!

One of the best classes taken at simon fraser just because of the prof!! His lectures, even though early in the morning, were extremely useful. His powerpoint notes are really good to study off of because they are summarized nicely! Overall Prof is quite kind, has good teaching skills and easy to approach!

I like the way of how he teaches! He teaches students in a fun way.. played jeopardy in class and gave out bonus points which I believe it's a good way to motivate students to participate in class. His exams are fair and easy! Study his powerpoint and you will get good grade!

He is one of the best profs at SFU. He is very approachable and always available for extra help. His lectures are clear and organized.

Excellent professor!! lecture notes are helpful for midterm and final.

One of the best profs at SFU. Really knows his stuff, Good presenter, really loves the material. Overall great prof, easy class. A+

Lectures are very organized. very clear. don't need textbook. just study the notes. midterms are very fair. final was a little harder. but still fair! he's always available for extra help! highly recommend him!!

very well organized class with lots of discussion, midterm and final was fair and directly from lectures...also always available for extra help and bonus points...

Dr. Lechner is a great professor. He makes the lectures interesting and engaging. He is really helpful during his office hours so make sure to go.

great prof! gives out bonus marks if you ask questions, and he really cares about his students and hes passionate about what he teaches, he knows everything!

I'm not in HSCI but he is one of the best profs I've ever had. Very responsive to feedback, good lecturer and fair non-cumulative exams. Gives free bonus marks on exams. This course has a lot of material like a bio class but he focuses mainly on the important points. Study the notes and you will do fine. This course overall has a lot of easy marks.

Class itself is kind of boring but he can make it fun at times, key point is at times. His exams are not too difficult and is very generous with marks. He responds to emails in a timely manner and is always there for help. Super friendly and non intimidating. This class was super boring to me but he had creative ways to keep his class interested

Exams are all based on his lecture notes !! He is well organized, he also provides lecture recordings and study guide for the exams!! OVERALL HES AN EXCELLENT PROF !!! Would surely love to take another course with this prof!

Dr. Lechner is a really great prof. His notes are very straightforward, and he explains everything very clearly. He always tries to find a way to give you bonus marks at any given occasion. The course is a bit heavy, but the assignments are for the most part enjoyable. Very approachable; I would definitely take a class with him again!

My favorite prof in SFU. Just study his notes, and you will do great! Take his class!!

An amazingly kind person. . .one of the nicest people I've met. Class was relatively easy and the final was very straight forward. However,he has a strict marking curve so you probably need 97+ to get an A+. I would recommend this class in a heart beat though.

Dr.Lechner is the absolute best prof at SFU. Although the material covered in his class was not something everyone would find interesting, he made the experience very enjoyable. He is very kind, and genuinely just a great person. So take ANY course with him. ;)mark rocks my world

Sweetest and the most humble professor ever.

he explains things really well, and makes lecture materials easy to understand.

Great professor! Mark is well organized, knowledgable and humble. He encourages questions in class and even remembers people's names, which I have never seen before in such a big lecture! Exams are fair and the course material is very interesting. Mark is not bad looking either ;) I highly recommend taking this course if you get the chance!!

One of the best profs i've had in my 4 years. Very passionate about material and makes science fun by showing interesting videos and telling jokes. Assignments are easy and exams are fair, though there is a lot to memorize. Highly recommend if you need a B-sci credit or gpa booster especially if you have taken bio 12.

he doesn't teach everything in the textbook. all his exams are based on his lecture slides only so if you study that then you're good. you actually don't need to buy the textbook. just buy the Bad Science novel for the group project.

Mark is a great prof. However his grading rubric leaves a lot to desire. An 79% = a C+, 80% = B. WHATTTT!!!! Not ok. 36

Mark is a great prof but his grading rubric is absolutely horrible

It was a pretty ok course but his grading scale is bs. If you get under 70% it's a D. In a regular course, I should've gotten a B but instead I was left with a C. Not cool.

Mark is an awesome prof. In the beginning, I thought that his grading scale was ridiculous too, but with such a high grading scale, it only means that this course is really easy. This course isn't hard, as long as you study and work hard, you will ace this course. The scientific method assignment is also worth a lot, so make sure you ace that.

One of the best profs I've had at SFU. However, his grading scheme is absolutely ridiculous. How is 90% a B+? Going to his lecture is helpful, but it is not mandatory in order to do well.

To clear up some things, a 90% is NOT a B+, it's the minimum for an A-. This class has a lot of material, but Lechner's slides are the best, he's always available to help,and gives out study guides. I worked hard for an A, it's doable. He gave me a lot of pointers, and so far he's my favourite prof at SFU. Plus he tells the best, corny dad-jokes

Mark's actually the best! His lectures can be a little boring (but aren't all lectures?) but he's super helpful, answer's questions during lectures and stays after too! He makes sure that everyone understands the material. He tells pretty corny jokes too. Don't need textbook (although useful at times), just listen to his lectures and slides! :)

Dr. Lechner is an amazing professor over all, extremely helpful. I felt in this class he skipped through slides pretty quickly but then on exams asks for details. Exams were mostly multiple choice and some written with a loooot of material and lots of memorization so you must study hard. Good luck!

Great prof. Did not enjoy the course content, however he did his best to make it interesting. Very approachable if you need help :)

He's Just amazing. Always there to help! If anything is confusing just go to his office hours or go to your TA. If you understand the concepts then you are good to go.

Prof. Lechner is an amazing Prof! He likes to give out free bonus marks for just asking questions in lectures. There was no final but three midterms based off lecture slides. Would recommend 10.

Lots of memorization and readings. Quite difficult for a 100 level course.

Definitely amazing prof one of the best I had at sfu. vary clear always there to help would like to take more courses with him good experience by taking course with him

I have taken a few classes with him and have gotten to know him a bit. He is a great professor and an awesome individual. He truly cares about his students and is always there for extra help and support. He is one of the best profs I've had at SFU and I would love to take more courses with him down the road. Smart and passionate about his work

Mark, your anecdotes during the lectures were great! :D

Mark is a great prof! This course (which is now HSCI 333) was very interesting and I actually learned a lot. If you are a science student this course won't be too hard. Few quizzes throughout the semester which you can work on with others and assignments weren't too difficult. The marking is fair. I would definitely take more classes with Mark!

I loveee Mark! I had him for Hsci 100 in my first year as well. He is a great prof ! I would definitely take another class with him! He is an entertaining prof, sometimes he will pull out a game that is related to the course material and entertain his students.

I am taking his HSCI 100 Human Bio, "equivlent of Bio12" but in shorter time. He is very funny and always tell two relative jokes every lecture if possible. Very nice person, you can always email him and book appointment if office hours does not work for you. His exams are NOT easy but fair- mostly taught in class but you need to memorize

He is a amazing professor, who cares for his students. One of the best professor in SFU!!!

He is a good prof, understanding and funny! I wish his lectures were a little less dry but hey, you can't have it all.

Mark is a really nice guy, he gives students a chance to get bonus marks, by participation. His final exam was fair but the midterms were more on the difficult side. You do NOT need the textbook, exam material is all on lecture slides. Mark is open to helping students, he is approachable and always helps. One of the best profs.

With a biology 12 background, it was not hard to excel this class. Even without any biology knowledge, Lechner provides lengthy office hours for additional help, whether on concepts or more in depth understanding in one chapter. Though his lectures are usually in the mornings, his jokes help brighten up the mood!

I m an international student with poor bio background. I felt it difficult for me, and my exams scores are very low, but presentation+report, tophat, participation, individual report are easy to get high marks(over 95%). good prof and highly recommended

Astounding prof! One of my top favorites, he truly exemplifies his passion for his career, everyday, eveyclass. Make sure you take at least one course with him. Study his slides throughly.

Mark is awesome, EVERYONE can understand the concepts he explains. Encourage discussions in class, available for extra help, can meet outside of regular office hours, always ready to answer questions on the way. Mark points out clearly what will be tested and not you just need to listen carefully. Be active and you can get extra points! The best!

THE BEST PROF AT SFU by far. I find genetics very difficult, but if i had taken with anyone else I would've regretted it. He makes class interactive by having discussions etc. His grading rubric is great because there are a lot of areas you can do well and even if you don't do so well on the exams can still get a decent grade in the course.

Dr. Lechner is so passionate about what he teaches and clearly cares about his students. His exams are fair & straightforward and he gives many opportunities for extra credit. I definitely recommend taking his classes, you won't regret it!

Mark is a great prof! Provides lecture slides and audio recordings online, so lecture attendance isn't mandatory, but i'd still go. He makes an effort to make lectures fun, provides many videos/games to help clarify concepts. He gives you many opportunities to receive extra credit. Exams were fair but cover a lot of info so study & go to tutorial!

Mark is the best prof at SFU for HSCI 324. The content can be challenging for some (especially for the first midterm -lots of calculation and memorization) but it gets much interesting later on and Mark's rubric is laid out in a way that you will do well if you come to class and do the quizzes every week (you can work with anyone)! TAKE IT

Mark is such a sweetheart. His lectures can be boring and difficult but he makes a clear effort to keep students engaged with videos, games, and terribly-wonderful jokes. I have no background in human biology and found this course to be difficult. I ended up getting a tutor which really helped. If I was better at bio I'd take another class with him

Such a great prof! Super caring for students and very down to earth. Easy to talk to and approach and actually wants his students to do well.

Absolutely increadible professor. Super knowledgeable, passionate, and caring towards students. The course is extremely difficult, however, and memorization heavy. Information is redundant and hard to follow. Although I didnt enjoy the content I would take any class with him!

The course is hard, and difficult to understand at times. However, Dr. Lechner is a wonderful professor, which made it enjoyable. He is also an extremely intelligent and kind person, no wonder everybody likes him! Overall, I wish every professor would care as much as he does. THE BEST!

He's such a funny, sweet, and knowledgable prof. He breaks everything down and his material is pretty clear and easy to understand. I wasn't able to keep up with the readings and I didn't focus on this class as much as I should've, but it was still very helpful just going to lectures.

HSCI 333 (formerly 372) was my third course with Dr. L, and he didn't disappoint. Dr. L is incredibly intelligent and really makes you think about science concepts from a more holistic POV. I can't say enough great things about him. Show that you care and that you put in the effort, and your grade will reflect that. Favourite HSCI prof.

Mark is a nice prof. There are around 37% relatively easy marks in this class, just make sure you put the reasonable amount of effort in the class project. For his test, the SA part is pure memorization and he will tell you about the bonus question. However, The MC part of his test is a xxx to lower your grade intentionally.

When it comes to tough courses like HSCI 321 or 324, it's BOUND to be tough regardless of prof. But the BEST of the best is Dr Lechner. He truly loves his students and wants nothing more than to help you understand. In 324, asks interactive questions, lets students work in groups for quizzes to help make it easier and truly is the best prof for 324

If you're taking a class with Dr. Lechner be ready to have one of the best classes ever at SFU. He is super caring and nice to students, using 3x5 cards for feedback every lecture, has quite a lot of things to do but I found them useful and helpful to boost the grade. Don't be ashamed to ask him about homework/exams/assignments, he will help A LOT!

Dr. Lechner's lectures are easy to follow and he gives many chances for students to ask questions, and spends extra time clarifying if needed. He provides study guides for all three exams which are super helpful! Also, every lecture he pops in a 'joke' or two, which keep you engaged in the content. Overall, I would recommend taking his class!

Mark is a great guy, lots of office hours, available before and after class, replies to messages quickly. Very understanding and helpful. Group quizzes :) Complaints would be that he is way smarter than me so a lot of what he says goes over my head, his marking can be quite tricky and his practice exams are quite a bit easier than his actual exams.

Mark's lectures can be challenging to understand sometimes, as they have many diagrams that you need to interpret. However, he always tries his best to clarify them in class/office hours when you ask. He's also generous marker when it comes to assignments. I thoroughly enjoyed being his student and would take a class with him again in a heartbeat.

He's an amazing prof. Genuinely cares about his students and their well-being. His lecture slides are quite long. Class is merely supplementary to his slides and assume you've gone through it on your own.

Mark is incredibly sweet and helpful, undoubtedly one of the most caring profs at SFU. He gave feedback on ALL assignments (even weekly journals) and offered great advice about school and life in general. The class was very informative and provided lots of guidance, especially for new first-year students. Hope to take another class with him!

FUNNIEST/BEST PROF EVER! He really cares about his students and goes above and beyond to help his students succeed. 3 non cumulative exams, easy participation marks and 2 case studies. Case studies are the best thing ever! Lectures and material is very interesting and hes always available for extra help in his live Q&A period. Highly recommend!!!

Had Dr. Lechner for two consecutive semesters, and he was one of the best professors I had at SFU. He pulled really funny jokes, and he even had us write some as a bonus questions on our exams! Exams were not cumulative, but you need to study hard and early to know the material. If you are stuck, please attend office hours! He is very helpful!

Love him. Take the class if you can get. His lectures are interesting and the in class quizes are "community/collabrative" so just show up and get an A.

Such a sweet guy, but it's unfortunate that I found the course content dry and boring. He makes sure that his students are understanding the material and is always approachable for any questions you have. Highly recommend.

Dr. Lechner is easily my top favourite professor of all courses at SFU. He creates a very positive and welcoming learning environment and makes lectures fun, interesting and appealing enough to actually look forward to attending his class. He is very clear in expectations in assignments and quizzes but he recognizes the hard work of his students.

Dr. Lechner is easily my favourite Health Sciences prof. He makes practice questions, both m/c and short answers, to review before an exam. The exams are no surprise, and very doable. He is accessible outside of class and encourages any questions during class time. He also tells great jokes! I highly recommend him! :)

I really enjoyed this course; you're basically playing doctor the whole time. The exams are very fair (he even gives a bonus question). I could have achieved a better grade but I slacked off in studying for the second midterm. Definitely be prepared to think deeply about the material and to apply your learning to case questions.

This course was extremely heavy in terms of the content, but Mark did an amazing job explaining the concepts. However, the exams were extremely difficult both written and multiple choice questions.

Interesting to learn about human origin and none can teach it better than Mark. Honestly, do your homework ahead of time, pick your group members wisely and study for the weekly quizzes. Don't lag behind with the recordings, ask q's and it's a fairly straightforward class. Mark was very kind and approachable and told jokes to keep us engaged.

Best course I have ever taken. Mark as always was a fantastic teacher, if you are interested in the material it's easy to study and conceptualize. That being said lectures are fairly dense, and exams require critical thinking and application. Case studies and dad jokes were amazing and demos were helpful to connect the dots. Study hard for exams.

Echo what everyone else said. Mark was one of 3 HSCI profs who bothered to show up for HSCI graduation and to talk to students. That tells you what type of prof he is. One of the most brilliant profs in SFU, you have to put the work in to fully understand his class. I was very impressed with his game wheel thing for class.

I seriously and sincerely hope that Dr. Lechner is teaching towards the goal of high student grades. Teachers at SFU forget that grades are the main reported outcome in educational institutions . This is to ensure that teachers are working towards ALL students getting a high grade in their class, instead of a predetermined percentage e.g. 8% A+s.

Lechner has such a pure and caring energy. He is extremely thoughtful of the Indigenous' contributions to science/biology and offers that perspective on top of the western perspective. i do find lectures to be surface level and in a way where if you didn't take biology in highschool,you might find it hard to learn? Still would take his class again!

one of the nicest profs at sfu. I found the content quite hard to understand but his lectures and the weekly homework made it manageable. his instructions are super clear and always available for extra help. there are no midterms or final and quizzes are collaborative which probably the best part of this class. would definitely take him again.

Course content is dry at times and very difficult and heavy, but he does a pretty good job at teaching. He posts old and new lecture recordings which helps a lot because some of the stuff is hard to grasp right away. He's a nice dude and he replies to e-mails super quick every single time.

Mark clearly cares lots about his students and this class did not have much homework (a paper, journal, 3 exams). When he teaches, he teaches well. My only qualm is that he does not teach all the time, he skips through important slides and forces students to learn on their own time. He rambles or answers questions for most of lecture time.

amazing

Dr. Lechner is amazing. He is available after classes, answers emails quickly, and shows that he cares about his student's education above all else. I would love to take more classes with him; great lecturer, even better person.

Best Prof ever! He cares about understanding over merely correct results. Exceptionally caring and supportive, providing detailed feedback for papers that help us to improve. The lab sessions are enjoyable and have a great vibe. This is my second course with him, I highly recommend taking HSCI440 and even other courses with him.

Mark is an amazing prof. I took his HSCI 333 class and the content was interesting to learn about blood. To get a good grade, I recommend to go to his classes bc there are no recordings and pre-lecture recordings. He is accessible outside of class time and he answers to emails quickly. Plus, he gives extra time to do the final project

I did HSCI 333. I really liked him. He is very accommodating. You can take the quizzes in class by discussing them with other students. There is a group project: no midterm, but a final exam and one essay.

Very caring prof, lectures were easy to follow

One of the best professors I have ever had. Gives me hope for HSCI courses. Spectacular Professor.

Best prof at SFU!

BEST PROF EVER he is so nice and caring and his lectures are very enjoyable

Prof Lechner is very respectful in terms of the way he teaches specific topics and is very passionate about his lessons. You'll need to listen to the recordings to dissect and study graphs in details in order to do well on the weekly quizzes. Assignments weren't difficult plus term project that you choose the topic for. Pay attention to succeed.

I loved mark but this class, idk. Teaching style was wonky, I didnt like the fact that we had to watch online lectures and then COME to lecture again. Then again, very easy to do well. The quizzes were sometimes challenging but you can do them with the entire class and share answers so come for that. as a person, mark is very nuanced and inspiring.

It was apparent the professor wants all of us to learn and will go above and beyond to ensure his students' success. The lab was very enjoyable, from the content to the lab techniques itself. The precision of lab techniques is not what is graded but the learning to why something happened or why something was off is what is important.

grading breaks down to: hw, quizzes, group project. hw is pretty essy to do well in, quizzes can get tricky but again, easy to do well as you can work with classmates, group project can be marked a bit hardhly, but i guess it's still a better alternative than a final exam. mark was so sweet and so engaging, super passionate about his teaching.

Professor Lechner makes the course engaging with his dad jokes and case studies. The content is dense, but his clear explanations and practice questions help with exam prep. Unstuck study was a game-changer for my studying. Definitely take this class if you're interested in the material.

Love this guy, genuinely one of my favourite profs ever. Such a nice guy, the lectures are nice, weekly quizzes are fun and not super difficult, having a self run final project instead of an exam is fun as well. Genuinely the goat.