no textbook, friendly guy, pretty good teacher. go to class and do the study guides and you should get an a.

Very enthusiastic, funny, really into the material, but the tests are very, very hard

SUCH A GREAT PROFESSOR! You can really tell he cares for his class and spends a lot of time with his notes and the material. You have to work hard and his tests are difficult but if you really study an a is possible. Highly recommend him. He's funny, and makes class really interesting.

If you expect to be spoon-fed just like in high school and to get an A without any effort, this is not for you. But if you show maturity and do your part, you'll get an A and learn a lot from this class. Spencer is a great instructor. He makes you use your brain (are you willing to do so?)... and if you struggle, he'll help you.

The tests are very hard. Tests are based heavily off lectures and discussion assignments, so studying these will be your best chance. He has plenty of office hours and review sessions before exams so getting help shouldn't be a problem if you need it. He is very smart and has trouble relating to kids who don't understand material.

I went into this class nervous because of comments I had read on this site but Spencer ended up being my favorite teacher I've ever had. That being said, this is not a class you can just get by in. You need to do all of the work you are given and actually pay attention in class. If you are passionate about the material this class is for you.

My first test I got a 48%. But he truly made realize what actually learning the material is. At the end of the year he became my favorite professor ever. I didn't realize how much I had actually learned in the class. And when he saw me improving very quickly he sent me a personalized email. That really made me have respect for him.

Spencer was an amazing professor and really helpful as long as you were the one reaching out to him. In a large lecture is hard to follow and if you arent on top of things you wont have an easy time in this class. Tests are hard but doing the discussion problems help a lot.

While his tests can be hard his lectures are really interesting. If you go to class and do the homework you'll be fine. He is definitely willing to help if you ask for it. He was my favorite teacher my freshman year.

Spencer was a real eye opener for me coming out of high school. I realized after the first test I actually had to study multiple hours every so often WEEKS before the exam to understand the material and to actually get a decent grade. He wants his students to succeed but he will not give anybody a grade to help at all. You have to earn it.

Spencer Hall is a fantastic Foundations of Biology teacher. He really lays down the foundations to give you a good platform of knowledge to then be successful in many other Science, Math and even Economic classes. He helps open your eyes to the "big picture" and he is excellent at synthesizing everything you learn.

Difficult class for a Freshman entering college but left with a better understanding of how to improve as a student. He was fair and did about as much as he could to help you succeed.

Bio-L 111 with Spencer is a very demanding class as far as Freshman classes go. Prepare to spend a lot of time on this class to ensure a good grade. Though its a lot of work you will leave feeling like you understand the fundamentals of Bio. He does everything he can to help prepare you for the tests (discussions, Podcasts, study sessions etc.)

Spencer is an amazing professor! He is super animated engaging during lectures. While I do agree his tests are difficult and there is a lot of homework, he does just about everything he can do to help you out. Extra credit problems on tests, turning exam Qs into extra credit, review sessions, huge office hours, surveys asking your opinions, etc.

Spencer is by far my favorite professor. His tests are hard, but if you study you can do very good on them. His lectures are entertaining and he really is a great teacher. He makes you work for your grade because he expects his students to learn and grow from his course.

I think Spencer gets way too much flack purely because lots of people see 100 level classes as ones that are supposed to no work at all. While I do agree this class does surpass the expectations of a 100 level class in many ways, if you work for an A it is achievable. Spencer makes himself very available. His lectures are super fun.

His lectures were very engaging. If you like GOT and Star Wars, he'll occasionally work those into lectures. He often gives quizzes in class, which are just to see if you're there. Don't skip lectures, you'll need to know the info for discussion worksheets. He's very helpful at office hours and is funny.

Spencer was a really passionate prof. He cared about the stuff he taught, so it automatically made the class engaging. Also, he moved around during lecture, which was more engaging. He's helpful during office hours. Basically, if you care about your grade you'll do fine. An added bonus is he adds Game of Thrones references sometimes.

This is the usually the first time freshman have to do any work in a class and are often caught off guard. Go to class, go to office hours if you're confused, and you'll do fine

Spencer Hall was a great professor. He gives supporting homework that helps with tests. He is very personable. If you do the work you will be fine. I was a little worried about this class because I am focused on cell biology and DNA, but he made ecology and evolution very interesting. Definitely go to office hours!

People writing these bad reviews are students who are too LAZY to study. Spencer is an amazing person who cares so much about his students and is willing to help. GO TO OFFICE HOURS! Don't expect to fly through this class, but put the work in and it will pay off. The material is not difficult, you just have to be willing to actually study.

Spencer was a really great prof, but dont expect a cakewalk. You have to work for it and put the studying in, but he gives you the preparation needed for sure.

I highly recommend Spencer for BIOL-L 111. Every week there is a discussion assignment, which can be lengthy and tough but they aren't always too bad. In addition to the discussion assignment, there is some reading but it isn't over the top. There are 4 exams, with the lowest dropped, plus a final exam. Spencer is very motivated and dedicated.

L111 is typically a freshman class, which is why I feel Spencer has a lower rating. A lot of students do not come in knowing how to study and prepare for college. Spencer is the right instructor to break high school habits. Work hard, attend lecture and study, this is what leads to an A. He is brilliant and passionate about Bio. Would take again!!

He was seriously the best. He made notes for you that followed along his helpful, detailed powerpoint that you could fill out during class. As long as you review all material you've received from him before a test you'll do fine b/c the homework he gives you certainly prepares you to do well. His questions do try and trick you, just take you time.

He is a great professor. He offers Q & A each night before we take a test. All his tests are multiple choice and two extra credit questions are at the end. The test can be difficult because of the way he words the questions sometimes. Discussion packets are great study tools to prepare for tests. You want to come to every class!!

Dr. Hall was a great professor. He clearly does a lot of outside work for the class because the note templates, slides and worksheets are all well made. Though, the homework is a little heavy for how easy the class is. But if you do all the work and pay attention in class you won't need to study for any of the tests and will pass easily.

This class requires a lot more work than a typical 100 level class and at times can be super difficult, but it was so worth it. He creates a solid foundation that will help you excel in your upper-level courses. He is very passionate and knowledgeable about the topics covered in class. I wish I could take his class again!

Spencer is an amazing professor, super knowledgeable interested in you succeeding. However he purposefully challenges you by: wording questions in a difficult manner, long discussions (mini packets of 10-24 questions), and hard exams. Even though I loved his energy and his passion I wouldnt retake his class too hard. Seriously tho, great guy!!

Spencer is great. He puts in a lot of work to make sure the class has everything they need to be successful. The class is a big time commitment, with multiple assignments due each week, and problem sets due every weekend. It will seem like a lot of work, but youll be glad you took the course in the end.

He is an amazing professor. However, he will definitely make you work for it. Not only does he teach you the material, but he teaches you how to think. You will also learn other helpful skills from this class. Such as how to use excel, how to read graphs, and some stats calculations. Overall, a great class. Hard work pays off in this class.

Spencer is a great professor who genuinely cares about the success of his students. I passed the class with 103% because he offers tons of extra credit. This class did require a lot of time to complete 1-2 quizzes and discussion packets weekly on top of watching pre-lectures before live lecture, but the busy work left me well-prepared for exams.

The class is 4 credits, so it is to be expected that it is a lot of work. I went to every lecture and did every discussion, which he structures, so you do not really have to do much studying for the exams. I found this class to be relatively easy if you just actively participate. There isn't much outside research you will have to do. I recommend.

He is a very enthusiastic professor and goes over very helpful notes with an energy that I really appreciated. His lectures have accompanying notes sheets that will help you all retain and collect the info. It's defiantly not the easiest intro bio class, but if you come to lecture and take advantage of resources it's far from impossible.

Professor Hall is caring, enthusiastic, well-organized, and an amazing lecturer. Hall provides several resources and opportunities for student success. However, many of those resources are mandatory, leading to a heavy homework load each week. If you attend lecture and complete required assignments, you will do great and become knowledgeable!

I can see how a lot of people didn't like this professor. This definitely isn't an easy/blow off class. He is a strong believer in putting time and effort into the class. He definitely cares about his students and puts time and effort into the course. Do review sessions, do discussion worksheets, and ask questions, you'll do great in the course.