This guy was great! I learned a lot and managed to understand the teacher enough to pass the test. I loved how he made fun of life and physics. If you have trouble grasping new ideas, he may be a bit hard to follow, but I enjoyed him.

He is so nice! Interesting class. So helpfull and always available for office hours.I enjoyed his class alot!

I wouldn't say fun, but a little interesting. Lectures seem long and tests are open-book. I still found them to be difficult although others recieved high grades w/o studying.

Lecture include Powerpoint and reinforcing ques. Teach basic infor of physics. No quiz. Test follow same format (13 ques). Test on lecture. Give hint on what is on the test (open book). Get good grade by participate in his lecture. No need knowledge of physics is need. 1 out of 5 student got A.

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He actually made Physics interesting, and that's saying something, although he was disorganized with his grading. Still, his exams are very fair, and he's easygoing. Just pay special attention to his example problems and take good n notes on those, and read the textbook - it's helpful.

Good teacher. Pay attention, study, and do hw and you'll get an A. Tests are open book.

Makes it as easy as possible for you to do well if you show up for class and do the homework. A nice guy, dry sense of humor. Helpful if take advantage of his office hours. A bit slow on turning back homework, if that's important to you. VERY smart guy if you get a chance to talk to him, not just about physics. I think he's cute!

Tests are open book, but you need to be familiar with where things are. He takes a few test Q's from the hmwk Q's. Tests are the ONLY thing your graded on--not attendance, hmwk, or participation. But he tests a lot on the notes, so you gotta show up to get the notes. I was in a large lecture, so he tried his best to get students involved...he's ok

he has i quirky sense of humor, even outs jokes as answers to his test questions, likes what hes teaching, ez class

Great sense of humor, the subject matter is boring imo but he makes it bearable.

I had to take this class for credit and was surprised i did well--he makes you not be afraid of physics. Wonderful of humor. Nice guy.

AWESOME!!!! Very helpful, funny, takes time to answer questions, and obviously enjoys conveying knowledge to others. If I could, I'd take him again for the next phys class

I'm no wiz at science but I'm able to follow along in this class. Make sure if you have to take physics you get in one of Prof. Drum's sections. He's pretty funny too.

Likes what he does and makes funny jokes,wish people laughed more and participated more, the class is boring and i almost fell asleep but its not his fault, Super good teacher trying to make a boring subject fun and interesting

If you are looking to have an "easier" physics class, prof. Drum's class is definitely your ticket. Easy grader - I think an 85% is still an A....no midterm or final, but there are quizzes every friday-they're not hard though, only 2 questions and he gives you partial credit even if you dont get the answer correct. is very approachable to ask q's.

I really enjoyed his class and have learned a lot of cool topics relating to physics. I would definitely recommend him. Professor Drum is very nice and understanding to his students.

drum is the man. really good teacher. you could tell hes more concerned about you learning, than most other teachers are.

Prof. Drum isnt a bad teacher, but he is a little boring sometimes. His tests for the most part are open book, but no notes. He answers all questions and sometimes goes off topic. Overall, he is a good teacher. He gives no extra credit though. Good luck!

Prof. Drum not only understands Physics, but he can teach it to students who are not majoring in his field!! He really cares that you understand the basics of the topics. Doesn't try to trick you on tests. Gives hints as to what is on the tests. Go to class, take notes, and study the in class examples and you'll get an A!

Too easy. Open book multiple choice? c'mon

Prof Drum is probably one of the greatest professors at this school. His teaching method is so helpful. You can apply it to all other physics tests and apply his physics in real life. I actually hated the thought of taking physics, but now its my favorite subject. This guy is awesome and willing to help if you ask. He deserves an award.

I was scared to death of physics before I had Prof. Drum. But, he actually made the material understandable and interesting! His main goal is that you understand the concepts, not that you memorize tons of crazy formulas. Truly cares about the students, and will take time with you if you need it. One of the best profs I've ever had!

He is very helpful and very clear on the subject. He made it very interesting. He make sure every student understand and I think he is the best teacher I ever had.

Drum's lectures are full of witty, sarcastic gems that keep me laughing through a subject that is pretty tough to grasp at first. He's not the most approachable guy but he's otherwise a good teacher. 4 open-book tests and 12 short labs. I highly recommend him.

Awesome class and an easy A. Multiple choice open-book tests?! Also his license plate says "PHIZIX" lol

Good teacher, I learned a lot of interesting things for having to take the class. Do the hmwk problems, a lot of them are on the test so you don't waste time looking everything up in the book (yes, it's open book). He more lively when he notices students are interested and answering questions.

very funny teacher, helpful and pretty clear in his lecture. really recommand and study your notes and books before every test, they're very helpful.

He is an AWESOME teacher. I really didnt want to take this class, but with him it was great! He makes lots of witty and funny jokes and really keeps the class interesting. DEFINITELY try to take him!!!!

Prof. Drum really makes Phys 185 easier and bearable. He doesnt use the book much, he uses his own slideshow when lecturing which is kinda both helpful/ not helpful. This class is all about whether you are willing to spend hours to read the text and do the suggested hwk. If you are stuck, then come see him!

Nice guy, quirky jokes sandwiched between long lectures. Tests are about 80% from the book, 20% are from lecture notes. Open book tests are actually harder than it sounds.

His most recent tests are NOT as easy as his older one. Class is more difficult than earlier posts mention. I took a test from two years ago (make-up) and it was much easier than the tests he created this year. His tests are tricky and highly lecture based. Go to all of the lectures and take good notes. Easy B. Generous curve. 85% = A.

This Professor was really great. I entered the class hating Physics, and left with a lot of good info.

He grades with a generous curve, gives interesting lectures and feeds on student participation. He is willing to discuss any physics-related topic during the class (even if it does not necessarily apply to the HW/ tests). Some of the test questions came straight from the book and lectures, however others were tricky and unpredictable.

This man is brilliant. If you can keep up with him, you're on the right track. Sometimes, he is hard to understand, but that's what questions are for, right? A very useful thing I learned from him is that he taught me to think like a physicist.

Pros: really nice teacher, has some geeky jokes, curves generously, gives partial credit on the tests, tests are based on HW questions, will dedicate the week of the test for hoemwork review (= test) // Cons: lectures are hard to follow, tests are pretty difficult, you MUST study if you're lost or behind (ideally at least a week before the test)

Calculus-based physics is never going to be an easy class, for any teacher out there. But Drum has clear and understanding lectures and gets you engaged with the subject. Warning: being good at math, even calculus, definitely does NOT guarantee you'll do good his class, or any Physics class for that matter...

He has good lectures and talks about interesting topics. Test problems were never exactly the same as the ones in the homework, but definitely same concepts. Just watch out for conceptual questions on the tests. Definitely recommend him for 185 over the other professors.

Steve is an awesome teacher! He makes the class actually think and become involved with problem solving. In his class you will make friends, and learn from the Master.

Awesome professor and great guy even though class killed my GPA. Had all "As" until I got my first "F". Knows a lot about physics but expects way too much. Tests are insane. Have to take the course again like majority of students.

I barely did hw and I got a B. His examples are clear and he will answer as many questions as you ask him, it's just every single question has to be approached differently and you really have to think hard about the problems. He never gave us lab reports back, but he said most people get 90s or 100s.

If you do the homework and go over the notes in class well, you will probably get at least an A-. What I love most about his class compared to other Physics classes is that he takes the time to give the background and fun facts when introducing a new topic. Makes Physics more interesting. I highly recommend him! Best Physics professor I ever had!

Took this class during the summer. Ask a lot of questions he tries to answer them as best as he can. His exams are KINDA based on the homework so make sure you do them! (So that means you HAVE to get the book!) I got an A in that class because I REALLY tried. He lets you use a cheat sheet (both sides). He curves. 85%=A (for the OVERALL grade).

Best physicist I've ever had!! I took his class over the summer and it went quickly! Definitely do the homework problems that he assigns, take notes in class, and pay attention to the conceptual questions. I used to hate physics in my high school, but after taking Drum, physics has become more interesting and understandable. Take him for an A!!

I took two of his classes... It is just too easy to get an A. I am not physics major( these two are only physics classes I have ever taken.) I went to his office hour and asked homework questions that I did not get. He is very very helpful. I got 98% for 130 and 96% for 135.

He is a good professor. He take rolls but it is not count in grade. The lectures are amazing and he will ask you to vote for the answers. If you don't understand, just ask, he is really patient. I'll take it again.

Took this class over summer, will definitely take the second class in the Fall with this professor.

Great guy. Focus on the problems that he goes over in class. Do the assigned hw if you could, then you will be fine. Lab is easy, just follow his instruction.

Drum's a decent professor. Took him for 185 and 280 and got B's in both even though I don't think I could have gotten a B with any other professor. Allows a calculator (can be graphing) and cheat sheet on ever test. Very generous with partial credit and has a great curve system : > 60 C, > 70 B, > 85 A. Do the homework

The class was great, but does require a lot of focus, considering it is physics. The cheat sheet comes in handy for every test, the homework is helpful, and PAY ATTENTION to the problems in class.

He allows a cheat sheet in the test, very generous with partial credit. Do the assigned homework and understand the example in the lecture because they are similar to the problem on the test. His test are very hard. Lab is easy. He also take the time in class to answer questions.

Took him during the summer. He always seemed super tired and much of his lectures were very boring. He did crack some jokes here and there to keep it fresh. Easiest physics professor I've taken so far. He let's you have a cheat sheet. Typically at least 1/3 of the tests will consist of example problems from the notes. Maybe different numbers.

He allows a cheat sheet for the test, generous with partial credit, give generous curve, graded labs easily. But his lecture were very boring, but he does take his time to go through the problems. His test is an extremely harder version of the question from the homework and the lecture. There is 1 makeup labs.

He goes kinda fast so the best way for you to learn is to record lecture & draw the powerpoint in your notes. Exams are getting unpredictable but more than 65% of it he will cover in lecture (I think the department is giving a hard time for being too easy on students so he's doing this lol). anyway, you'll be missing his class when u're gone!!

He's much better in-person. His lectures can be a hit or miss as not many questions are too related on the tests. Be sure to ask lots of questions and pay close attention, esp on review day and the equation proofs (likely to be tested). His labs aren't long and are easy. He allows 1 cheat sheet on tests, and quite generous on partial credit/labs.

I had PHYS280 with him online last semester and in-person for spring; he was way better in person. The labs were pretty straightforward and took 1 hour at most. As long as you complete the lab handouts, you should get 100% for each lab. For exams, make sure to pay attention to in-class examples and put them on your cheat sheet.

Has a generous grading scale, with A's being 85-100%, B's 70-84%; with 80% being all tests points, 20% your Lab Average . Lab is mandatory. Doesn't use canvas much. Has great lectures, pay attention to his in class examples, and any example for that matter. Ask many questions, he doesn't mind how simple. Be aware, Test questions are harder than HW

Took him this summer. His teaching is decent, and I strongly recommend doing the optional HW as many questions were similar in the tests. At times, you will feel lost from his explanations and lack of steps; but Drum is available to answer any questions and clear up confusion by asking. Labs were not difficult. E&M is tough, but he does a good job.

His lectures are very clear and informational. His tests are almost exactly like what is in lectures. He uses openstax for the textbook and gives out optional hw that is very useful for understanding the material. For labs, he gives you lots of time to finish and the lab report are very easy to do as long as you try you will get points.

In short, I've had Grandpa for Physics 185, 280, and 285. All I've learned is that a transformer is a car that turns into a robot. Labs only take 1 hour, and he grades the writeup on completion. His tests are based off his in-class examples he does for every chapter, tons of partial credit. Easy to get a B(70%), tough to get an A(85%). Very Kind.

Like most have already mentioned, his grading scale is highly generous, his lectures are a little dry but interesting, he gives a lot of partial credit, labs/reports are short and to the point, and he provides review days before the test to prepare you. I recommend doing HW problems to learn, and practice his in-class examples to pass the class.

Pros: Professor is fair. He speaks methodically, got clever jokes, is very wise and patient. He will genuinely guide you in every lecture and answer ANY question you have. Labs are 100% if completed, very easy. Cons: Not exactly tech savvy, he only uses canvas for grades and emails. Note: Tests require a deeper understanding, do the optional HW!

Class is graded by 4 exams. If you just do show up, do the optional homework, and bring the printed homework to exam days as your note sheet, you will never get a grade lower than a B. Great lecturer, funny, and has a way of breaking down complex topics so that they make sense.

Grade is 4 tests and lab. Lab is graded by completion and you basically get full credit if you submit your paper. Tests are sometimes hard but they are similar to the ones in the textbook homework so try to study by that. Gives you one page of cheat sheet per test (really good stuff). Getting an A is easier (85%), B is simple (70%). Great prof.

Graded by 4 exams, 10 labs. Can bring one sheet of notes into test. Lab is graded by completion. Generous grading (A is 85%, B is 70%). Lectures can be a unclear at times, so be sure to ask questions in class. Willing to go over any concept and answer questions in office hours. HIGHLY suggest you do the HW on OpenStax, best way to study for tests!

Took his class over the summer of 8 weeks. The 4 tests were fair, I wouldn't consider it easy, but he was generous with the partial grading and they were a good reflection of what he covers in his lectures. If you show up to lab and turn the lab reports on time it was an easy full points. Overall, good teacher and learned alot from this class!

graded by 4 exams. lab is worth 20% of ur grade and you basically get 100% if you show up on time. generous grader; you get one cheat sheet on exams. any calculator is allowed. attendance is not mandatory but he teaches problems in lecture that are identical to the exam and he will say "this will definitely be on the exam" so I went

I love Stephen Drum with all my heart. He is a very chill guy, basically impossible to get less than 100% on labs unless you don't show up, and exams were all related to the material he taught in lectures so just be sure to take good notes and you will be fine. Also definitely do the hw problems bc some of the exam questions were almost the same!!

Straight-forward class. Grading: labs (if you attend + turn in your work on time) automatic 100 points and 4 tests total (100 point each = 400 points total), take that out of 500 points is your grade. You only need 85% to get an A. *SUPER easy and generous grader. Got an A and I did not deserve A. He's a chill guy. Attendance isn't required.

Took him for 185 and 280. He's a good physics professor compared to others. You succeed based on your effort. Lab is easily 100% if completed and on time. Exams are 80% of your grade, which seems overwhelming, but just focus on lecture problems (the textbook problems is so irrelevant). A very generous partial grader, so just cruise.