2.2
Quality4.3
Difficulty25%
Would Retake209
Reviews25%
Would Retake
209
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
21
4
23
3
39
2
46
1
80
What Students Say
“Goes through things VERY quickly”
CH101 - 2.0 rating“Rushes through a PowerPoint, will work MAYBE one or two problems, then moves on”
CH101 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
96%
Textbook Required
52%
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Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
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PCHEM26
5.0
(1)LIFEHELP
5.0
(1)CH118
3.6
(11)CHEM117
3.0
(2)CHEMISTRY
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
0
5.0
CH103
5.0
CHEMISTRY101
5.0
CHEMISTRY102
5.0
CH341
5.0
Reviews (209)
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Cant understand what he is saying and he dont explain anything. All he does is put numbers on the board.
British type accent and British type attitude. Not a helpful guy, I still made a B+ though, just do the work.
australian accent is tough at times
I don't have a big problem with the New Zealand accent, but I'm used to different accents. Has a hard time explaining material in a way non-chemists can understand it. Goes off on "exceptions to the rule" tangents frequently which confuses everyone.
Lectures using Power Point, but goes so fast that you don't have enough time to write everything down. His examples usually consist of giving shortcuts that he can do but are hard to understand if you don't understand how to work the problem the long way.
Will not help you for anything. Smart guy but he can't explain the material to someone who doesn't know it. Don't take him whatever you do
How many powerpoints can you go through in an hour? Apparently Dr. Bakker thought his students could keep up with two chapters' worth in a fifty-minute class... He offered very little explanation, and exams were not conceptual, like the text, but mostly problem-based and very difficult. Not an exceptionally agreeable fellow either.
wouldn't help you if your life depended on it!!! teaches like we all have had organic chemistry. he's a real smart ass so don't even bother to ask questions, or ask him to repeat anyhting
Teachings are very hard to understand.
Not helpful at all. Does not really teach in class, and does not do any examples that you can follow. Seems to think everyone has already had upper level chemistry.
Very unhelpful and acts like his students have already taken upper level chemistry courses. Does not explain very well and tests are not really from the book but much harder versions of the problems in the book.
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Don't worry about the concepts. KNOW HOW TO WORK THE PROBLEMS. Computation skill is all that is tested!!!
DON'T TAKE HIM!!! YOU WILL BARELY PASS...IF YOU DO WELL IN LABS!
The only thing that annoys me is he goes out of his way to make test questions that try to trick people and not necessarily test the material. His tests aren't that hard though.
Tests are very tricky, and as previously stated prof. baker does not test concepts, just calculations.
This guy is pretty much terrible... I had to drop his class because he sucked so bad... I couldn't understand a word he said and he did things so fast that nobody got what he was doing. He also tried his best to trick you on tests and quizzes like its funny. Tries very hard to show you how smart he is. Terrible teacher overall.
Not quite as bad as most say that he is. You just have to put worth a decent amount of effort in his class. It's no picnic. He is very cocky and likes to prove how smart he is. Also, he loves to give you trick questions and then laugh at you when you miss them. However, if you study and do your work, you should do fine in his class.
This guys great. He quizzes you on things 2 chapters ahead. He asks if anybody has any questions, some hands goes up, and says let's have a little quiz. He's too lazy to grade tests or quizzes, so its so easy to cheat with your clicker looking and talking to the people around you. 130 started the class, 80 are still there, and he curves at the end.
He basically sucks!!! His class is hard, he doesn't care if his whole class fails, and he is rude!!!
He is the worst teacher ever! He cares nothing about the students; he just comes in and reads his slideshow. Tests are ridiculously hard along with online homework and quizzes every week.
He really is not as bad as most people make him out to be. However, his class is tough and demanding, and if you do not plan on giving a good effort, you may not want to take him. You have to put in time in this class in order to do well. Bakker is an exceptional instructor though, and he explains the subject well. Also very helpful.
He has a bad case of short man syndrome. The test are not that bad at all with the scale.
Terrible at presenting the material in a clear way. I disagree with the people who commented that he just tests on computation. He throws in concept questions that he does not cover. I lost all confidence by taking this class. Get Dixon.
Bakker has a habbit of failing everyone in his class. He purposely puts questions on quizzes and exams that have nothing to do with the material discussed in the classroom. He puts questions on exams that he knows that no one will know and admits it. He wants you to get the question wrong.
Dr. Bakker is just AWFUL. His class was ridiculously hard, and he knew it. The worst part about it wasn't even the work, it was his attitude. It was like he was trying to prove how much more he knew than his students. He doesn't care if you fail, and he doesn't really try to help. Almost half of the class ended up dropping the course. Get Dixon!!!
really unclear during his lectures. tests are multiple choice, but very confusing.
not good!
Terrible teacher, poor lecturer, doesn't seem concerned with how well you do in the class. Learn the material yourself by reading the textbook, don't expect to learn anything out of his lectures.
DO not take this class, Bakker does not know how to teach. he just reads off the power point slides and thinks that everything is pretty much self explanatory. He picks the hardest problems to put on the test. If you want to know what hell fells like take this class.
He almost seems to take joy in failing students.
He is a rude instructer that doesnt care about failing students. His test are hard and he knows it. I think he gets joy from his students failing!! What fun..... not he sucks and he doesnt scale so his highest grade is probably a 70 at the most!
While Professor Bakker's class is difficult, it is not impossible. Yes you will have to work, but welcome to college. My only complaint is that he often comes off as arrogant. If you attend every class, lab, and recitation time, you will pass the class. Also, DO NOT wait until the last second to do your online homework! I ended up with a B+ and
I think that Dr Bakker is a good teacher. He is very difficult and you will need to study a ton for the tests, but he is always willing to help if you need him to and puts up a ton of practice problems for the test and the final! I had him for 101 and 102 and he is not impossible and follows a routine so it is easy to follow!
Dr. Bakker's class is extremely difficult. He comes off as extremely arrogant in class, but he was nice to me one on one. He does put the hardest problems on the test; they're much harder than the hw. I'd advise students to find a study buddy quickly to do homework with and study with for tests. Don't wait until the last minute to do the homework!
I never studied or did the hmwk for his class, so I ended up droping it. He was pretty boring. There are certainly better options especially if this is your first semester of college.
Most who have commented on Bakker thus far are just whining. His class requires some effort, but he is clear and his tests are fair. It is possible to do well; if you're smart you don't even have to try that hard. Just work the homework and learn to deal with corny jokes and his refusal to admit when he is mistaken.
probably the worst professor ever. i used to like chemistry then i met bakker... he is very arrogant and never admits when he is wrong. he once was late for a quiz and told us he thought about canceling it... but then he told us to wait while he went and got it from his office.
He has no redeeming qualities. Do not take his class unless you do not like yourself or your GPA or your money. He enjoys confusing and failing people
Great professor for those who know Chemistry well and want to learn more(/forced to take General Chemistry after AP). He has an excellently refined sense of humor, and isn't afraid to fail students not willing to work. Slackers beware.
He's not a good teacher. His explanations are unclear, and he gives weekly quizzes which are ridiculous.
Doesn't care about his students at all. He has no problem failing you no matter how hard you work. Do not take him if you don't have to!!
Very smart researcher, not such a great teacher. It didn't ever seem like he was prepared for class-his lectures were very unorganized. You basically have to teacher yourself Pchem.
Horrible teacher. Do not take him unless you hate life. Awful teacher who doesn't care about the students.
Dr Bakker is awesome
Very good at explaining. I am a chemistry major and his tests are very fair, they come straight from the weekly quizzes which are just copied from the in-class questions. Show up to class, study, you'll do fine. He is very personable if you actually talk to him instead of complaining about class. Very smart and explains things well
Good teacher. His expectations are fairly reasonable and you'll learn a lot from his class. If you go to class, do the homework and the readings, and study, you'll be fine. A few of the test questions are confusing or difficult, but even with a decent grade on tests, you'll be fine.
The man certainly loves him some Pchem. He very much socially approachable. Tests, quizzes, and homework are extremely well-coordinated.
This class is SO HARD. Bakker will skip over questions just because they are TOO EASY. It was honors though so its understandable. If you take Chem 2, the book is your best friend. Had clicker questions every day :(
Bakker is a nice man, but I did not enjoy him as a teacher. Didn't explain things very well and his tests were pretty difficult.
I have not had him for a class yet, but we got into a discussion at the Gamma Sigma Epsilon induction about some trouble I was having in my other classes and he was extremely encouraging and helpful. I can't speak one way or the other about his classes, but if you have him for an advisor, or you need help, you are probably in luck.
Practice the questions at the end of each chapter. They're more similar to the test than the online hw. He is a good teacher but you yourself have to decide whether or not you're going to slack or not. That's ultimately what decides your understanding of the material. I slacked towards the end of the year, but that's on me and I know it.
Dr. Bakker is a good teacher but he likes to throw curveballs at you and stretches your knowledge with challenging problems on the test. Only 3 test opposed to 4, drops one of them. Take Mcduffie if possible. Avoid Bakker if possible. Must put forth effort.. sorry
He is a good teacher just not as good as he is as an instructor.I've learned a lot in his class but he makes the tests more difficult than the material is itself(if that means anything).
If you can take another teacher, do it. Bakker makes things a lot more difficult than they have to be. He is not good at getting concepts across and his tests are hard. The questions and answer choices are designed to trick you. Even the tutors said this was true. A LOT of effort is required...ESPECIALLY if you want an A or B.
He is a nice guy but very facetious and he admits it. He teaches you the basics and expects you to understand problems that are WAY more in depth than what he taught. He makes tests harder than what he has covered and what the book covers. I do not suggest taking him unless you are coming in already knowing this information.
Not sure why Bakker gets such a bad rep. I took him for 102 and I enjoyed the class. Sure it's not easy, but it's a college chem course. What do you expect? He's extremely nice, friendly, and approachable. I think he's also British or Australian as well; so awesome accent! I'd recommend him!
If you enjoy a challenge, Dr. Bakker is for you. He has high expectations and his material may be challenging, but it definitely prepared me for Organic. He works hard and expects the same out of his students. If you want to learn, take Bakker. If you want an A, take somebody else.
He is literally the worst teacher I have ever had. He should not be teaching a 100 level class. He thinks you should know more than you do and he doesn't explain the material well.
If I had the choice of taking this class with Professor Bakker or a grizzly bear, I think I would take my chances with the bear. At least the bear might show some compassion, and it couldn't possibly be a worse lecturer. He was constantly behind schedule on topics, does not upload notes. Teach yourself from the book if you're stuck with him.
Zero.
When I asked a question in a email, his answer came across as rude and condescending. He does not seem to care about the students or their grades at all and expects you to know things that you really don't know. He will also not curve any exam that most of the students fail or do bad on. His tests were challenging even after studying for 2 weeks.
Bakker is very challenging, and CH102 is a very difficult class. He quizzes you weekly during recitation, which forces you to learn the material. READ your textbook. Although he does not scale each test, he DOES scale the class at the end. If you are willing to work and learn the material, you will be fine.
Dr. Bakker did a fine job with his summer class. As long as you read the chapter, do all the homework, and find someone with his old tests (he lets us keep them after the exam), you will do fine. The averages on the test were usually near 70 (fairly reasonable). He scales final grades at the end as well. He was not my first choice, but was fine.
He's not a bad person, but he is a bad 100 level professor. This is a serious weed out class. I wouldn't have survived without a tutor.
Don't take this guy if you can help it, ever. On top of being a hard and extremely unclear and unhelpful instructor he allows the lab overseer to read private feedback and bar students from labs and final in an attempt to fail them. He's either spineless to allow that to happen or vindictive, and really it doesn't matter which.
I'll start by saying I do not like chemistry so I already knew the class was going to be difficult. But he made the class even harder. The lectures are boring, his notes are horrible, and of course the test are ridiculous. Hopefully he curves everyone's grades at the end bc most of the class are bombing it out! It's a REAL struggle!
Let me start by saying this was my second attempt at ch 102 after failing the previous semester. Bakker was a VAST improvement over the other teacher I had. He always answered my questions politely, and hmwk had onlyabout 20 problems per chapter. Gave half credit on quizzes for showing up. BE VERY AWARE: DOES NOT GIVE EQUATION SHEETS FOR THE TEST.
This class is way too hard to be a 100 level course. His homework does not prepare you for the tests. READ THE BOOK. Go to the quizzes every Wednesday night and go to class because he takes attendance at both. He's extremely intelligent but often comes off as arrogant and unapproachable.
This class was very hard. Bakker is a good instructor but his tests were impossible. I felt no matter how much I studied & prepared myself for his tests, it was useless. I would recommend not taking him if possible.
I think Bakker was a knowledgeable professor but his exams are ridiculously hard and the final was darn near impossible. Attendance is mandatory with several clicker questions each class period. Even if you go to class every day you have to get the clicker questions right in order to receive a good in class grade. Take someone else if you can.
One of the worst teachers I've ever had. He's useless and does not help at all. He has put questions on quizzes that he knew we were going to get wrong and doesn't give credit for them. No matter how hard I study I can not take his quizzes/ tests and we are the ONLY class that has to go to recitation EVERY week it's ridiculous. Don't take his class
DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT take this mans class. You hardly understand what he says half the time and he just speeds through examples that are normally not even on the test or homework. Long story short, please do not take this man if you can help it.
Dr. Bakker is a solid prof. Everyone complaining about him being too difficult either didn't study enough or is consistently unlucky. In all seriousness, his class is doable. You'll work hard and learn chemistry, which, when you think about it, is kind of the point. If you're lazy or foolish, take someone else.
Very tough class; only half of the information from the lecture is used for tests. Presented in a confusing manner, but professor Bakker always offers help.
The only thing I ever looked forward to in that class was when we would get a sub. Bakker is probably the least engaging and least likable professor I've ever had. He gives clicker quizzes to make sure you pay attention in class, and makes his recitation a mandatory quiz night. Tests aren't too hard, and the homework is pretty forgiving.
Everyone complains about Bakker, but I think he's fine. He is clear about the assignments every week, and although there are quizzes every week, they allow you to miss a few classes without failing. He even gives half credit for the quiz just for being there. It's chem, you're going to need to study a lot. It's not a gimme class, but not impossib
Impossible class!!!
It's unbelievable how tough his 101 class is! He moves through the lectures so quickly and the tests are next to impossible.
Hard teacher but if you work hard you can get a B or an A
Nothing good to say at all. Look elsewhere whatever it takes to find another course.
Bakker's class is a tough one to transition to straight out of high school. On his tests he has the right answer and the three most common mistakes. On the first day of class, he tells you his class is a lot of hard work, and it is. Work hard, go to class, and study hard. He is very smart on the subject.
His lectures are boringconfusing and his tests often have a few ridiculously random questions on them but if you took Chemistry in high school andor just read each chapter slowly you should be fine. The book is really good; I'd recommend just reading rather than going to class. The homework also is designed to teach you, so doing it is key.
Avoid if possible. You have to go to lecture even though you won't get much out of it. Good sense of odd humor but teaches the material very dryly. Has recitation every single week. All feels like a waste of time. Tests are very hard but if you try on the homework, actually do his practice problems from the slides and online, you should be ok.
Dr. Bakker is a good professor for Chem102 because he forces you to learn if you want to make a decent grade which is the purpose of taking the class anyways. He doesn't curve, but you can drop your lowest test at the end of the semester. Lecture wise he is very clear when he works out problems. Sometimes though I felt like I was in a math class.
Dr. Bakker is truly a good to teacher. If you go to class, pay attention, and do the homework (without just looking up answers) your'e going to do ok. He's clear cut and there are plenty of opportunities for points in the class.
Avoid unless you are a genius in chemistry. Tests are pretty hard. Whole class is hard actually. Make sure to read the chapter and understand it thoroughly before going to lecture or you will not do well(which in all fairness, he tells you to do this at the beginning of the semester). Try to get a good lab TA, labs will save your grade.
I have taken Bakker for Chemistry 101 and 102. He takes attendance every day of class and every Wednesday night there is a quiz. Three test total and you get to drop your lowest grade which is helpful, but final is cumulative. I made better on my tests when I read straight from the chemistry book instead of taking extensive notes in class.
Dr. Bakker is a good teacher and his lectures really help you understand the material. CH 102 is a hard class and you're going to have to work for it. If you go to class, pay attention, and ACTUALLY do all of all the hwrk you will be fine. Lab and Hwrk count for a lot of your grade. I am grateful he was my teacher because I actually learned a lot.
You will think he's joking when he makes comments about "study all of these ways and you have a shot at passing." He's not. A lot of people will not pass. He teaches well above a 100-level and struggles with his explanations. His tests are only 24 questions. Class averages were consistently low (60s) and he doesn't curve. Expect a hit to your GPA.
Dr. Bakker is a very smart man, he understands his material. Although, he can teach very fast and be confusing at times. Before the final he held 2 review sessions and went over all the material, so he obviously cares about his students. It turns out that he curves at the very end, but I wouldn't bank on it because I don't know how he does it.
Cared enough about students to badger the textbook rep. into getting free homework codes for those who came from honors (diff. textbook) last semester. Does clicker quizzes on problems relating to things just taught, so if you have problems with time you may not want to take him. Personally, I liked Dr. Street better, but Bakker is good too.
It's a very hard class
Often responds to student questions in a cocky manner, he's too good to be here. Goes through things VERY quickly. Every week that there is not a test there is a quiz, these are during the so called "optional" sessions. He calls people out and is often rude in general for no reason. He's literally a toddler who just happens to be good at chemistry.
test are very hard, wouldn't recommend unless you want a challenge. expect GPA drop.
Rushes through a PowerPoint, will work MAYBE one or two problems, then moves on. Basically, he doesn't really teach, just tells you what to teach yourself. If you want to pass, get the clicker questions right, take the weekly quizzes, and GO TO THE LAB. Try to make 100s on the online homework, because you're not going to do well on the tests.
It is so hard to pass, tests are incredibly tough
I enjoyed Bakker's lectures. If you have taken any sort of basic chemistry in high school, this should be familiar to you, which is why he seems to go through the easier things quickly. I have him again for CH102 and I can't wait, he is very knowledgeable about the subjects he teaches and is a good example of why I'm paying to get an education.
The class average on one of our tests was a 53, and he gave us a 3 point curve. I think that shows how hard the tests are and how gracious he is. Don't ask questions or else you will be answered with another question which really doesn't clarify anything. It was a hard class, but you'll at least pass if you go to class and do your homework.
Mr. Moore is a nice man but he leads you along that there is hope you will pass and want you to drop. But when he is pleased when the class average is 50%ws how tough the test are. You can do well on homework but will not be able to pass tests. Avoid if you need to pass.
Arrogant in his manor of teaching, talks down to students when they ask questions, responds with another question, makes students feel dumb. Expect to fail your tests, make 100's on the homework/quizzes because you WILL not get an A on the exams. A very smart man but has zero business teaching an intro chem course, by far the worst professor here.
Chemistry is fairly tough to begin with, so don't expect an easy A. Do the assigned homework and study well, and you should be fine. He does daily clicker questions, but you get half credit just for showing up and answering, even if you're wrong. Tests are tough, but not impossible, and he gives you plenty of time to take them.
He makes his class as hard as possible. Clicker quizzes everyday for credit. All other CH102 classes were given a formula sheet for every test even the final, but he refused to give us one. On the final, there are 20+ formulas & 20 chpts of info which is near impossible to learn. If you take him you will fail the final & he doesnt curve.
This guy has no business teaching an intro Chem class. Rushes through notes and tells you what to teach yourself. You will not pass exams. Extremely arrogant in class when questions are asked. Shows very little interest whether students comprehend the material or not.
Dr. Bakker may be a very knowledgeable man but he not a proficient teacher. Plenty of homework and clicker questions for you to pull your grade up if you bomb tests like most of the class. (We had one test with an average of a 55 that he so *generously* curved 3 points) He loved to make people feel stupid after answering their questions.
If you choose to take his class, get ready to work. The class itself is not easy, and Bakker's section is no different. He is very knowledgeable about the subject material and therefore covers lots of stuff very quickly. You need to study outside of class if you want a decent grade. Very tough class, but not impossible. Study hard for his tests.
Bakker was difficult. Attendance is mandatory because he gives clicker questions. He will demonstrate with an easy example and then give you a follow up clicker question where you have to use the skill he just demonstrated. The tests require extensive knowledge of the material. You have to know how to apply it forwards and backward
Very tough grader, lot of HW, and teaches/talks to you like you should already be a chemistry genius when arriving to class. Basically says to teach yourself. No curve on exams and thinks its okay that class averages are below 60% each exam. Do not go to his office hours expecting him to answer your questions, he will just say to read the textbook
Very sarcastic and rude
Horrible, tests are super hard and he will not help in office hours. DO NOT take him even if it's last option!
Our class averages for out test were always below a 50%. He doesnt not explain things well, listening to him talk just made me more confused. Be ready to each yourself eveything.
Do not take Bakker unless you have already taken chemistry and you like a challenge. This is a "teach yourself" class. However, attendance is mandatory because he gives clicker quizzes every class. The test averages in my class were always low 60s. If you are an incoming freshman, and he's your only option, wait until next semester.
Dr. Bakker is a very hard professor and will take you a while to get used too. If you don't appreciate sarcasm, do not take him. There are better professors out there but he's definitely passable if you go to class and recitation. You will have to work your butt off for a good grade in this class.
Bakker is literally the worst teacher I've ever had. He reads directly from his terrible powerpoints and doesn't answer students questions. His tests are mostly mathematical but he only explains how to do the equation once. His office hours do not help, whatsoever. Do not take this class.
Don't take this guy. Don't. Very sarcastic and couldn't care less if you pass or not. Ask a question in class there is a very good chance you will receive a snarky remark. Go to office hours with questions? Will probably just not help you and call you dumb. Tests are incredibly difficult. Clicker ?'s everyday. Don't take him. Very difficult. DONT!
Bakker is a pretty bad teacher. His tests are impossible unless you study for weeks ahead or have already taken AP Chemistry. He takes clicker quizzes where 80% of the class miss the problem and keeps on going. The class average for tests will be a 40 and he doesn't consider his teaching to be the problem. The only positive is he has a cool accent
He reads directly from his slides which do not make much sense in the first place and the last two tests are extremely difficult. If you work really hard, do all the homework, and go to recitation you should do okay but it is definitely a lot of work. He does lots of clicker questions in class everyday but honestly you're better reading the book
People hated Bakker but he really wasn't that bad. I would not take him if you don't have any chem background though. I took AP chem in high school so his class seemed really easy, but his lectures are pretty dry and the textbook sucked so it would be tough if it's your first time in chem. But the class is doable so don't freak out if you get him.
Post lecture homework every sunday usually the weekend he gets done on one chapter. Does alot of problems like the ones on the test but on the test they are harder and more confusing as if he is trying to trick us. He has a heavy New Zealand accent and can be hard to understand at times. Not very good at dumbing things down for us students.
Bakker has single handedly ruined my life. It seems as if he tries to make his 101 class as hard as humanly possible so that the students who aren't super genius' fail or are forced to switch their major. I believe part of his teaching problem is his arrogance, since he likes to prove that he is far more intelligent than any of his students.
I thought that Dr. Bakker was an absolute riot during class. The class itself was hard as it was the first science class most students take in college. One of the big things about Bakker is that he is extremely intelligent and moves fast. Read ahead, do the HW, show up to lab, and most importantly you WILL NOT pass his tests unless you put in hours
Hard to understand, not the best teacher. Very knowledgeable but has a tough time conveying that knowledge to the students especially if you've never had chemistry experience before.
Dr. Bakker is a tough but fair teacher. There are clicker quizzes every day for points but you get half credit for attendance. The tests are difficult but became easier once I started reading the textbook. I am glad I took his class because even though he was harder than other professors, I was forced to actually learn and understand the material.
Dr. Bakker is a professor who truly believes his class is more important than at least the other classes. He is very smart and obviously knows what he is talking about, but early on this semester, very little valuable information was given. However, he has improved as the semester has gone on.
While he does not give as much homework as some of the other professors, he likes to assign it on a very short deadline (I.E. finish the chapter on monday, homework is pushed up to be due that wednesday). Attendance was required as he gave in class clicker questions everyday that count as participation (but also are graded). Kinda sassy guy.
Gives lectures mostly on concepts and theory with very few example problems and expects you to learn how to do most problems on your own. He does clicker questions for a grade every class. I would not recommend him to anyone who does not have a strong chemistry background. He also gives no equation sheets for exams.
I had Dr. Bakker for both 101 and 102 and it was one of the hardest classes I have ever had to take. He expects a lot and pushes his students to the limit. I hated his class and thought it was very hard but I learned a lot more than other students with other teachers which will and has helped me with other classes.
He is very condescending. Drops your lowest test grade. Expects a lot out of his students, and the ones who try come out with an incredible amount of knowledge.
Dr. Bakker's class was very difficult and not to be taken lightly. During class he tries to be funny, but often goes over as rude and demeaning. He has many times worked a problem out on the board and not explained where he gets the numbers from. He seems like a brilliant man, but not very good at teaching. I wouldn't recommend taking him.
Dr. Bakker is a very tough teacher but he knows what he is talking about and will prepare you well for future classes if you put the work in. All the basics for the tests are in the powerpoints but in order to do well you need to do a lot of practice problems. Definitely don't take if you're just taking for a science elective.
Take another teacher. He'll do problems in class & make sarcastic comments about how much faster he can do them. Tests much harder with trick questions than other sections & u don't get to use formula sheet on final. You might learn more in his class but you are unlikely to get in A unless you've had AP chem and grading criteria not clear.
Make sure you do as many practice problems as you can to prepare for the test. The test will be much harder then other classes so study and put in the hours. There is no clear grading criteria even though he says there is in the syllabus. I still have no idea what my final numeric grade was. Take a different professor if at all possible
Dr. Bakker gets a lot of negative reviews, but I absolutely loved him! He can be a bit condescending if you ask stupid questions, but do the reading and it's an easy A. He teaches straight from the textbook, so I recommend reading ahead of time then going to lecture to clear up anything that you're confused on.
Dr. Bakker is as good of a chemistry teacher as it gets honestly. He uploads class lectures and does a great job explaining the math side of the class, which is normally where chemistry teachers struggle. Alot of people have dropped or have bad grades but this isnt an easy class but if you put in effort you will do fine. highly recommend
Avoid if possible. He is very smart & he knows it, often being rude to students in class and answering questions with other questions. If you haven't taken AP Chem, he is not the prof for you. His hw isn't impossible if you start ahead of time, but I study & understand the material & attend every class and still do badly on his tests.
If you ask a question in class there is a big chance he will condescend to you in front of everyone, and you will never ask another question again. You go through the homework and feel like you will do well just to bomb tests. Part of why the tests are so awful is because he doesn't provide any formulas or constants unlike every other professor.
This guy is awful. He insults people in class and makes a fuss if anyone asks him to work a problem. Has clicker questions every class period and only gives half credit to wrong answers, even though it's an attendance grade. Tests were ridiculously difficult, and he never curved, even though test averages were in the 50s. Rudest prof I've ever had.
A good lecturer, if not a bit arrogant. He's the kind of professor you hate to have while you have him, but will be grateful for after you leave him. However, I'd only recommend his class if you're going to being using chemistry in future courses. It was a lot of effort, and very stressful.
Dr. Bakker is very prepared for lectures and is great about answering questions in class and outside of class. He loves to see his students putting in effort, so go to office hours when you have questions and attend as many recitations as possible (his quizzes there help a lot, too!) Use all extra problems he gives and it will help for the tests.
Great teacher. Kind of rude at points, but you will definitely know Chemistry by the end. He is hard but fair and makes you work for your grade. You don't get formula sheets for the test, but with enough practice they're fairly easy to remember. Take this guy if you can!
I had him for both 101 and 102. If you're taking 101 as an elective or as an engineering major, DO NOT TAKE HIM. If you're premed or chemistry related major, power through and you will learn a ton, which helps in later courses. Tests are hard but if you put in the work and do a lot of practice problems it's doable.
Martin is very difficult, so if you're not taking this for future classes beware. He's probably the best out of all 102 profs, but you need to do so many extra practice probs to pass. Study 1 week+ before the test, no matter what. He can be rude, but you need to put it the work. He is the best @ concept/math balance so if you need future chem do it
Bakker is rude and condescending, but his class isn't too hard. He moves fast and doesn't thoroughly explain everything, but the book does and his tests aren't overly complicated. He does lots of clicker quizzes which can be stressful at times.
My high school football coach could teach better than this man. Attendance is taken through clicker quizzes that have huge effect on grades. He is extremely rude 1 on 1 and belittles students. No formula sheet so good luck memorizing all the equations for the final. I guess studying 20 hrs for the final isn't good enough to pass. 50% averages rip:)
I do not recommend Martin Bakker as a professor for introductory-level chemistry courses. Bakker enjoyed seeing his students perform poorly on their tests. He liked to include obscure and tricky applications of the concepts that we learned in class on his exams. He is not easy to work with or talk to for help.
Martin Bakker is the worst chem professor I have ever had. I HIGHLY recommend to do anything you can to steer clear of him. Never missed one class, went to every extra credit session, & met w/ him & he never explained anything in a different way where I could understand just belittled me. Loves watching us fail. no formula sheets & 50% test avgs
Bakker is a really tough teacher. He has no mercy for students who don't understand and can be really condescending. In the end I was suppposed to end up with a low C+ but he rounded me to a B- after I sent him a heartfelt email explain my situation. I also went to all the classes and I think he took that into account. GO TO CLASS AND DO HW!!!!!
Dr. Bakker is great! I was terrified of taking a condensed chemistry course over the summer, but I am so glad that I was placed in his section. He is easily accessible outside of class and is truly committed to making sure we take away everything we need from the course to succeed in later sections. Luckily, Ill have him for CH 102 in the fall!
I really like Dr. Bakker. Beware of exams, especially during accelerated summer term, and theyre pretty difficult. Only complaint is that the cumulative final was WAY too long and nobody finished, so we lost a lot of points after having to guess on the last 10/58 questions. Also doesnt curve. (but all other summer CH 101 sections do)
I took Bakker for CH102 last semester. I've always excelled at sciences (I thought CH101 was a breeze), but I can genuinely say that 102 was the hardest class I have ever taken. The tests are brutal, BUT you can do well on them and on the final if you 1) pay attention in class, 2) don't Chegg the homework, and 3) read the textbook. An A is possible
Is Dr. Bakker the nicest chemistry teacher at the school? No. Is the class easy? Not by a long shot, but you get what you put into it. So if you read the chapter before you go over it in class, study a little bit every day, and do the homework WITHOUT USING CHEGG, you should have the tools to make an A in the class. Otherwise... Good Luck.
Bakker was by far the best chem professor that Ive had. He is so intelligent and explains concepts well. He was always able to be found outside of class for extra help if you needed it. Take his class if you can.
Martin Bakker is extremly smart chemist and qualified on paper, however should not be a professor. He simply presents difficult concepts and works problems out very quickly, rather than teaching the material. Shows very little care for students and their success, making a hard class near impossible.
Bakker is a pretty normal professor. He is very smart so his explanations can go over someone's head. To get an A: go to every class, go to every recitation/ test reviews, do the homework, Chegg the clicker questions, and DO PRACTICE PROBLEMS that are on the powerpoints and reviews. I read the book which helped a lot if you learn that way.
Just do yourself a favor and never take Dr. Bakker. He makes Chem 102 feel like rocket science. You should never have to study this much for a 100 level science class or spend this many hours on homework. I'm sure this guy is smart, but man is he condescending. I had to work my booty off to get an A in this class. Save the tears for organic.
Should have gotten a C, but I think he felt sorry for me. Tests are impossible, & he threw in the hardest problems. I showed up every day, but was still confused. Clicker questions. You must read before class EVERYDAY to understand, & then again after the lectures. He goes very fast, & talks quiet. Kind person, hard prof. Bonus: New Zealand accent
He is a nice man, but he is too smart to be teaching. He will skip over information because he thinks it is "too easy" when half the class doesn't understand it. I hate chemistry, but I managed to get an average of 70-80s on my exams. Read the chapters. Office hours are helpful bc he goes through any problem specifically, but he is condescending.
Dr. Bakker makes CH102 more challenging than it has to be. I ended up having a tutor and she could explain things such a different way that made so much more sense. He seems very intelligent but not a good teacher. He assumes a lot, skips steps and doesn't explain things very well. AVOID HIM
Quite concerning that he told us before the test he makes them for C students, and after he said class average was 62 and that was good. Just hate to think I am paying out of state tuition to make 60 somethings. Asked for clearer guidance on what to study for the test he said know all of it. Easier than other profs. UA chem needs a better program.
Dr. Bakker isn't who you want for an easy A, but is who you want to learn in depth about chemistry. Often teaches beyond the scope of the class and uses harder test questions, which can be difficult if you didn't take AP chem or have a good background. However, if you put in effort and are interested in the class he will like you and be helpful.
Expects you to read before class. He teaches his slides for C students and he tells us for A+ students you need to read the book. Reviews are sort of helpful. I emailed him a lot and he was always nice. It is a hard class so expect to put in the work for it. He also uses clicker questions for attendance.
Trust me, Im a 4.0 student and getting a C in this class. He explains problems once and expects you to know how to solve it directly after. Pretty much Ive taught myself the entire class. Have to read the book to understand the material, as his lectures dont teach much. gl
Dr. Bakker is straightforward and reasonable. He gives you the information you need for the tests. He is fairly sarcastic and funny, although sometimes at our expense. He certainly does not make tests easy, especially for the honors section. Cool accent is a bonus.
Would give a 0 if I could - not only is Professor Bakker is extremely condescending and rude to his students, but he intentionally made the tests impossible to pass. He told our class if we understand all the concepts he taught in class, we should expect to pass with a C. Homework was difficult, attendance points only count if you get the question.
This was by far one of the most difficult classes I have ever taken, and yes chemistry is a hard subject but you can pass with a good teacher. Dr. Bakker is very unhelpful when it comes to answering questions or explaining in depth. When a question is asked in class he tends to dismiss it and make snide comments about how we should know it already
One of the most difficult chemistry professors taken here at UA. Made the class absolutely miserable and 10x more confusing than it needed to be. Lectures are very long and very boring, making it hard to pay attention. Has multiple attendance questions embedded in the lectures that are graded on accuracy and not just participation
Not only does he make his tests impossible (this is the first C I have ever made in a class in my life), but if you have a question he is so rude about it. His lectures have so information in them and a lot of it isnt needed. The last email he sent me made me cry because it was so mean. I would give him a 0 if I could.
This class was insanely difficult for no reason. Tests were 10x harder than the actual practice questions during class. Bakker is rude when he is asked questions and students do not understand. The biggest scam of the class is the attendance questions being graded on accuracy and not participation.
Chem 102 was hard. Dr. Bakker made you work for your grade, but he was a great teacher. He would go more into depth on slides. There are 3 tests. The lab and homework are about half your grade. Make sure you go over the recitation materials and the reviews. The majority of the test comes from those. Hard class, but overall I enjoyed it.
Professor Bakker is a very sweet man, but his class was awful. It was moved online due to Covid, which made his lectures incredibly hard to follow. I had to drop the course, which I have never had to do before. The tests were impossible even if you have a tutor. Your homework grades will not save you either. I do not recommend him for online Chem.
Nice guy, but this class is a freshmen class being taught like it's a graduate program. Insanely difficult for literally no reason. I got tutors, never missed, textbook, practice problems, and nothing worked. Tests are beyond unfair they never have what he talks on and on about but random little details & way harder versions of problems than taught
Professor Bakker's lecture was extremely difficult. His class requires the use of a clicker to answer questions for credit in class but the questions are not well explained before hand and they tank your grade if you get them wrong. The tests also do not line up with the lecture material and are designed to trick you rather than test your knowledge
Would give a 0 if I could. The reviews are true, avoid Dr. Bakker at all costs. Especially if you are just taking this class as a science elective. His style of teaching is very outdated and explains his work very vaguely. I’ve never dropped a class in my life before Dr. Bakker. Simply a bad professor.
The lectures and practice he provided were not very helpful for exams. He told us to do as many practice problems that were offered in the Mastering, and I did. However, I continued to make mediocre grades on his exams. I only enjoyed how he worked on several problems during lectures. Also he straight up just wasn't a nice or encouraging guy.
He is the absolute worst. He goes so fast, gives so much homework, and you get in-class participation that is extremely hard because you haven't learned the info because he cannot teach. Do not take this class.
Martin likes to prove that he is the smartest in the room by making the exams unnecessarily difficult. On our last midterm the class average was a 60%. Shockingly he informed us that he curved it on a sliding scale... Class average increased to a 63% which was "good enough for him". Thanks Martin that .8% curve really helped my drop exam.
Dr. Bakker is undoubtedly a really smart man, but his class is incredibly difficult. If you plan on taking a class with him, prepare to pour blood, sweat, and tears into getting a passing grade, and get ready to spend many stressful nights studying for this class. He's a really tough professor.
Doctor Bakker was definitely an interesting professor. He has daily clicker questions that count as attendance. They do not affect your grade too much so don't stress if you struggle with them initially. His tests normally have a few trick questions that everyone struggles with. In order to get an A on tests you will need to know the material well
This semester I was worried about Dr. Bakker(2.3 RMP). I was deceived. He is a caring man that will answer any questions and has relevant examples that are similar to tests in lecture. He takes his own time on Sundays to review with students before tests. There are complainers/lazy people in this class that blame him for their own incompetency.
Dr. Bakker has unreasonable standards for his students. He goes over the slides once in class and you are expected to know the context with proficiency. His clicker questions often exceed the amount of what he has actually taught. All in all this class was a terrible experience and I would not recommend this to anyone.
Dr. Bakker is really smart, but does not know how to teach. After explaining a problem once, you are expected to work a harder version of the problem for attendance. Test averages are around 55% with no curve. Passing is possible, but expect to attend every lecture, recitation, and review and additionally spend hours every week studying.
This man is the worst professor on this campus. Period. If you NEED any of his classes and he is the only option, I am begging you to put it off a semester. You will thank yourself later when you have a professor that is qualified. Acts like this is the only class anyone is taking.
Dr. Bakker is very intelligent, but his methods of teaching never really worked for me. I did well in the first two-thirds of the course due to taking AP Chemistry in high school, but once we started covering stuff past the AP Chemistry curriculum I was completely lost with Bakker's teaching. His class isn't impossible, but know that it isn't easy.
Martin Bakker single handedly caused my a semester long migrane. I am a very good student (95 in CH101, deans list etc.) He purposefully made this class impossible. Test averages were below 50% no curve. He is incredibly evasive when asked questions. Graded in class questions without being taught first. Homework took minimum 8 hours+. Avoid Bakker
His class feels harder than it needs to be. He gives out a lot of homework (however he is a bit flexible with hw deadlines) and beware of his clicker quizzes, as they are not participation only and are graded by how well you do in them. Tests are very hard (1st test had a class average of 55) and he doesn't curve. He's also slightly condescending.
While at times he may seem like a tough grader, I believe that Dr Bakker goes above and beyond to provide review material and even hosts review sessions the weekend before his tests. He is funny and pretty engaging in his lectures even though the content is sometimes tricky or boring. He takes time to answer any questions during or after lectures.
Dr. Bakker's class was basically impossible, I am a very engaged student who attends class and review sessions very regularly. Watching myself fail time after time on his exams was extremely frustrating after weeks and hours of preparation and studying. I would recommend never taking a class taught by this professor. He is demeaning and rude.
NEVER TAKE A CLASS W/ DR. BAKKER. The average for the past 3 tests has been below 50%. He finds pleasure in students failure. I go to class & have gone to his office hours, just to fail every single test. Get ready to have 8+ hours of hw due every Sunday, test review looks nothing like his test.
Dr.Bakker made this class impossible. Class average was around 50 for every test, one class he was laughing how only 3% of the class got a question right on a test, and attendance points are based on how well u know something after seeing it once. I will say he is an extremely intelligent man but too smart to teach. Do not take his class.
I thoroughly enjoyed him. Evidently he is not very popular amongst students but his style clicked with me. Chemistry is hard and he doesn't attempt to dumb it down. If you love chemistry, you will really love him; and if you hate chemistry, you will absolutely detest him, no in-between.
Good luck with this guy. Think you did well in the lectures? Think you studied the eBook well enough? Got a tutor? I sure did all of these, and they didn't help. This man's ability to teach is godawful. He expects you to already know the class materials before he teaches it. He puts problems on the test that he never went over. I could go on.
Professor Bakker's class is challenging, but engaging for chemistry lovers. Homework is heavy, and tests can be tough, but study tools like Unstuck study help. Overall, a rewarding experience for dedicated students willing to put in the work.
I think maybe the worst professor I have ever had in my entire collegiate career. He made no sense, solved all the problems like he was the only one in the room and tests were nothing like recitation. From not getting a b in a class to having a c in a gen chem, it shows what type of teacher he is. It's not you, it's him. DO NOT TAKE
He is a very rewarding professor if you want to understand chemistry. His teaching style really resonated with me, and focused on conceptual understanding and applications of the material rather than rote memorization and spitting out a study guide on a test for a grade. The homework takes a while, but there's plenty of time to do it.
Dr. Bakker is a wonderful professor. Don't be misled by his low overall rating. If you are a typical A student, I highly recommend you take his class. If not, his fast teaching style may be difficult to follow. His teaching style meshed with me, but I already had a very strong foundation in Chemistry. Work hard, pay attention and you will do fine.
Worst professor I have ever had at UA. Horrible communicator also very condescending. He was almost proud throughout the semester that the class average was so low. He did not think that curving would be necessary because it was the issue of the rest of the class for the poor average if a few people got A's. His class feels impossible as a student.
very small handwriting, soft spoken voice could barely hear at times, loves to like abbreviate how to do equations and speeds through them. absolutely no space in his class, everyone is elbow to elbow, you will smell people's breath (especially during testing). dont stress yourself out and find another professor
Bakker wants you to struggle in his class. He goes through problems very quickly and his handwriting is almost illegible; He really cares a lot about chemistry not so much about his students succeeding. Clicker questions directly after a new topic is introduced and takes pride in his low averages on tests. My grade is fine but it took a lot of work
An overwhelming amount of homework graded in class participation on questions he hasn't taught you to solve, and given minimal time, heavily weighted tests that can ruin your grade
The professor was unhelpful and made condescending comments during class often, including an offensive comment about seeking disability services. He was inaccessible to me because his handwriting was consistently illegible and he did not enunciate what he was saying properly, so a lot of the information taught in class wasn't understood.
The professor was unhelpful and made condescending comments during class often, including an offensive comment about seeking disability services. He was inaccessible to me because his handwriting was consistently illegible and he did not enunciate what he was saying properly, so a lot of the information taught in class wasn't understood.
Worst professor I've had at Bama by far. His handwriting is so small; he also speaks low, so he is hard to hear at times. He makes rude comments to students and takes pride in how low his average scores are. He does not care that you, or anyone else, succeed in his class. He skips steps when working out math and it is hard to follow. DON'T DO IT!!!
Bakker was the worst professor I've ever had. You can't hear him; his exams feel purposely impossible, and he only gives 50% attendance points if you miss a question in lecture. He writes sooo small it's illegible. He's rude, condescending, and seems proud when the class fails. I left every lecture more confused and in awe that he's a teacher here.
the worst professor i have ever had. exams feel impossible. he acts as if students should already know what he is teaching and is very rude when students ask a question. tests are worth more than half the grade, but are 20x more difficult than the clicker questions or HW questions. just stay away from this professor.
This class is already hard, and he doesn't make it much easier. He is very knowledgeable, but expects everyone to already know what he's talking about. studying the material before Class is highly recommended by me.
He seems like he's very tired of people not trying in his class but assumes that no one does. He's not the best at explaining concepts and says extra bits of information that make the concepts harder to understand.
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