This is a great teacher. I took him last semester and again this one. His test appear hard, but you take it home. You get credit for trying. I got an A in his class last semester with little studying and I will get another one.

This class can be quite difficult, but the prof. makes you actually learn the material, instead of just memorizing useless information. When you leave this class, you really have a feeling of accomplishment and you feel like you got your moneys worth. I would highly recommend, unless you are lazy.

this guy is still new not to sure whats going on preety easy if you go and see him. will help you out grading is screwed up though but if you debate with him he will help you out other thne that hes alright he does enjoy his job to much though

Long story short I would say this guy is off his rocker but I doubt he every sat in the chair, and his bizarre/unhealthy obsession with snails (enough said). He is a cool guy and is funny in his own special way, but has take home test from hell.

He is so into geology it is scary. but also in that same way, it makes him very helpful....class isn't hard, just sometimes boring if your not as into rocks as him, but he's a very nice guy and really wants to help everybody and wants everyone to do well. Love Him

Lets just say, hes into geology. I never thought I would actually look outside and care about a rock. Go to class and participate in the talks. He will recognize you and help you out big in the end. Hes a good guy, especially when you go by his office. He'll help you anyway he can. Just dont cheat on the take homes,Hell catch you somehow.

He is a good teacher, but is deliberately vague sometimes just to make you think. His tests are hard, but you have a week to do them. If you are diligent, you will have ample time to finish. Just be aware that this is a WAC course and involves 2 semester long research projects, 1 independent, one group.

His tests are take home and you can use any resource on them. They can be pretty difficult, don't wait until the last minute to do them or you will fail. He is a very effective teacher who will work with you very well. As long as you take all the quizzes and do the learning evaluations you will do good in this class.

Very passionate about his work. His tests are no longer take-home, but still require ample studying. Concepts are pretty basic, it's just a lot of material to learn. Has an odd sense of humor, but is very nice and helpful.

Novack is a great lecturer, he goes quickly and comprehensively through the materials, however, he will respond to questions in class and take the time to ensure that people understand the topics. Pay attention and do well on the exams, they are difficult, he has a system to compensate for low exams scores, so read your syllabus.

Loves his subject. Great for non science majors, as he does give lots of ways for you to pass his class, while at the same time, if you are geology major you will learn GREATLY from him. good lecturer. Does alot of corny puns, but keeps the class from getting too boring. A+ teacher

This teacher is very helpful and uses real life metaphors for geology which makes it easy to understand. Tests are ok as long as you study in advance and moderate-hard for them.

Great teacher. Despite the fact that class is rather difficult in nature, he makes it interesting and fun. You can really tell he is into geology, almost to the point of being very eccentric. Very Helpful with work and generally has easy assignments. Take him if you can.

I had him for the lab part of Geology and he is fantastic. He is willing to answer all questions and is really passionate about his work. He is very interesting, but doesn't talk you to death. You have to study for the tests, but they aren't too difficult. You don't have to attend class, but you do have to do the quiz between classes. Overall great

Dr. Novack is great! He is eager to help but doesn't hover or make you feel stupid if you're confused. The labs aren't too hard and most are relatively fun. It is a pretty relaxed setting that lets you move at your own pace. There are just 3 tests and weekly quizzes. I recommend him to anyone and he has a happy personality that makes you smile.

He is really helpful when I took his class he had his notes at the book store which really helped. He has online quizes which are easy as long as you read. He will always help you out. He obviously loves his subject. Earth Watches really help out. 3 tests and 1 final. Study for them you have to. i would recommend him to everyone taking any one.

Great professor, helped me declare my major. If you stop by his office he will be happy to help you with advising, his class, or anything to do with geology. Plays good music on breaks, and his little puns make the class less boring. Loves his work and overall i would highly recommend him to anyone.

great teacher

i took him during May summer classes. Great professor, knowledgeable and very helpful!

great professor! one of the best i have! made me like biology! take him!!!

He's a great prof! very helpful and participation in class isnt that important, but it gets you brownie points :D he curves a lot towards the end, he curved our finals and our final grades but its very important to STUDY...his exams cover a lot of material, not that the material is hard just a lot of memorization, but he is awsome!!

He is weird....take notes! take notes! copy notes! memorize ur notes! then do small group study...then u get an A....make him think ur smart..

His exams cover A LOT of material. You should start studying many weeks before the exams. Overall he is a nice guy and is willing to help you in any way possible. He knows that some of the material is boring so he will tell some funny stories about whatever is being taught.

One of the best professors! Hard but worth the challenge. Exams are rough but if you're up for the challenge and study your butt off you can pass. Nice guy and lots of fun! Extremely organized and efficient. Learned bunches of stuff that I will never forget.

GREATEST PROFESSOR EVER. he seriously made the course less boring. he's very straightforward and as long as you study the phylogenies, take notes, and pay attention in class, you are guaranteed an automatic B. i definitely changed my perspective on this course because of him!

Very enthusiastic made class interesting.

So far, the absolute best teacher I have had. Hilarious and will give you extra credit questions on the tests that you just can not know. He justifies this by telling you (on some random day) what the answer is and the answer is never serious "What is the genetic sequence for brown hair?" (Answer: eggs and bacon). Highly recommended.

He is the best professor ever! He really explains everything crystal clear and his tests involve everything that was discussed during class, so attendance helps! Study a little for the test and you should be fine!

This is for the Great Writings class~there is a 2-4 page paper due every week & in-writing but it is a writing intensive class, so go figure. Overall, he tried to make this an interesting class & you can tell he actually cares about students and his field, so I'd suggest take him if you have to do Bio 393

BEST TEACHER EVER! He is a wonderful guy, extremely nice, seriously knows what he is talking about, and you can tell he cares. He sets up the class so you get atleast a C (probably a B). If you study about 2 weeks ahead (or a week and a half) before each test, theres no way you can't get an A. IF YOU TAKE 197, YOU WOULD BE STUPID TO NOT TAKE HIM!!!

First things first, he's weird. Prepare for a very goofy, nerdy sense of humor. However, bad jokes aside, he's an excellent professor that engages the class and make sure everyone understands. I hated the online exams and campus activity reports though, they WILL ruin your grade if you aren't used to non-traditional homework assignments.

IF YOU CAN TAKE HIM!!!!!!! He is literally the best professor EVER!! His tests are kind of tough but study and you'll pass. he is pretty weird and goofy but that will keep you awake in class. Very funny. He really cares. He made me love bio!!

One of the best professors I have ever had! Not an easy A, but do-able. Very helpful and is really passionate about the subject, def recommend him. His tests are straight from the lecture notes, and he gives helpful study guides.

Dr. Novack is a funny guy. His sense of humor is priceless and he is truly a great guy. That aside, he is a bit unorganized in terms of notes and what not. His exams are VERY challenging. But he cushions your grade with easy online reports/quizzes. It's impossible to not pull a C. Little effort gets you a B.

Fantastic Professor. Smart, funny, makes biology interesting and for sure knows his stuff. I would recommend to take him every chance you get.

Dr. Novack-Gottshall is an awesome teacher. He is very passionate about biology and it really shows. He has a wonderful nerdy sense of humor and keeps class interesting. Also I never once opened the book. For exams, just study and it is easy to pull an A. It is not hard to get an A in the class. I would definiltey recommend anyone to take him.

THE BEST bio 197 prof. He's always so fun and energetic. You'll never be bored. He gives what are called "case studies" which can be confusing, but he's really helpful with them if you go to his office hours. He's obsessed with making cheese. It's awesome. He takes attendance randomly with "clickers" so make sure to always be there! TAKE GOOD NOTES

Phil is an awesome teacher! As long as you do the work and study you will get a B in the class. This class does require a bit of work, but it is never too much.

Dr. Novack-Gottshall is amazing. I didn't care about the subject before, but he really made me excited to learn. My piece of advice: study! His tests really examine how well you studied and how good you are at applying what you learned. If you can't do that, don't take his class. Otherwise, I definitely recommend him for 197.

Get the course packet, not the textbook! If you want an A in the class carefully study the course packet material and memorize your notes. It's a piece of cake and Dr. Novack is amazing.

He's very energetic which keeps the class interested. He's not easy at all so if you're up for the challenge then take him!

He's a great teacher. However, he can be pretty intimidating when you ask him questions. He is very passionate about his subject. As long as you buy his course book and write everything he says you should pass. Just make sure you study everything for the exams!

Dr. Novack is one of the best Biology teachers at Benedictine. His lectures are very interesting and he has a cool sense of humor. To do well in this class don't skip, read the pages he assigns in the textbook, and take notes. Also, buy the course packet because it comes in handy and it has all the notes from the lectures in there.

He is AWESOME! Its hard to find good science professors at BU but he is truly wonderful! He offers a lot of extra credit, he covers everything that is on his exams so there are no surprises. This class requires a lot of memorization but his exams have a great format for that. He is hilarious and makes lecture very interesting. Take him if you can!

Bio 197 is easy and Novack-Gottshall is a very straightforward professor. If you pay attention in class, there's really no way you can't get an A.

Withdrew from this class cause i was a dumb freshman but now being a year later with more college exp i can say this man is an amazing professor and great human being. He wants you to not just know the test answers, but understand them as well and that is why the class was hard. Despite all that i would still recommend taking him if you need bio

First day of him going over what the class is like I was going to drop but I am glad I stuck around. Class was interesting but he is a tough grader on the writing. The A was easy to get!

He truly loves the subject he's teaching and it's apparent. Don't be afraid to ask him questions and visit him during office hours- he is more than happy to help. Amazing teacher but he does tend to go off topic easily and takes up the whole class (and sometimes over) lecturing. He offers a good amount of E.C. Get ready to learn about Bowerbirds!

He's a good professor but you definitely can not skip class at all. His lectures are interesting but he is super specific on what he wants on exams. Pretty much you will need to study and remember nearly everything he says in class to get a good grade in the class. I was with the Jurica Scholars section with him, so labs were connected.

Dr Novack is an amazing professor. His passion for bio makes the class interesting. His exams are fair, but you still have to study for them!!

Dr. Novack is amazing! Sure he talks a lot in class and often goes on tangents but he cares about his students a lot and is willing to work with you. I would definitely recommend him. But you have to put in the work. He offers lots of extra credit and a curve at the end.

Hes a great and passionate professor. You must attend every lecture, everything he says is important and you will see on the exams. He explains everything well so that it isnt misunderstood and the exams are fair. Just pay attention.

He's an amazing professor! Lectures are long but he keeps them interesting! He isn't boring!! I love how he makes sure we're understanding a concept before moving on! You can tell he has a passion for what he does!!!

Dr. Novack-Gottshall is great! I'd recommend that everyone takes him at least once.

You can tell Novack loves biology, he explains it well. Really good professor. The only downside is the class grade is 80% tests, so if you don't do well on one you won't get an A in the class. Tests are tough, and you need to spend A LOT of time studying for them. He is always available to help though and wants his students to succeed.

Make sure you see his Sea Anemone impression. He makes class fun and very information heavy. My advice to those taking this class is take all the notes and just blurt questions. He's nice and answers any and all questions nicely. I enjoyed staying after class and walking with him down the hallway. Need to be well versed with your notes to pass exam

He is a great professor and a great guy in general. The one thing that I don't like is his exams. They are very challenging and difficult, and he's really picky with your answers. But, the one thing that got me to survive his class was his course packet. If you buy that from the bookstore and memorize it, then that helps a lot.

This man made learning fun again. He managed to get the whole class engaged and you can tell that he loves his job. Prof. N challenges his students and makes you earn your grade but does give back great feedback and makes you feel proud of your work. Almost made me want to switch my major to Bio, so close but no cigar.

Class is all lecture, but no need to take notes. I got the book he provided in the book store with all of his notes. Literally took naps in his class and got an A. Just pay attention from time to time and study from the book he provides. Make sure to do all the homework. He is a tough grader, but as long as you have the book you should get an A.

Novack is a real gem in a teacher he actually cares about people wanting to learn Biology. If you go in his class ready to learn then you will pass the class. If you care about the course he is a real treat.

Dr. Novack is really an amazing professor. You can tell he cares a lot about his students, and wants them to succeed. That being said, if you don't put in the work towards his class, you won't do well. Dr. Novack makes you WORK towards your grade. He's typically pretty accessible outside of class and will clarify. Be aware of his exams!!

he's one of the best sci profs. can get the material across clearly. answers questions and helps you understand. however, his material is just a lot. he doesn't provide slides so you have to pay attention and take notes. his class is not an easy A. read and understand notes and you'll do fine on your exams. he does word q's trickily on exams tho.

Dr. Novack-Gottshall is an amazing professor. He makes Biology fun with his personality. His content is very easy to understand. He is very repetitive in his class to make sure it's glued into our brains. He is very involved with his students, and always updates our grades to know where we are at. His tests are difficult.

Dr. Novack-Gottshall is one of the best at Biology. His class was a breeze and he usually offers curves on your final grades. He is so funny and makes lectures really engaging. You will always need to show up to class to get the A because his tests are based on his class notes. Buying the course packet will help a lot more since that is the test.

Respectful guy, lectures are pretty clear. Not too much hw, test qs can sometimes be tricky. I recieved a B however i recommended him to friends. U dont HAVE to buy the course packet but its a nice sum of notes if u dont wanna take notes in class. However my main way of studying was rewriting my notes and he gives u the frq for the test which HELPS

You can tell he really loves what he does.

Dr. Novack-Gottshall really enjoys what he does. He always makes class interactive and enjoyable. Labs were fairly easy, just make sure you complete them. Make sure you find your balance in short answer questions. You might not do so well at the beginning, but you'll eventually get the hang of it. The course packet is an absolute must.

Great teacher! Great lectures! Don't need to buy course packet, but if you don't like note taking, look into it. Weekly quizzes are open book and you have 1 week for exams. Get your things in on time and you will probably have an A!

I love him as a teacher. He made the class interesting and the material easy to understand and seem fun. He was a slightly strict grader for tests but overall his class is pretty easy if you pay attention to lectures. His quizzes and tests are completely based on them and you won't pass if you skip them or it will just be way harder.

I had him for an asynchronous lab but his recorded lectures were very helpful and made it clear what to expect for each lab. The lab reports take a very long time to complete, but they're really not difficult.

Truly dedicated to teaching students everything they need to know to succeed in the course. You can tell by his lectures that he is passionate about organismal biology, and tries to make it interesting. Exams should be taken seriously tho fr so you should stress a lil i guess

Dr. Novak is by far my favorite professor. Took him for both the lecture and lab and do not regret my decision. He makes the class fun and is very passionate about what he does which translates in his work. Highly recommend, dont take anyone else. Lecture heavy but he makes it very fun.

Really knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches! Lectures, especially in class are wonderful. Very material-heavy and the tests and the classes before them get extremely intense but I would say it's worth it for the actual knowledge you obtain about the natural world. Kind, idiosyncratic, and really makes you think.

Novack-Gottshall is amazing. He is very passionate about teaching. He makes his lectures very easy to understand and is very willing to answer questions. Amazing professor.

Took him for Lecture and lab, which he taught more classes. His classes were very enjoyable, you do have to work for your grade though.

The best professor, I wish he taught more courses. Super caring, fun, and overall passionate about what he’s talking about. I also took him for lab and I have never been more entertained. Highly recommend, don’t take anyone else if he’s available.

Took both lecture and lab last spring semester. He was very caring and passionate about what he teaches. Though, you still may find this class might be hard if you are not a science major, so make sure to schedule office hours or ask questions after class if you need it.

Had him for lecture and lab and he is very nice and enthusiastic. Lab was extremely easy but you need to study for the lecture exams in order to do well. Make sure to attend class because his lectures are helpful. He is very energetic and fun but does grade harshly.

lol I should've failed his class last semester but the final curve saved my ahh. he's really nice and let me turn in all of my missing assignments right at the end for partial credit. realized I don't want to go into medicine field but if you are I'd take him. he loves birds.

Professor Novack is a great teacher in my opinion. He's very enthusiastic about what he teaches, just keep in mind he can go a bit fast. One thing I will say is keep up with the video lectures, I didn't and that's pretty much why I ended with a B. Do you work, and you'll be just fine.

He is a very good professor, he loves teaching. His tests are kind of unpredictable because there is a lot of information to know but tested on bits and pieces of it. He doesn't really give an actual study guide. If you score low C's on the tests, but good on case studies, you can pass with a B. He gives short responses for tests ahead of time.

Dr. Gottshall is easily one of the best professors at this college. His passion for teaching is evident in every lecture, and his video materials are both engaging and incredibly well-crafted. That said, his exams are challenging — you'll definitely need to study and stay on top of the material to succeed.

He's really nice and understanding if you're struggling he will definitely help you out in office hours. Course is super straightforward watch the lectures take notes do the study guide and you'll do well in the class. there's a lot of lecture videos and it's hard to get an A on tests, but it's not a big deal because the hw is weighted heavy