2.6
Quality3.1
Difficulty42%
Would Retake90
Reviews42%
Would Retake
90
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
12
4
15
3
21
2
27
1
15
What Students Say
“He is a great guy but his lectures can become long”
AST105 - 4.0 rating“The most boring class I have ever taken”
AST105 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
37%
Textbook Required
70%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.78 avg changeRatings by Course
PHY333
5.0
(1)NA
5.0
(1)ASTRONOMY
4.0
(3)PSY132
4.0
(1)205
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHI101
5.0
PHY132
5.0
AST131
5.0
ASTRONOMY105
4.0
NA
4.0
Reviews (90)
boring
This man will explain anything...that doesnt make since. Dont take him!!!!
He is very boring, think twice
Would go over lecture and you still won't understand physics
Man is a Mad Scientist, Has no clue How to teach But he is a genious to himself
BORING, BORING, BORING his test have nothing to do w/ the book or lecture, HARD
Hes a nerdy little Einstein in glasses, but he's so cute! If you ask for help he will help you and if you study your notes and read the book you will do fine.
No Comments
This little nerd was the funniest prof I ever had...to laugh at. His lectures made no sense and neither did he. Do not take.
The coolest professor ever. Easy to cheat on exams. Always available for advice.
He gave us the reviews and answers for the test. But I heard he doesn't anymore. Easy class. Never ever went to class and I got a B. Nice guy.
Tests were extremely nit-picky and straight from the book so there was no need in even going to class. I felt he tested your memory instead of your comprehension of the subject.
He's very boring and the first test was awful; the questions were confusing and didn't pertain to the lectures or book. After complaints from the entire class, he changed the question format and things have been better since.
I could not stand this man, he made no sense, his lectures were terrible, and he did a horrible job of explaining things to the class.
I would recommend somebody else. He is very monotone and unenergetic in class. Talks a lot about information that is not on the test. Outside of class he is nice but not considerate of your grade at all.
This is the most boring class ever!!!!!! Save yourself and take someone else, his lectures are redundant, and his voice is monotone. I don't understand how they let him teach.
My God! This man has no teaching skills whatsoever. A robot could do a better job...no charisma, no animation, nothing. He's also very unclear. Do not take...at least for this course.
He is very organized and extremely knowledgeable in every subject he teaches. He is available for any questions or help needed on homework. You just have to make an appointment. His tests are right from the homework. Great professor!
Difficult subject but very fair professor. Tests are straightforward and right from homework. Up-front prof. Really wants students to do well!
Hard class, very knowledgeable in subject almost too much. Test not easy at all.
Although he is boring most of the time, he still is a good prof. The tests are hard and you have to do a lot of online quizzes. I could tell he tried his best to make the subject a little more interesting then it is
he may be really boring but the class isnt too bad. tests are kinda hard. he will help you if you need it though.
BORING
I have taken this guy & Michaels. Both are totally boring, but the class itself is really boring. The tests come straight from the quizzes, and this guy curves all the tests. If you are going to take this class, take Friedfeld. Take my advice though, do NOT even take this class, seriously. WAY too much work and online quizzes!
tests are straight from quizzes you dont have to show up just do the online quizzes just study the quizzes and youll pass
This is the worst professor in the history of SFA. His voice is so monotone and his test are extremely hard. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. It isn't worth going to class because he doesn't even give good lectures. stay away
Well educated professor. Lectures are interesting and tests are not as hard as some think, if they would only read the book. Read assigned chapters word for word and study the notes. If no improvement is made, then college is not for you. Simple as that.
This guy makes me sleepy. I was interested in astronomy before the class, but he ruined it for me. This class really sucked. I never went to class and managed to do pretty well though.
The class is not hard if you come to class and take notes and read the book. The tests are not that hard if you study. He is a good professor and knows what he is talking about. I would recommend him.
No Comments
OMFG so boring... was pretty easy though... online quizes were easy.. tests were short and easy... lectures were posted online-so you didnt have to go to class, i wouldnt recommend it though. He's really boring and wears the same outfit 3 times a week- eww!
What a boring class, although it is very easy but I would recommend taking Piran or Downing. Friedfeld also wears the same fugly tie everyday and is real goofy looking. Takes you attention away from the actual test material.
EASY! DO NOT buy the BOOK! Just go on Astronomy.com and buy the $20 ID. I pulled a C w/ out ever touching the book. I just used the flashcards and re-took the exams online. Or copied & pasted the exam ?'s & answers onto Word & printed.He does not take attendance, but occasionally gives easy 100 pop quizzes in class. Good place for napping...
He looks like Bill nye the Science guy and talks like the dry eye commercial guy. His class was so boring but I ended up with a B.
Excellent Prof. outside of class. Gives you insight into physics. Extremely hard working and thorough.
The classes are very boring and most people dont show up. I would recommened taking another professor. Seems like a nice guy but doesnt make it interesting. Tests are kinda hard but just make sure you study the online quizzes!
He is a very intelligent person, but teaching is not his forte. He needs to find a way to make it interesting. His tests come from the online quizzes, so they aren't hard if you study the quizzes. He seems like a really nice guy and he will stop and answer any questions you have. It is a boring class, though.
He is boring. But he is a much easier teacher than Michaels. Michaels makes you buy a clicker and takes attendence and has an in class quiz everyday. All Friedfeld does is have 4 tests and most you already have the answers to. Online quizzes you can take over each chapter until you get a 100% EASY A+++
AVOID THIS CLASS AT ALL COSTS!!! DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!! Friedfeld is the most BORING teacher (if you call him that) EVER! Does not teach, just reads from a PowerPoint. Quizzes are online and can be taken until you get a 100. But tests are HARD, HARD, HARD! Do yourself a favor and avoid taking his class!
If you don't have to take AST for science credit, take another science.I was looking forward to this class, and it should have been interesting, but the AST department at this school sucks.Theres no point in going to class because his lectures arent on the test.If u have to take him, read and study the online quizzes and tutorials and youll be ok
nice guy, very knowlegable and explains everything in excruciating detail. can be boring, so just pay attention and be respectful and youll do fine.
Extremely boring class. He just reads from the powerpoint and since they are online, there is really no need to go to class. Online quizzes you can take as many times as you want and they make up half of his tests. So memorize quizzes, read the chapters and youll do fine. I did that and pulled a B.
No Comments
omg. he's so bland, it's unreasonable. he repeats things incessantly. i was looking forward to this class, and he made it a total drag.
his class is kinda dull but he is very nice and will try to explain everything as best as he can. his tests are fairly easy. if you study the online quizes and show up to do the clicker qs, then u should do great.
He's a nice guy, but he honestly can't teach. He spends 90% of his time drawing diagrams that are already on the power point or in the book. He's very dry and boring. If you read, do the online quizzes, and take notes, you should be okay. This is only because his lectures are not enough to survive on, and they bore you to sleep incredibly fast. Plu
Quite possibly the most boring teacher I have ever had, I can not even put into words the agony I faced for the entire semester I was there. The class is a cake walk, and the tests are very similar(some exact same)to the online quizzes.I didn't take notes, I slept a lot of te time,and I pulled a high A. Wouldn't recommend him, excrutiatingly boring
Well I have to agree with most he is SO boring. But he is really nice and knows his material. A lot of the test questions comes from the online quizzes so pay attention to those. We have clicker quizzes almost everyday so that would be the main reason to go to class. He goes very slow so if you miss a class you wont really miss much.
This teacher is by far the worst I have ever taken!!!He assigns homework from a website and it will be all the homework on there and he doesn't even know what problems he assigned.If you ask him to do a problem he takes all class period doing it and sometimes doesnt get it right For the final he screw us over didn't ask anything we knew or he taugh
Friedfeld is VERY HELPFUL if you ask. He has some shortcomings in communication, but 2 minutes after class works wonders. I mean, I'd be dead after a few years of 101. 101 is like the alphabet to a Physics major like him. TAKE HIM, ask questions, admire his apropos, witty smackdowns to the in-class talkers, and you'll learn to love him!
Take him! Stay after class, and you'll be fine...
Not too boring, freaking hilarious at times, which is shocking, as he always deadpans it, and many miss it. Pretty easy class. He is darn smart, and teaching Phy. 101....I kinda feel sorry for in that area, 101 anything will wipe the energy out of any prof., but the guy is eccentricity, defined. Kinda cute, too.... ;)
DO THE ONLINE QUIZZES!!! The tests come from the online quizzes. He reads his lecture directly from his powerpoint which he uploads online. His class is boring and he doesn't take attendance, but I went anyways to boost my grade with clicker quizzes. An A is very possible if you study the online quizzes.
This teacher is the worst teacher I have ever had! he has the worst monotone voice in the world. Do not take him! If you take physics take downing he is the best!
as you have probably gotten by now, he is BORING! His lectures seem to drag on for days and yet he doesnt really ever cover anything. Our class got behind by 4 chapters at one point in the semester so he had to rush like a crackhead through the last couple sections just to make it look like we covered all of the course material...DONT TAKE HIM!
wow. i almost feel bad for him, i think he must be really shy or something cause he talks using a microphone... but the class is all boring lectures. if you take him try to get an afternoon class because you will fall asleep. study online quizes and powerpoints and you'll get an a.
AST 105: If you don't have much interest in astronomy, you most likely won't enjoy Friedfeld. Can be monotone/bland, esp. if the subject doesn't interest you. Tests/homework couldn't be easier. Always happy to answer questions. He could be more engaging, but I think it's hard to do so at this level, since most students just don't give a****.
He is a great professor. His class is easy, but can get quite boring. His tests are kinda difficult. Just study the online quizzes and power points and you WILL pass. He was very helpful and know his field well. Be sure to attend class tho because there is clicker quizzes for every powerpoint almost!
He is BORING and you probably wont learn much from him. However, if you read the book & do the online quizzes, you will pass the class.
Bad teacher,very boring and uninteresting. Going to class is useless, and he doesn't take attendance. Do online homework and read the book and you'll do great.
This guy puts me to sleep every class but you can sleep right in front of him and wake up 10 till and ask a ? And he will answer it no prob! Oh and yeah random pop quizzes are the bomb! Easy 5 points! The test are hard as balls though!
Class was very boring, the only reason I went was to take the clicker quizzes. I didn't take any notes. Tests come straight from online quizzes, that's the only thing I studied & made a B. I would take him again.
Please do not take. Avoid and take someone else. Worst experience of my life. You will be studying every day for the ridiculous tests and he wont tell you anything that is on them.
I feel bad for the guy because he puts everyone to sleep every class. There is no need to ever attend. The course is challenging because you have to teach yourself. Tests are hard. Homework is easy. Avoid him like the plague.
Dead boring! Not only is he extreamly boring and uninterested in the students comprehension, but he is unnecessarily tough on his exams. You could be studying all week and still make a D. you will be teaching yourself the whole time.
Gave homework before teaching us the material and made something that he only spent 15 minutes teaching a major part of the test. No dropped grades even though most people did horrible on the tests.
He is really mute and awkward to talk to. His class is primarily based on attendance and test and you got to study...a lot.
He cannot teach! He simply reads word for word from a PowerPoint and is so soft-spoken that you can't hear him, even with his mic. He assigns online work, and it makes no sense with what he "teaches", and there's quite a bit! So be ready to do that. Unless you like teaching yourself, do not take him.
Do Not Take. Lecture is already over dense material, and a mono-tone teacher has the whole class on their phones bored... Cant read the board (needs markers that work). Tests are hard.
He is really dry. No sense of humor... our class tried to make him laugh all semester and we hardly got a grin. His lecture is terribly boring and even how he talks just puts you to sleep. You have a month to do the homework, but its like 500 questions and everyone is a procrastinator these days... and you WILL die, and no test reviews.
He wasn't the worst professor I've had at SFA, just the most boring. It was kind of sad because a lot of students were disrespectful but he seemed like a nice man. He is really soft spoken and just goes over slides in class. Not too hard, but you'll have to put in the work for sure.
You use a clicker to answer daily class questions in class & that is how he keeps up with attendance. It may help to take notes if you want a better understanding of the overall concept but the book and lab class mainly shows you the way. Test questions mostly come from the online homework especially the chapter review homework. Don't miss lab
This lecture was an absolute waste of time, any success I had in this class was a result of studying I did on my own time. I always try to be respectful of my professors and generally don't have a problem doing so, but Friedfeld is a textbook case of "tenured and can't be bothered." Attendance is optional as long as he doesn't do clicker quizzes.
He is a great guy but his lectures can become long. Do the online homework and study from those and you will be fine, know as much of the online homework as possible. He will answer any questions you have and show up to office hours if you can.
He is very monotone and this class was very boring. I do not recommend this teacher.
The most boring class I have ever taken. Study the Mastering Astronomy Homework and memorize the answers and you should pass. The Labs are imparative if you want to pass this class. You don't really have to buy the book if you buy the mastering astronomy code online because it comes with an ebook.
Physics for non physics majors--he doesn't teach so much as he derives everything on the board. There's homework over each chapter. He might assign homework before you go over the material, but he'll push due dates back if he hasn't gone over it, or if the class asks for more time. His tests are tough, but you can take a notecard in.
Awful teacher. It is clear that HE knows what he's talking about but does a very poor job of teaching material to students. His tests are very difficult and he assigns a lot of homework, which most of the time doesn't even pertain to the tests. I had to teach myself throughout this course and wouldn't have passed without the AARC.
Students will either love or hate Dr. Friedfeld. He's a sweet little old man who is sort of monotone in lectures but you can tell he is passionate about the subject and cares about student success. He is not afraid of calling students out in class for eating, or leaving early, or working on other things during lecture.
He does not update grades, he takes attendance through top hat. Tests are hit or miss on difficulty level. Keep up with the online homework! Hes not very helpful during office hours.
Este wey vale verga
Excellent teacher. You will learn a lot and enjoy the class.
If you can AVOID this class. He is extremely monotoned when he speaks. Its clear he knows what he is talking about, but doesnt know how to teach the material. If its not required DO NOT take this class.
He had very slow and boring lectures that were sometimes confusing. He did provide help if you needed it and answered questions in class. His tests were kind of difficult and I made a B on every one even when I studied a lot. He assigned lots of online homework that did not really correlate with what we were learning in class.
He clearly no longer cares about teaching for the sake of the students, but rather just to get through each class. He reads from a slideshow and only covers the stuff in the textbook. A lot of students around me had a hard time in that class because he didn't teach. if you want to learn in his class, you have to teach yourself all of it.
he's a nice man but his lectures consist of him reading thru slides for the entire class period. he's very monotone. I would do notes at my own pace (which was typically faster than him) by having the PowerPoint up on my laptop and then if he wrote stuff on the board see what he's writing
The professor is very understanding. He pushed back the test because some students' books were on back order, and it was the third week of class. My only problem is that he gets lost in one slide of his lecture. He chases everything down the rabbit hole until he realizes how little time you have left.
Robert Friedfeld is one amazing professor, just because of how much he cares. He has pushed back tests because people didn't have their books and is incredibly understanding when you talk to him about homework. Yes, he is lecture heavy, put if you pay attention the content is really interesting. He knows what he is talking about and will help you.
I liked him overall, but his interpersonal communication skills are very poor. Your best option is to make friends in class and ask them questions if you're having trouble with anything. Lectures are, infact, very lecturey, but theyre very clear and well-spoken, so having any questions is unlikely anyway. Just be ready for notes man.
His class was definitely not a cake walk. You are only graded on 4 tests and all the homeworks just count as one test so if you're a good test taker you got it but I struggled especially at the beginning of the semester. He is not a bad person or teacher by any means he is passionate for sure but I wish he had quizzes or other grades.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
37%
Textbook Required
70%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.78 avg changeRatings by Course
PHY333
5.0
(1)NA
5.0
(1)ASTRONOMY
4.0
(3)PSY132
4.0
(1)205
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHI101
5.0
PHY132
5.0
AST131
5.0
ASTRONOMY105
4.0
NA
4.0