2.6
Quality4.4
Difficulty31%
Would Retake161
Reviews31%
Would Retake
161
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
26
4
26
3
25
2
30
1
54
What Students Say
“Don't get on bad side”
BIOL1134 - 1.0 rating“I would not recommend this class to anybody”
BIO1134 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
19%
Grade Predictor
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Predicted Grade
B+
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-1.14 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO1013
3.5
(2)BIOL1134
2.9
(81)BIO1134
2.5
(62)1134
2.5
(2)BIOL1013
2.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
BIOL1013
5.0
BIO1113
5.0
PBIO1114
5.0
PBIO3163
4.9
1134
4.5
Reviews (161)
he really isnt bad. the class although is hard and he is the only one that teaches it. attendance is not mandatory but there is clicker points and quizes so it is highly recommended to go to class. Have to have to read your book. pay attention to lecture and study hard. he'll help if you ask but you have to specifically ask for it.
Gibson is a great teacher and knows his stuff, but the class is no breeze! Attendance to lectures and reading all of the book material is a must if you want to make a good grade.
READ textbook/notes as much as you can! Gibson knows his stuff, but his lectures and exams are so broad. Class is not easy, don't depend on a curve because there wasn't one this semester. Exams are impossible. Every exam the class had a failing average. Attendance is mandatory for clicker points and quizzes.
Awesome guy. I didn't think the subject was all that hard, but the second test and the final were harder than the first. Attendance not mandatory, but there are daily clicker quizzes that count for grades, so go to class. Hilarious in class, definitely recommend him. I didn't read, but definitely study notes. Hates phones, little bonus, some curve.
really tough class. will not tell you what are on exams. exams are impossible. do not take him!!!
The subject is NOT hard; however, the teacher strives to make his tests hard with confusing wording and questions over something he mentioned once briefly. He is not helpful when asked questions. Almost always "answers" questions with other questions. Not very helpful. He may be funny, but he's a horrible teacher.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU DO NOY HAVE TO! He tries to make this class as hard as he can. He needs to just retire and let someone else teach it. Exams are IMPOSSIBLE! I took as an elective BIG MISTAKE!
His exams are really difficult. He gives you a previous exam but it does not provide much help at all. He even tells you it's not meant to be a study guide. He's a nice guy but makes this basic gen ed class much harder than it needs to be. I wouldn't recommend it.
For exams he always pulls out a question over something that he hardly if ever mentioned in class worth 15% of the exam. This happened on every test. Nothing from His study guides were on the tests. Don't ever take him because you will find yourself studying the wrong stuff for days and it won't do you any good. I feel like I got robbed of an A.
This class was fairly difficult. There is a lot of material to learn and he is often nit picky about details, and the wording on the tests is confusing sometime. If you want a good grade, you have to make sure you go to every lecture & keep up on reading. If you do this an A is very much attainable and you will learn a lot.
Very good teacher, however tests can be a bit unfair. The question on the FINAL that was worth the most points was over a topic he had covered in literally less than a minute. It was a bit unfair, but I learned a lot and enjoyed the class overall.
Do not take this class before you take an Intro to Bio. This class is very difficult. Gibson is not a good prof and is very unfair when it comes to exams. Very difficult exams. The class overall including powerpoints were very unorganized. He tries to cover too much information in one semester, and it is VERY HARD!
Great professor. Intro to Bio was easy if you went to class and study for an hour or two before the exams. He made the material accessible for someone in a major not even related to science
current class average is a 68% current lab average is in the low 50% range. it is as if the prof as well as the TAs dont care that they are never clear, never post due dates, never update d2l, or post a clear to do list for the class. assignments are on many different sites as well as the quizzes. tests are impossible to ace.
Gibson makes the class seem easy and interesting, before you get the first test. He isn't clear what's on the test and makes you believe stuff is on there when it isn't. Class average if HORRIBLE. With what like 68%?! Went to ask the TA for help, and she told me to "google it" and refuse any other help.
The material in this class is not hard. However there are so many little details that he will test over so that it is almost impossible to memorize everything. The TAs are useless, rude, and they try to make the material harder than necessary by giving really convoluted answers or answering with a question.
This class is hard. Know what you are getting yourself into. The papers you have to write for lab are ridiculously long and detailed. (15+pages) Tests in the class are EXTREMELY difficult. I loved him as a teacher, but the class should not be a lower level biology course.
This class is difficult, it seems like no matter how much time you spend reviewing the text and studying the grades are not reflected. His test are random question on the subject that do not demonstrate your actual understanding of the subject. The lab was kinda fun, but the discussions and exams are ridiculous!
Dr. Gibson is very insightful. He really gets you interested into the course material. This is an intro class, but is extremely difficult. You MUST read all the assigned or recommend readings if you want an A. Do NOT miss class or you will miss a lot of information. His class is designed to make you think like a doctor.
Gibson's lectures are intended to increase your interest in biology and help you understand what is happening on a broader scale. They will NOT prepare you for the exam, so you must do that on your own! Don't underestimate this class. Loved Gibson's obvious enthusiasm for biology. Also his action center sessions are very helpful!
Difficult class! Attendance isn't mandatory, but you must attend and he will call you out if you leave. You NEED to make time to study in this class or else you will not get a good grade. He is strict. The final lecture is the most interesting one. He is a very intelligent man. Only take this class when you can devote time to it.
Professor Gibson is very rude and condescending. I did the reading and participated in class and he made me feel stupid. Wouldnt recommend anyone take his course.
This class was one of the worst courses I have ever taken. Exams were over material not very well covered in class or in the readings. The TAs were extremely unhelpful and grading was ridiculous for an intro level bio course. The material was totally unorganized and unbalances from test to test and getting an A in lab was darn near impossible.
This class is without a doubt extremely difficult.One TA is great, the other is a terrible TA and she should not be allowed to teach ANYONE...EVER. Expect tons of material to be crammed into this lovely 15 week class. This is not an intro class. I felt like I was taking a Botany, Evolution and Zoology class all at the same time.
you can def see his passion for biology. He is a funny guy who actually makes the class interesting. HIS TESTS. he asks way too many questions for the 50 minute that is given, most of the time students run out of time because a lot of his questions are just trick questions that were not mentioned in class nor in the book.
Great teacher and awesome lecturer. Be careful to read the textbook and go to his office hours! Dr. Gibson is very helpful to you if he can tell you care. Do not study previous exams.
He makes class interesting and teaches the material well. But the tests are brutal. Going to every lecture and reading the textbook thoroughly might get you an A though. You have to know material very well to be able to get a good grade.
Horrible. Attendance is graded almost every class and going doesn't help because it isn't related to exam most times. Exam questions are TERRIBLY worded. Too many questions to be able to finish in time, and must be able to do mental algebra. Ta I had was awful and unhelpful as well. Prelab quizzes would be about lecture the day after seeing info.
Tests were impossible. If you can read minds though, you'll be just fine. And god forbid you're not in class to hear an assignment. I e-mailed him on two occasions to get an assignment and he never once responded. When I approached him about the zero I received on an assignment because of this, he responded, "Nothing I can do about it." Awful class
This class is a complete joke to be listed as an introductory class. It should be a 3 thousand level course. Gibson has one thing that he is interested in, and that is research. I guess he has to teach this course because OU is making him. All I will say is BEWARE when you enroll and wish to take on this class. May the force be with you.
Okay guys, if you do not have to take this class, DON'T. If you do, I will just tell you that you need to read the textbook he outlines in the schedule. That is the only thing that got me an A because lectures are not enough at all to prepare for tests. As for the lab, make sure you read the manual for the quizzes, labs are high expectations.
Proffesor Gibson is really only interested in his specific work. He focuses the course primarily on his obsession of flowers and does not talk about anything. The test are curved as well as the class at the end but it doesn't matter much. You have to read the book because his "case studies" don't really teach you much. Avoid this class if you can.
Learned more in this class than any I have taken previously. Gibson is brilliant and is willing to help. Extremely difficult, extensive material covered, heavy on evolution and botany. READ THE TEXTBOOK. Attendance is technically not mandatory, but never skip lecture unless absolutely necessary. In class clicker quiz almost every day.
Dr. Gibson really cares that his students actually learn the material, and goes farther than most to ensure that happens. The tests can definitely be difficult, but if you go to his action centers he helps you out a lot. If you put the effort in you will do well.
Although attendance is not mandatory, he does clicker questions nearly everyday, so it's to your benefit to be there. He understands that he makes the class challenging so he is willing to give the students a break now and then.
GO TO CLASS. Everyday there is a quiz or case study. these small extra points add up fast and can tear down your grade. If you don't have previous knowledge in ecology, botany, evolution, or basic zoology this class will be rough. Tests are tough and require short answers and drawing as well as multiple choice.
Exams are difficult & no extra credit! If you get a good TA, then you are lucky
You have to go to class every day to get clicker points. His lectures can be all over the place and he tends to go off on tangents. His tests are very tough and mostly concept based so you can't cram for them. Don't expect a curve either. He is tough but fair. Don't bother buying the textbook I never even opened it.
Bio 1134 is a tough class, but is do-able. Dr. Gibson holds action tutoring twice a week which I recommend, because those helped me understand 1 week worth of information in one hour. As long you put in the time for this class, you will make either an A or B. He may seem a bit intimidating in class, but he is actually really nice in office hours.
MUST go to class, do action center worksheets, and take thorough notes on both lectures and case studies
Great teacher. The class can be hard but he is available in his office and during action center and really nice 1 on 1. He wants students to pass. Do the homework and show up for clicker quizzes and your grade will be fine. Plus he makes nerdy jokes and does magic tricks. His lecture was the most fun I had in class this semester.
Exams are impossible if you don't study. GO TO THE ACTION CENTERS. He's a very passionate botanist, so if you think plants are boring, avoid the class. You need a clicker for every lecture. He's helpful if you ask for help. You need to get a good TA to pass. (Avoid Jelena) This is NOT a blow off class. I'm a bio major. It's a weed-out class.
Going into his class, everyone hyped up how hard it was. To be fair it wasn't easy (his motto is "F's save lives") but it was definitely my favorite class I've had so far as an undergrad. He is truly passionate about biology, and really took the time to get to know his students. There's a reason he's been teaching this course for 20+ years.
Dr. Gibson is just as enthusiastic an educator as he is botanist. He listens to students. This class is tough, but only because he wants to see you grow. Action center will show you what he thinks is most important to know. Go say hi during office hours. He's very nice and always ready to help. Overall: a good person to keep in touch with at OU.
He BLAZES through the lecture so taking adequate notes is impossible. The first test had a lot of stuff that was not covered in class well enough and you can't use a calculator which is ridiculous. I'm afraid to ask for help because I've seen him brush off a lot of people. This class isn't for people who aren't good at science/math.
Dr. Gibson is my favorite professor I have had at OU by far. However his tests are extremely hard and they are all scenario questions, so memorizing definitions is not going to get you a passing grade. Go to action center and office hours. Get to know him!
Dr. Gibson is funny as expletive and has a real love for biology, especially botany. If you don't expletive around, and pay attention, you'll do well. He's all about critical thinking, so be prepared to actually learn the material if you want the grade.
Not really understanding as it came down to the last days of the course. Tried to go over material but he blew me off. Was shocked because he pretended to be nice all semester.
He's pretty difficult but if you stick with it you can earn an A. Start reading about plants now! Its his passion and he tests heavily on it. Lectures are entertaining. He sometimes barely talks about a subject then it shows up all over exams. Be aware of small skimmed over details!
Moves at a very fast pace, power points are not really descriptive or specific. Exams are very difficult
Absolutely the worst class I have taken at OU. The "extra credit" is ridiculous because the only things that matter are the exams and lab practical. Content is hard to grasp the first time you're introduced to it, which makes it frustrating when he gives a clicker quiz immediately after talking about it for one minute. 0/10, would NOT RECOMMEND.
Dr. Gibson is one of my favorite professors at OU! The class is extremely challenging, so you really have to study A LOT. His exams are hard but doable if you really study the materials well. His lectures are SUPER fun and interesting! Also, for lab, GET NICOLE. She's seriously the best TA ever. I wouldn't survive this class without her.
His exams are pretty difficult, so understand the material and don't cram for his exams because he words each question funny. He'll teach you about something and then write a question on the exam about that same concept, but in an analogy! Attendance isn't mandatory but you have quizzes every day, so he kind of makes it mandatory in that way!
He was extremely difficult, which is a bit annoying considering it's just an entry level biology course. The best thing I did for this class was to just read the damn textbook because his exams are super duper specific whilst his lectures are not. Basically, be prepared to study a LOT.
He was an extremely difficult grader. He was taught to write tests in a way that every answer could be correct due to common misconceptions about the topic. My advice would be to read the questions at the end of the chapters from the book because he uses a good amount of them. Also make sure that you attend and do clicker questions.
Great professor. Highly intelligent and knowledgable. You can tell he is passionate about the subject. It is vital to attend class due to clicker quizzes. Tests are difficult, but he usually curves them and provides extra credit. Work hard, study, and you will be fine.
Dr. Gibson's class is really difficult, but he cares about his students. Use the Action tutoring and office hours to your advantage. In his syllabus he states that introductory is not a synonym for easy. He wants you to think instead of regurgitating information. He is willing to help you, but you need to approach him.
This is the hardest class I've taken, which is so weird for a 1000-level course. But my TA was wonderful, so thankfully he helped me a lot. Gibson can be a real hard-head, but you MUST go to Action Center and actually participate for him to know who you are and be willing to help you. There is very very little extra credit, so don't rely on that...
This class is really difficult and Gibson makes the test really hard. He cares about his students and helps a lot at action tutoring! The worksheets he gives you really helps on the test. He also gives curves which is super nice of him! Professor Gibson is very passionate about his course and you will learn a lot in his class!
Dr. Gibson's exams seem much harder than they should be; lots of critical thinking is necessary. He offers many chances to help students but to receive help you must put forth effort and show him you care. Office hours are important and he is very helpful. His lectures are always interesting and has daily clicker questions.
Dr. Gibson is great, but this class was OVERcomplicated. I understand that technology moves at a quick pace, but perhaps the professor could ease you into it instead of throwing it all in your face at once. Too much homework/busy work. The irony is that the goal is to get you think about biology, but you're so busy with all the work, you can't.
As tough as Gibson and this class are, i'm happy I took it because I learned a lot and grew as a student! You have to work for an A, but if you go to action center and do all assignments its possible. Go to class, pay attention, take good notes, do the assignments and GET TO KNOW HIM! If he sees you are working hard, he will bump you
This class was less of a biology class and more of a botany class. I wish I could things to say about it. Professor Gibson seemed to care more about reading the lecture and talking about plants as opposed to teaching us about evolution and ecology. I strongly recommend taking this class from a different teacher.
This class is horrible, especially if you are like me and couldn't care less about plants. Phil is a botanist and it will show in the class, and to make things worse he is the only professor that ever teachers this class. Clicker questions are impossible and are 10% of your grade, and even worse there is SO MUCH homework.
This was the worst class I've ever taken. If you have a PhD in bio you probably still won't make an A. The tests are impossible no matter how much you study. I will probably be taking this class again next semester. This is an intro level class worth 3 credit hours but it's 10x as hard as my 5 hour credit classes. Evil.
Awful professor. I would not recommend this class to anybody.
Dr. Gibson is awesome. He's funny and knows what he's talking about. His class on the other hand is AWFUL. I studied every PP and previous exam and still never made above a 65. The tests are impossible to do good on because he expects you to just know everything about evolution. His words: "If I ask anything about evolution I expect you to know it"
Prof Gibson is not an easy professor which is the point of higher education. You should not miss a class because there are many clicker quizzes, and, yes, they can be hard, but if you go to Action Center (which is basically a free supplemental lecture, it's silly not to go), then you will be fine. Study old exams, read, ask ?s, pay attn, that's it.
This class was by far one of the hardest I have taken. Make sure to go to all the action centers and meet with him in his office hours because IT WILL HELP. He could come off unapproachable at times but he definitely knows his stuff. Overall, I found his lectures really interesting, but his tests were hard, even with a lot of studying.
It is a very tough class. He doesn't care why you're out of class, he feels that even though we paid we have to attend. You NEED to study for this class. My advice is to take notes over quizzes and lecture, attend study/office hours, read the book, do the homework and put in as much effort as you can during class, lab, and homework.
Dr. Gibson's course is definitely not a blow off class. He does expect you know know material from lecture slides, lab, and the book. The lectures are actually really interesting if you don't give up and decide you'll have them beforehand. Paying attention and participating in lecture is a really good way to understand a lot of what is taught.
Dr. Gibson is a really nice guy, and his class was the most interesting class I've taken at OU. I did have to work harder than I did for any other at OU, but just paying attention and reading the book is crucial to doing well on the tests. Try and make sure you have a nice/understanding TA though, because I didn't. They can make/break your grade.
Please don't take this class if you don't have too! He is an ok guy, he appears to be nice but he is very rude, deceiving and doesn't truly care about his students. There is so much material and tests will be on specific things. Pay attention in lecture, go over slides, go to action center/office hours, study hard. Good luck.. Don't get on bad side
This class is well-known for being a weed-out class for life science majors and pre-medicine students. I went into it terrified of failing, but I found that it is the most interesting and useful class I've taken thus far. It was pretty hard to get an A, but not impossible. Lots of studying is required, but he tends to curve tests which helps.
Great class! Really learned a lot about the fundamentals of biology. Was definitely worth taking and will help me with future classes such as evolution and genetics.
Love this class. It really helped me with evolution and genetics. I also learned a lot about biology that I never knew before. very interesting class. Studying is not optional for this class. One of my favorite biology classes I have taken
Honestly, Gibson is super cool and nice. I wish I had gone to more office hours. The tests can be difficult but are do-able. I definitely recommend his class.
Really nice and funny guy, he was my lab teacher which was kind of nice but kind of awful because hes a tough grader. I studied for 48+ hours for the final to get the grade I needed so definitely study or you wont make it. PAY ATTENTION IN LAB. Those lab quizzes will make or break you, and they definitely almost broke me
Bottomline line is, some people will like this personality, some won't. This doesn't take anything away from his teaching. He is a very knowledgable professor. He also prefaces the class that it will take a lot of work and effort. If you do just that, you'll be fine. Make schedule for AC. Will help for exams and will give you a chance to know him.
This is a tough class: however he states in the first class session that he will not be teaching you biology; his purpose is to teach you how to think like a biologist. This class is all about critical thinking. You don't have to come to class, but there are clicker questions everyday and anything he talks about could be on the test.
Take this class if you want to learn about evolution but do not go to his office hours because he will yell at you for no reason if you ask a simple question. Just read the powerpoints and do the action centers and you should be fine. This class is super easy, no matter how hard he makes it seems.
This class was extremely difficult. I took chemistry and this at the same time and it made chemistry look like a cakewalk. While that being said I've never learned as much from a class as I did his, it's a very hard class and it's hard to get above even a B. It's possible learn how to conceptualize and read the book is the most important things.
This professor is really knowledgeable and organized with his course material. The class was very hard, but it's doable to get an A and I loved his personality. I had him as a lab instructor and the lab was much harder than the lecture component. REVIEW LAB MATERIAL EACH WEEK. The lab quizzes and practical are the hardest thing about this class!
Professor Gibson made the lectures interesting and I had him as my lab TA for honors, and he was always easy to talk to. However, the class itself is pretty hard. The tests are decently hard but if you are in his lab section, be prepared for hard lab quizzes and tough grading. Go to class though because the clicker points add up.
This class made me change my major from biology to psychology. Even after doing well in BIOL1124 at OU, this class was a rude awakening. It was the most stressful class I've ever taken. Tests were insanely difficult. Wasn't a fan of the way Gibson lectured and he came off as very condescending. Lab quizzes were the worst. His TA's are resourceful.
What a horrible professor to teach this class. Tests are super easy and not as imitating as Gibster leads on. DON'T GO TO OFFICE HOURS OR HE WILL SCREAM OR YELL AT YOU. Made this mistake once, and never looking back again. If everyone hates this class, that better tell you something.
I think Professor Gibson listened to a lot of the critiques he has received in the past. He is funny, charismatic, and an excellent professor. There is a lot of broad material, but if you study you'll be fine! Make sure you go every day for the clicker points though!
Anyone that says this class was fun, easy or he's a good professor etc, is wrong. This was the WORST class I have ever had along with him being the WORST professor I have ever had. Class is poorly structured and unorganized, he is MEAN and condescending. I absolutely dreaded coming everyday, lab is awful as well. 100% take it elsewhere/w other prof
I think everyone complaining just wasn't ready to be thrown into a real college course. Gibson makes it interesting but of course you have to study. Homeworks are a waste of time but they boost your grade. Clicker questions every lecture so go. Labs were pretty simple with only 2 lab reports. Overall I enjoyed the class and learned a lot.
I don't write reviews on this thing but figured I should help future people taking this class, run for the hills if ur taking gibson!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did exceptional in bio 1, and did subpar in this class
Be ready to attend everyday, as you have clicker questions to answer. The case studies make up about 2 to 3 questions on each exam, while the rest is just nothing we covered in class. 3 exams (40 Questions), Lab was very boring. Be aware of the lab practical and Final, the smartest people in our class made Ds on those exams. Find a good study group
Dr. Gibson does make lectures interesting, but come to the tests material it is almost impossible. He is very rude in office hours when you asked for help. Labs were fairly boring and Gibson is currently the only professor for BIOL1134 so good luck...
While it's not required, attendance is necessary because there are clicker questions that are for a grade. Also, the exams are difficult and you MUST study to do well on them. The labs are very dumb, but you only have to write 2 reports. Other than that, his lectures are pretty engaging (he doesn't even use the mic) and he's a funny dude!
Gibson is a great professor for lectures and I really enjoyed it, he's more focused on you learning the material than just the grade. That being said, his tests are still really tough and require a lot of out of class work and studying.
Ok, this teacher is amazing knows his stuff. People don't like him because he can be intimidating when you approach him. He doesn't like to help ppl who ask questions about grades. But take his class if you want to learn. He saved my butt in other classes because he engraved material into my head that is useful for other classes. U will work hard.
Hi. I HIGHLY recommend you DO NOT take this class with this professor. The class is somewhat difficult, but not too bad. The professor on the other hand... try to avoid him. He is the worst professor I have experienced yet. He is so rude don't even bother going to his office hours or talking. He makes the class so much harder than it should be.
Gibson is an amazing person and gives entertaining lectures don't get me wrong, but his lectures often do not help at all over what will be tested. I am an A-average student and I do very well in science courses especially biology however I really struggled in this class to pass his tests. Also, he gives no extra credit. Avoid him if you can.
Gibson is a decent lecturer. However, when COVID 19 moved our class to online, it was very difficult and he stopped lecturing and we just watched random videos about the content that didn't really correspond to what was on the test. Also, test questions are unnecessarily tricky in general. Lab can be boring sometimes, hard lab quiz. Clickers tough.
In class clicker questions and case studies are difficult but they weigh fairly heavily for grades. Make sure you learn the material and can apply it during lecture. This not only helps your grade but will keep you up to date on the material for the tests. Find a good lab group that all contributes because the labs are important. GO TO CLASS.
Very rude and condescending. Does not believe in second chances. Connect assignments do not correlate with test content. Your only hope in this class is previous tests! Prepare heavily for labs as well because the pop quizzes are hard.
Dr. Gibson has a tendency to be a little sarcastic at times, but more in a humorous way. His classes are pretty interesting, he is a nerd for flowers. The clicker questions and case studies are helpful towards grade. Be sure to study and pay attention otherwise the test will be a struggle. The evolution portion of animals was a challenge
Phil Gibson is one of my my favorite professors. He is incredibly smart and funny. Going to his lectures was always fun for me. His slides and information are really interesting. You must attend lecture because you really shouldn't miss any clicker questions. His class really isn't hard if you just apply yourself a little and pay attention!
This guy thinks he's the best thing that has happened to biology. I'm a senior and have taken several upper level bio courses that are a lot easier and actually teach you. Absolutely terrible communication and honestly rude.
Terrible communicator and lecturer. Lectures are rambling and unrelated to textbook/hw material. Unclear/inconsistent on lab expectations and grades harshly even for personal stylistic preferences. This is a weed-out class. He wants to fail you so you try harder next time. Not good for an intro course. There is no winning. Avoid if possible.
the worst professor in the biology department at OU. To make it worse, hes the only professor for 1134. Hes a tough grader in lab. His online exam is so much harder for no reasons. He even admitted that he made it hard. His email reply is always so unprofessional. He wouldnt accept any feedback if its negative because hell catch an attitude.
Avoid taking this class, change your major if you have to. Lectures are unrelated to curriculum, tests are outrageously difficult, and contain material we never talked about. Rude when responding to emails. He makes us all listen to his personal podcast and gives quizzes over them (not in the syllabus). TA's strongly dislike working with him too.
Whatever you do, stay away from this class. His emails are rude and passive aggressive. The lectures aren't linear and some of the slides in the lecture doesn't exist in the modules. He make us listen to his podcasts which are one the tests. This defies against the syllabus and is just a plug in the end. TA's disagrees with the structure as well.
Ignore the negative reviews. Seriously. Gibson is a fantastic professor that cares and works hard. Tests are heavily curved and so is the class. Gibson is passionate about the class and it shows in his lectures. The negative reviews are a reflection on fellow students not managing the online format well. Take Gibson, get your A and have fun.
At the beginning of the semester I wasnt a fan of Professor Gibson, but as the semester went on I really enjoyed him. He teaches you to work hard and genuinely cares. It was a hard class, but it was worth it. You can tell he really enjoys what he does.
Entertaining professor, but if youre majoring in life sciences, you must take him to get to upper-div courses. Exam format constantly changed, but this probably wont be the case in the future. If you understand the material from the lectures, you should be ok, but some of his exam questions are tricky. There is a curve on every exam.
The class itself wasn't too bad. Dr. Gibson truly enjoys what he's teaching and he was pretty accommodating with everything moving online because of COVID. However, I had a hard time with the lab but that also just depends on your TA. Just go to his lectures and read the textbook and you should be fine.
The class was enjoyable because of the humor he provided during lecture. The tests are 90% lecture, and 10% other material such as EdPuzzle videos and podcasts. The book was not necessary for tests, but I still used it as they were open note. The tests were difficult. Not that much homework. He's passive aggressive in his emails which is annoying.
By far he was the worst professor I have ever taken a course with. His lectures are sub-par and his assignments had nothing to do with what we were actually doing in the course, and did not help with tests. He was also extremely rude, condescending, and did not care about his students.
J. Phil Gibson's lectures are not helpful, and rarely relevant to the material covered in the corresponding reading. He doesn't like students who ask questions and has a short temper. He doesn't follow his own syllabus. Poorly-explained pop quizzes and badly-designed group projects are common. Do not take BIOl 1134 from him if you want to learn.
I am a Bio Pre-med student and received a 4.0 my first semester of my freshman year. I took BIOL1224 my fall semester of freshman year. I found that class to be enjoyable and ended with an A in it. Now, I am in Gibson's class in the spring of my freshman year and have no idea what I am doing in this class. Do not take it unless you have to.
worst teacher ive ever had. i have never taken a harder class than this. avoid this man at all costs. lectures are useless. he is rude, mean, and unhelpful.
Gibson is many things- a good intro biology professor is not one of them. He's knowledgeable, but he focuses mostly on plants & uses this class to promote his podcast (on the test). Not good for med school. Tests are impossible to study for. He's rude, unresponsive to critique, & unwilling to help. Save money & your GPA- take this class at OCCC!
By far the worst professor I've had. He was also the only professor for Biol 1134. Take this class at community college or try to take summer courses at another school. Tests are impossible to study for and are barely relevant to his lectures. He is extremely passive-aggressive. Ultimately seemed like a plug for his podcast, which are on the tests.
hes the worse prof ive had
Dr. Gibson is the best prof I've had so far. He is understanding, helpful, and hilarious. You can tell he absolutely loves what he does. His lectures are entertaining go by fast. Read the textbook, and listen to his podcasts to do well, also go to office hours. Dr Gibson has a system, so follow it. It is there for a reason. Good Luck!
avoid if at all possible. extremely rude when you ask questions and his tests are impossible to study for
I would give him a 3.5 if possible. He loves what he does and is very informative in his lectures. He is not as bad as people have rated him here. Tests are over EVERYTHING he says. Study lecture notes first, then textbook, and finally podcast. Difficult class, but with good notes, you will do fine. Probably the most passionate prof I have had.
Worst professor I've had in my 3 years at OU so far. Upper division biology courses are easier than how Gibson treats intro bio. He is extremely rude/biased. If this class is not part of your major, drop it. If you are a pre-pharm or pre-med, use credit or substitute this with upper division bio classes. If you want to learn, you will waste time.
Worst professor I've had. Please don't take intro bio with him unless you absolutely have no choice. FYI, if you are taking him while the class is online/partially online, getting an A in here is even harder now. The exams are randomly generated with irrelevant questions, and there is no action center to help you. No extra credit.
Please, try to avoid Gibson if possible. Take this class somewhere else or switch your major if you are afraid of your GPA tanking. Test averages typically range between 50 and 60 semester-round. As you can see with all of these other reviews, NOT A FRIENDLY GUY.
This man is the worst professor I have ever had. He sets his students up for failure. He says his exams test our knowledge of course material, but his exams are so stupid and sometimes the questions are irrelevant. Makes everyones lives more difficult. Also, He randomly decided to change test grades (In a bad way) one month after the grade is poste
Considering that the averages for his exams are 60s and 50s, for an intro biology class should be the biggest red flag. A good chunk of the exam questions are exclusively from his podcast. Even with rigorous studying and practice, the exams feel like a slap in the face. Don't take the class if you don't have to, save yourself the trouble.
He has an intense fetish over promoting his beloved BioTA podcasts; our exams hardly even cover the actual content learned in the class now. All we are left with are far-fetched, irrelevant questions that stem from his podcasts. If you challenge his authority, his ego will eat you up like you're a small rabbit amongst a gang of foxes.
He had the audacity to remove his initial curve and lower everyone's scores on his first exam ONE MONTH after we got our scores (he wouldn't tell us why). People are reporting him to the dean right now because of behaviors like this and exam content that hardly reflects that we even learn in class. Seriously, people want him fired. Don't take him.
I thought Gibson's lectures were hard to pay attention to, he definitely loves his job and lecturing but he could sometimes be rude to students who asked questions. He makes podcasts that you have to listen to and there will be questions about them on the test. Didn't give anything to study for the tests so I thought they were pretty difficult.
I had to drop this course because half of our exams was over the podcasts that were equivalent to 3 hours total. Also, I listened to these podcasts about 2x each, but I did not remember the answers to the specific questions that were on the exam. POS.
The exams are not relevant to course work. Also, he advertises his podcasts and they can make up half of the exams. The TAs are also trained to be harsh
The test questions have nothing to do with what we learn in class and the podcasts are where he pulls information from that does not have anything to do with the content we are learning. Test averages are usually high 50's before a curve is added. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR
By far the hardest "intro" course I've taken as a senior. Gibson is a good professor that loves what he does, but his lectures seem to stray from relevant topics. His tests are brutal. All multiple choice w/ no free response or margin for error. There is a lot of material in this class and only a few questions are asked on the exams.
This man heavily relies on his podcasts to teach his material for obvious reasons - more listens and downloads. When your students have a consistent failing average for exams, I believe that reflects on the professor more so than the students. I highly advise not to take him for this course, but unfortunately, he is the only one who teaches it.
Professor Gibson is definitely somebody who you warm up to, even if it takes the whole semester to do it. He can be arrogant, and for some reason there were a lot of times in this class where the tests didnt relate to the curriculum. This man will shove his podcast down your throat because he believes in alternative learning. Prepare yourself.
I actually think Dr. Gibson wasn't that bad of a prof. His teaching strategy was the worst part- there was no structure or flow to lectures. It's not a hard class it just takes some work to figure out what he's trying to teach you because he's not very good at it. Very passionate and somewhat caring. Curves the class and tests, no extra credit tho.
Although he is a nice professor, he doesnt answer any question anyone has. Exams do not relate to lectures or anything he teaches really. Most exam averages were 55-65 out of 100 and since nobody has made a perfect score he always curves the grade. I have never even had a B, but I got through this course with a C. Only take if u know ur bio well!
I hated this class. You go to lecture & think you understand and then the exams have nothing to do with lecture. If you want to pass you won't get by from natural common sense, you'll have to work for your grade. Barely got out of there with a B because he had to lower the grading criteria and dropped all the letter grades by 2.5 (77.5 is a B).
Prof. Gibson comes off as a middle-aged guy who is unhappy in his marriage and projects his unhappiness onto his students. His lectures are dense and boring, with no engaging connections between different areas of the subject. He makes his own podcast required listening, and is not empathetic when it comes to students' concerns. Avoid this class.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. it's so awful. he is so stupid and so rude. his lectures DO NOT make sense and he is so bad to applying them to the exams. he literally asks us the stupidest questions ever. I am a biology major and i hope gibson gets laughed at by the bio department. his class is a joke
This professor is the worst professor I have ever had in my entire life. He is so unhelpful, never responds to emails, and don't bother asking him questions because he will make you feel incompetent. The exams have nothing to do with what we are learning and the averages are usually 50-60. AVOID THIS PROFESSOR. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
Just really not good at teaching. Very passionate about the material but just so bad at conveying the information. I took this class my junior year after completing many other upper div biology classes & this class was so unnecessarily difficult bc there was so much busy work and tests were very unrelated to lecture, not impossible just annoying
This class is incredibly difficult. Dr. Gibson seems like a great guy, but his class has very little structure so it's hard to know what's going on. I had to bust my butt to make an A. Exams are usually curved which is nice. The lab practicals are next to impossible though. I had to put in more work for this class than in any other class I've taken
This class is difficult not because the contents are difficult but because his tests are not too related to what he taught. Lectures are hard to focus so you basically have to spend time teaching yourself. I took this with other 3 upper level bios this semester, and honestly it was lowest grade that I got. TA was very helpful though.
If you do not have to take this class do NOT! Professor Gibson does not care about you or the grade you end with. The tests are nothing like the lectures given and are very textbook heavy. The lab practicals are also very intense and require many days or weeks of studying. I had to work the most I ever have needed to get a B barely. Good luck...
Honestly, just stay away from this class by all means. This professor is the only one that teaches it and I would say this is the hardest class I've ever taken. The TA's are also not good, they're straight up unfair. Absolutely hated lecture and lab, and regretted not withdrawing from the class. Take bio 2 elsewhere, especially if you're premed.
The worst class and professor I've ever taken at OU. Avoid this professor. The course material has the potential to be fun and not that difficult, but the professor makes the material difficult to learn and does not help when asked. Condescending and rude, and the lab is the most boring lab I've ever taken.
He talks about the most random things during lecture and then tests you over something he said once. Don't even try asking for extra credit he will laugh in your face. He is very smart and obviously knows a lot about the topic but doesn't understand why first year college students don't. He will say the class is easy, no it is not.
He is condescending and brags about failing students in class. He also grades unnecessarily hard. His tests are really difficult.
Does not care for his students, rude, condescending and tries to fail his students.
He's completely out of touch with what being an undergraduate student is like and expects every student to spend hours dedicated to his ridiculous class. He had absolutely no direction with this class and overloaded everyone with random unnecessary information. Get ready to memorize every word he says in his lectures.
He spends the whole class time going over lectures about unnecessary material. The tests are so hard even if you study. For a GenEd class I would skip out on this one and take a different science with lab. Do not recommend.
Run, I mean it, terrible professor. Rude brags about failing students and offers no help. I am not clear on anything whatsoever; so many notes. I will give you a study guide, but it doesn't matter whatsoever. I mean, don't take him.
Class was tough but a very cool perspective. Definitely a class for people interested in plant biology and not a random GenEd course.
Gibson has 100 slides for each lecture, he talks mostly about things we don't need to know. The tests are very hard and often not what you are told to study. Class averages for exams are pretty low, but he does curve some. I would not recommend this class for a GenEd science if you do not want to be incredibly stressed and set up to do poorly.
Run, like for real, terrible professor. Rude, offers no help, and doesn't respond to emails. So many notes. Has 100 slides for each lecture, and he talks mostly about things we don't need to know. The tests are so hard even if you study. I personally would skip out on this one and take a different science with a lab. Do not recommend it.
The prof. is good- he is ready to help whenever. PBIO is a hated topic for me but, I would retake it in hopes of getting a better grade. You need to read up after every lecture otherwise you will have a hard time keeping up with the tests. Sometimes lectures can be overwhelming. His teaching style is not for me.
This class with Professor Gibson is quite challenging. While the material has potential, his teaching style makes it unnecessarily difficult. Engaging with the free textbook and using resources like Unstuck ai can really help with study prep.
John (Phil) is the WORST professor I have ever had. His lectures are full of information that isn't even relevant for most of the time. His exams and quizzes are unnecessarily hard and his grading is even harder. I WOULD NOT EVER TAKE THIS PROF if I were you. I had him MWF at 9am and every class I thought twice about dropping out every single day!!
Professor Gibson is passionate about teaching and has a dry humor. He had some great perspectives and guided the class in directions beyond the materials of why those matters. DO NOT TAKE HIM unless you are willing to memorize unnecessary facts that you do not need to know ever. Push yourself, go to office hours, review slides, but RUN.
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100%
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55%
Textbook Required
19%
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