he has a good personality and is funny at times- at least he does not bore you to death - i really like how all his slide show notes are put online on blackboard so that i can go and print them all- in case i miss things- there is a lot of material covered tho

martin is by far my favorite prof this semester! he is so helpful and pratically gives u answers during labs! he makes the boring lectures fun by his spirit and enthusiasm! on the first day, he threw a roll of toliet paper around the class to unravel! there are a lot of grades so if you dont do great on a test u can pass- he wasnt you to do WELL

martin is the coolest man alive! he gets so excited about what he teaches and that really makes me excited about what he teaches! hes always in a good mood, is very laid back and easy going, and is always offering help and assistance to those who need it! definately recommend him, he's awesome

He is the best teacher that i have this semester by far. he really tries to help you if you have a question. The classes really aren't that bad and he posts every lecture online. The labs aren't that bad either

Dr. H is a really cool guy. He's extremely into his field and his passion shines through his teaching. He does that thing that the newer professors tend to do--grade really tough. His HW's are worth 3 points and if you don't write some schloarly work, you'll get a 1 or 2. Test's aren't too bad. I'd recommend.

I love Marty, lol well atleast that's what he told me to call him , so cute and a really easy class

he's a really nice guy and he's willing to help in the labs. His tests, however are usually mostly math work and don't go along with the notes. There's plenty of other ways to bring your grade up though.

martin is a really cool guy..this class was really laid back and easy, i would suggest taking it with him

Chill guy, very clear, easy labs, very helpful. Yes I think this sums up the whole class. I thought he was very good.

Dr. Helmke is so nice. Very helpful and eager for you to understand material. Labs aren't too bad and tests are a bit hard but if you study a little you'll be fine. Final was a take home. Overall, good teacher and very nice.

if u need to take any geology course take it with him....easy class n not much work involved besides a abstract n posterboard due at end of semester but they are easy to do..i got a B+ n didnt do much so TAKE HIM

This professor's a lot of fun and is really into geology. But BEWARE: HE'S PICKY ABOUT MATH PROBLEMS. If you like lots of math and hard tests, then this one's for you. If you do all the labs and homework you'll do OK in this class, but don't expect an easy A. For an automatic A, take geology from Smith, Bosbyshell, or Good.

For a 100 level course this class requires way to much work it should be a 300-400 class. If your taking this and expect an easy A forget it and take a different professor. He is a nice teacher but takes the class way to seriously and the test are difficult.

Tests were a kinda hard, labs are easy and really help your grade if you go. Nicest guy in the world, loves what he does.

More work than a 100-level course should be. But fun guy. Attendance is not required, but you need the material to pass the tests. Rocks are cool.

Very helpful and good teacher, hard tests but most of the grade comes from labs

Martin is a great teacher. He is very helpful and loves what he teaches. His passion for Geology shows and if you share that passion, you will do fine. You don't need the book as he teaches from his own powerpoints that are available prior to class so you can follow along. I love this guy, he's funny and is very very interesting!!

Martin is a fun teacher, very dedicated to the subject. Always tries to have a fun time in class and is very funny. Tests are a bit hard and course work is more than a 100 level should be. But other than that you'll pass easily.

I got very upset when I read anything negative about Martin. He is cool and you dont even have to go to his class to pass it. Go to the labs and ask him any questions and you can get the answers from him. I had a little crush on him.. His tests were so easy.. do the online homework and its basically the answers. TAKE HIM and geology for an easy A

labs are easy (drops lowest one). you do homework on blackboard and can redo it as many times as you want till you get a good score. open note tests are really hard. one posterproject.take home final doesnt take attendance. very enthusiastic

Martin is a great teacher. He is very helpful and loves what he teaches. His passion for Geology shows and if you share that passion, you will do fine. You don't need the book as he teaches from his own pwrpts that are available prior to class so you can follow along. I love this guy, he's funny and is very very interesting! (And he's a fireman!)

Very nice guy, and a firefighter, which is cool. Very easy class, stopped going to lecture after the first month. Just show up to the labs, and you'll likely get an A in them. Exams are mostly from the online homeworks, which you can take until you get perfect scores.

Excellent professor. Extremely energetic. Definitely worth having as an instructor.

TAKE HIM! I took him my second time around taking this class and he actually made me want to go. It's possibly a given A if you do the very few work. Homework on BB can be done as many times as you want. Jokes are somewhat humorous and he does his best to make it all short, but sweet. Honestly worth taking hands down

Helmke is such an awesome professor! You can tell he truely loves what he teaches. Attendance isn't mandatory for lecture, but I would atleast go to one lecture a week. Exams are hard but he gives these homeworks that you can do as many times as you want to get a perfect score. Take him!

EASIEST CLASS EVER!!!! online hw n tests, labs r cake n u get a perfect score...dont really need the book u can borrow someones...final is a poster...dont really need to go to class...slides are online...just go to the labs...if u dont/didnt get a A in this class then u dont need to be in college!!!

TOP 10 professor. Cares deeply. Do not listen to anyone who tells U, you dont need to go to class. In-class lectur gives info not on slids U dont want 2 miss any of it! Ur in school 2 learn! Only idiots dont go to class. Do the HmWk as soon as its posted while the info is fresh in ur head. Because of Helmkey I now love Geology, I now know so much!

AWESOME PROFESSOR! ATTEND EVERY LAB (You get 100 for showing up on time!) Lectures arnt required but I'd recommend showing up to most! Important/fun/interesting info. Grades from labs/hw/tests - labs = 100 if you go! HW is only and you can keep retrying til you get an A. - Tests are online aswell (easy with notes) HE IS ALWAYS HELPFUL & GREAT!

Martin is the best professor I have had so far at WCU. He is down to earth, and you can talk to him about anything. He always has a smile on his face, and that is what gets everyone interested in the material. I would take him again if given the chance.

BY FAR THE BEST PROF. I HAD AT WCU. HE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE TEACHES. HE IS KNOWLEDGABLE AND GREAT AT HELPING YOU LEARN. HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND IS VERY LAID BACK. I PASSED THROUGH IS CLASS EASILY WITHOUT ATTENDING MANY LECTURES. GO TO LAB, EASY POINTS AND INTERESTING.

Martin is an amazing asset for the university and, most importantly, for students

Martin Helmke is such a great professor. I thought geology was going to be pretty boring but he's so excited about what he does that you cant help but smile with him. The class isn't very hard and if you go to class the notes he gives are very helpful for the tests. He's so funny and excitable. Definately one of the best professors i've had at wcu

Dr. Helmke is passionate about his work and makes every class fun to attend. I would recommend this professor to anyone looking to take Geology 101.

Liked his class so much, it made me think to switch my major because of him.

Dr. Helmke is by far one of the most enthusiatic and genuine professors at West Chester University. He made rocks entertaining. If you haven't already - TAKE HIM!

he's amazing if you need a science take him!

I really liked him in the first few weeks but then I thought he was an ok prof. He lets you take the test 2 times and you can do the homework until you get 100%. Take him if you want easy class.

I have never seen anyone more enthusiastic about rocks. He is always willing to help you. His exams are about 15-20 questions but then you take the exam again with a group. Online quizzes can be taken until you get a 100% You get 100% for lab just for showing up. TAKE THIS CLASS!

Dr. Helmke is such an energetic, charismatic guy. He realizes that most students (myself included) are only taking the class as a gen ed requirement, so he keeps that in mind when teaching. I did find his exams to be pretty challenging, but if you go to class and lab, do the homework, and study--you should get an "A" like I did.

Dr. Helmke is very passionate about geology. He will go out of his way to make sure that you succeed. Though the tests can be challenging at time, his homework, labs, and extra credit help boost the grades up. I would highly recommend taking him.

I recommend taking this class to anyone looking for a super easy science gen ed credit. Even if you aren't interested in geology, Helmke makes it less painful. He's super lenient and actually wants his students to succeed. He's such a nice guy, it's worth taking the class.

I am glad i have this guy as my professor. He really want every student in his class to succeed. You take his test solo first then with a group. Hw can be retaken till you get an A, labs grades are 100% only if you attend. Honestly, there is no way a student can fail this class, i calculated it. I definitely recommend him .

Professor Helmke is a great guy! I did not need the textbook but you could get it if you need to. Attendance is mandatory. Many extra credit opportunities. Test are taken in groups. I'm terrible in science and I got an A. I highly recommend him!

Never had a more enthusiastic and helpful teacher. Labs were actually outside, which was a great change. Went to his office hours because my math skills were low and I struggled with equations in class. He was helpful, understanding, and respectful. I struggle with science and math, and still loved the class because of his enthusiasm! Loved him.

Had him for my Geology lab, I did not have the same teacher as my lecture. Like I said show up and pass for the lab. He actually just gives credit for the day based upon attendance. Plus it is very refreshing to see a professor who is enthusiastic about teaching as well enthusiastic about his subject. Great guy too, he will remind you of your dad

Had him for a lab with a different professor for lectures. Really nice and entertaining guy! As long as you attend the lab, you get full credit. He;s a very enthusiastic guy about rocks, but it actually makes the class a little more interesting. Didn't require the lab pages from the textbook either, so you can rent the book if you have him!

Such an awesome professor!! Before this class I had no interest in geology. All his lectures were very interesting. Attendance is mandatory because he gives easy quick assignments to do every class but you only need to do a certain amount so its okay to miss a couple days. Tests were kind of hard but he lets you take them 2x and averages grade.

great professor, really loves what he does and helps students a lot. always in a great mood! easy class

If you need a GenEd science, take Dr. Helmke. Geology is a very fun and relatively easy subject, and he makes it an incredibly enjoyable experience. Show up to labs and you get full credit. Exams are taken twice, with the 2nd time using your notes. The final is non-cumulative. Go to more than 15 classes for bonus. One of the best profs I had yet!

Dr. Helmke is one of the nicest people I have ever met which is why even though I really didnt like geology, I would still take a class from him if it related to my major more. geology is NOT a simple science, so if this is just for a science requirement I wouldnt recommend it. there is math involved as well as weekly labs but he made it enjoyable

this class was a much more difficult science than I expected but Helmke makes it very easy to pass. you get 1 point each day just for coming to class and 4 points for attending lab. exams can be a bit challenging but he gives them in a way where u can earn points even without studying. if u just go to class/lab and do semi well on the tests ur good

absolutely adore helmke! sweetest prof &i wish i could take him again! exams: take it once alone and then take it again with ppl sitting around you - short and all multiple choice. if you know the study guide you'll do great - go to review session class before exam. kind and funny and i enjoyed going to his class every day!

TAKE THIS CLASS !!

Helmke was a great professor. His lectures were 50 minutes and I enjoyed it. Easy gen ed. He cares about his students. No homework in his class! Labs are enjoyable. No quizzes, just tests, but every test, you take it once by yourself and then again with a group of people for a couple points to add to your grade. I would defintely take him again.

Great guy, would recommend

Dr. Martin Helmke is one of the most respected and experienced Hydrogeologists ever and a fantastic professor. One day he will be up there with the internationally recognized Dr. C. W. Fetter, Jr. . He is an outgoing and multidisciplinary character, with a strong aptitude for solving complex problems. He helped me succeed. He's the best. 1000%

great teacher

He has a way of making challenging material easy.

Prof. Helmke made this class so enjoyable. You can tell that he is truly passionate about the subject and is always willing to help you with any questions- he also answers his email very fast. His class is very manageable if you stay on top of your work and watch the lectures. Overall such a great teacher and person!

Dr. Helmke is a quality professor. Even during the pandemic, he made learning the material easy, provided support for quizzes, and taught his lectures in a easy to digest and interesting way. It's important to stay on top of the quizzes and homework, as is with any course, but I think he is one of the best professors to take for a 100 level course.

Dr. Helmke is one of the best! Take him if you get the chance. I took geology online so it was really easy; video lectures, a discussion and a quiz. The discussions are fun because there are times where you have to go outside. Take him, he's so nice!

I absolutely love this man <3 hes a real gem. I have no interest in the geology but I needed this class for credit and he was so passionate it made me care about rocks. Some teachers just love what they do and hes one of them. I will say people in the class take advantage of his chill grading and its sad because they openly disrespect him.

I took Dr. Helmke's class blended, we only did labs in person and lectures were asynchronous, but Dr. Helmke went through them in class anyway. The labs were easy and each module had a quiz that could be attempted 3 times.

this class is so easy. lectures are all online and labs are in person. he releases all of the quizzes the first week which u have 3 attempts for each. u get 5 points for just showing up to class and 5 points for each 100% on the quiz. once u have 95 points accumulated he literally tells you you don't have to show up for class because u have an A.

Mr. Helmke is an amazing professor. His lectures are super easy to follow and grades very quickly. There are also no exams, just quizzes (3 attempts), which is nice. He is also very funny and tries to show a lot of his fun personality even through online lectures. He is by far my favorite professor. If you need a science gen-ed, take him.

Dr. Helmke is an amazing lecturer and person overall. He genuinely cares about learning in the classroom and the application of concepts in the field. He is very understanding and flexible, a total gem!

He was AMAZING! Answered emails promptly and was a very fair grader! Gives you as many extra credit opportunities as possible. Only has weekly (module) quizzes no exams. TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU NEED A LOW-STRESS SCIENCE ELECTIVE!

Wonderful professor. His online lectures are great and informative, he is very passionate which encouraged us to do well. He cared for and valued our opinions. The semester consisted of quizzes, reflections, and discussions which were all fairly easy since the material is interesting and easy to follow. Take him!

I enjoyed this class. A lot of homework but you have two weeks to do each chapter. Learned some cool stuff.

Took him for ess128. I needed the elective and the class seemed easy enough. There is a lot of more difficult work than I expected, but he was a lenient grader and very nice man. I would take him again if I had to, but only online.

I enjoyed this class! I figured I'd take something new for my last science gen ed and I'm glad I chose this class. It was a lot of homework at times but overall really informative and interesting content and not very hard. I learned a lot :)

If you want an easy science elective take this! Easy class and is self-paced for the most part, so you can sit down and get a majority of the class done early.

Was nice to have the same structure to assignments each week. Important to make sure that you participate in the weekly discussed boards. Also nice that he gives you 3 attempts on the quizzes. Very fair grader and nice class to take if you spread out the work due, but he gives 2 weeks for each module so it is not too daunting.

Dr. Helmke gives clear instructions and due dates for each assignment. Each module consists of a guided learning experience, a discussion post, and a quiz. No exams, only quizzes. Only complaint is there is a 5-page final paper at the end of the course.

Class format makes it almost impossible not to do well. Modules are broken down by every 2 weeks, workload is about 2 hours every 2 weeks, grades quickly and is responsive.

I took this as an extra gen ed class and I normally have had super bad experiences with professors teaching ESS.. Dr. Helmke made me LOVE it. The class was super easy but informative. The discussion posts may seem like a lot but they're super fun and actually a great way to apply what you learned! I truly had a blast taking this class!

Dr. Helmke is the best lab professor ever. Such a sweet and caring man. He really cares about students and the environment!

This was such a fun and easy class for people who aren't good at science. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to find a science class I would actually do well in, but this class taught me so much without it being extremely hard. Take this class if you're not interested in chem or bio.

Helmke was great! This course was completely asynchronous. All of the modules are clearly explained. You know what you need to get done and when. I was able to rack up enough points with the assignments and extra credit that I didn't need to do the final project! Definitely recommend for an easy A! Assignments and quizzes were easy and open-book.

I took Professor Helmke for Fundamentals of Soils. He's such a wonderful teacher! Class is structured clearly and he's great at explaning things. Showing up to class counts towards your grade so make sure to show up! You wouldnt want to miss his class anyways. (He always offers extra credit if you miss something).

SUCH a nice man, and amazing teacher. Simple assignments; I actually had him for HON 383, and it was actually the easiest class I've ever taken. We went on multiple field trips to downtown WC, and we had 1 discussion post a week. No exams, no quizzes, offers great extra credit. The final was a 10 page paper, but gave you time to work in class.

Amazing!!!!