2.4
Quality3.2
Difficulty50%
Would Retake91
Reviews50%
Would Retake
91
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
9
4
12
3
19
2
34
1
17
What Students Say
“If you email him asking a question, he's rude”
HIST196 - 2.0 rating“Bodle is a history guru”
HIST341 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
33%
Textbook Required
81%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.05 avg changeRatings by Course
340
5.0
(1)HIST480
5.0
(1)COLONIALH
5.0
(1)REVOLUTIONERA
5.0
(1)HIST340341
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTORY195
5.0
HIST126
5.0
196
4.0
HIST281
4.0
HIST480
4.0
Reviews (91)
the worst teacher ever. all lecture, nothing else. only 2 midterms then final. baaaaad baaaad prof. totally not reccomended
This guy is a horrible teacher, has no personal skills and doesn't care about his class. We had 1 midterm, a final and a paper. that was all we did the entire year. Everyone in his class will get a C. no matter what your actual grades are. Avoid this man.
Bodle: Enter Room, Place Hands on Belly, begin lecture in monotone: blah, blah, blah, end class. They should serve coffee and speed in his classes.
Not as bad as everyone says. Sure he's boring, but he creates interesting assignment, and he's a reasonable guy.
I took both Colonial America and American Revolution classes.He is actually giving a presentation each class..which is why it is boring. But through all of this he does his job. If you want to think critically and write papers rather than exams take him.
I think that he is the worst teacher that anyone could ever take. I didn't learn anything in his class, and we didn't even use one of the books that he said we needed.
Ya know... he was the most boring, most uninteresting, most monotone prof I have ever had, but the course was so simple. Only 3 papers. Yes, that's right... 3 papers and they weren't even long nor difficult.
he knows his stuff.
very boring but knows his ****...missed 85% of the classes and ended up with a B...never studied, attendance killed my grade...tests are easy
ummmmm......yeah, it's Dr.Bodle people, c'mon now.He's, ummmmm...., not...interesting...,usually. I'll give him that much. He can be entertaining,...sometimes. Peter Stuyvesant as a Halloween mask. yep, that's as funny as it gets.
*BARF* yeah, thats all.
This is the boringest teacher I ever had in my life!!!!.....Freshman especially...AVOID HIM!!...I'm learning the hard way
Blah blah blah blah blah.. at least he doesnt seem to care that I never show up.
Dr. Bodle is very fair, and boring. Class is ridiculously easy, tells you exactly what will be on the tests, and 3 papers at the most... VERY EASY!
he is an eazy teacher. tells whats on the test. 1 paper 2 write in HIST 195
Ver boring class. Three papers, no tests and a final "meeting" that served as a final exam. The class itself was not even based on America as a whole, but on Pennsylvania. Maybe the class should be called Pennsylvania history. Very smart man, bu
Extremely boring. Extremely. Yes, the man is intelligent, but you can't learn much if he puts you to sleep. I probably would have done better, but I stopped going because I just couldn't stand it. Still didn't do bad. Good historian, mediocre prof.
I guess I don't know if he was clear or not...his voice is extraordinarily monotone. Very helpful if you need help, but his speaking voice... take for short classes only. His 3hr lectures drag on and your hand will ache from writing.
Make sure you bring your pillow to class. Dr. Bodle is a really nice guy, but his lectures drag on until you are to the point where you want to gouge your eyes out. He is very unclear of what he wants you to write when he gives you a writing assignment.
Very nice guy, very fair, BUT VERY BORING. My advice is not to take him simply because he tends to talk about things not related to the course and also has a very monotone voice. His assignments for this class are often unclear.
He is a very hard and unhelpful. Knows his history, but that doesnt help when it comes test time. Lectures are irrelevant to tests and the 2 projects were childlike but got harsh grading. Gives a studyguide for test, but u cant find the info in book.
His class isn't that hard, but he is very boring and unclear on his instructions for tests, papers, and homework assignments.
Seemed like he was making up his own theroies about history sometime and we were unclear what he was talking about. BORING!!! I had no idea what was going on in that class cause it all sounded the same. There was no emphisis on anything.
Nice guy, but this was BY FAR the worst class I've taken. It is mindnumbingly boring, and his tests have nothing to do with the books. (Don't waste your $$$ on the books - you don't need them) His lectures have no focus, and you will get frustrated fast!
First of all, his voice is extremely monotone. It was very hard to follow in lectures because everything sounds the same. You have to read 2 boring books and do projects on them.Don't take for longer than an hour. It's so bad you just stop going.
very boring class... 2 test and 2 paper and thats it. not to bad but i would never take him again. not that helpful eather. i would NOT take him if you have a chose
Even though I am a history major, this man makes you contemplate suicide. Don't think about buying the text for his class. You'll never use it and waste your money. His lectures are scattered and incoherent. Boring is putting it lightly.
His lectures are all but impossible to follow and completely lack any structure. He can give good research assignments and seemed willing to help students during office hours. But I would steer anyone away from his lectures. A complete waste of time!
The class is boring. Books aren't really needed but heplful in the end so just sighn one out at the library. His lectures are scattered so taking notes is a bit difficult. overall go to class and u will get a good grade
The class is so boring u will eventually just stop going. Tests were easy. Books were ridiculous-BORING. Even just thinking ab that class now makes me want to scream. the monotone voice and just his lectures make u want to kill urself
Kill yourself before u schedule this class. He talks like a book, and is so BORING. You only have to write 3 papers for the whole semester, so I guess thats he's way of paying the students back, because he is the worst pro. at IUP. Please dont take him!
If you are serious about history, this will be the best course you will have taken in this school. Yes, he is wasted on undergrads, except for the awake, alert and bright. Don't miss this class!
BORING AS HELL!
He has an excellent wealth of knowledge, and can talk for hours, but he is definately boreing. I enjoy listening to him, but taking tests on his lectures are impossible.
BORING!!! Do not take him. He is THE MOST BORING PROFESSOR at IUP. He goes off topic and looses track of where he is at in the unit. I cant stay awake in class. Does take attendence sometimes. Let me stress again, DONT TAKE HIM!!!
Hey, if you think History is a bunch of dates and names to memorize,you should not take this class. If you read as an addiction, if you are bothered by enigma, if you are awake and smart, you will love this class. He is among a small group of true Internationally known experts in the Rev.War.Enjoy!
This prof is a sweet old guy however you will go to extremes wanting to pass out in class or crap yourself - anything to get to leave the skull-clenching boredom of the lecture. An hour and a half of boring slow documentary. helps students out much tho if you ask.
Nice man, very knowledgeable of history, but BORRRRING! Almost impossible to stay awake, lectures do not follow the books so its difficult what to expect on tests. One good thing is he doesnt take role. My advice, bring homework from other classes, might as well use the time to your advantage.
All I have to say is that if you put hair around the side of his head, give him a moustache and give him a red stapler....you have MILTOM from Office Space....I mean seriously, he looks pretty squirrely already and he kinda mumbles a lot too..
The most boring and painful hour and fifteen minutes of my life. I changed my major after I had this guy. His love for history is apparent, but didn't help me at all. DO NOT TAKE HIM
When 5 people are sleeping at any given moment, that should be a clue that this man is terrible. He rambles about nothing, it's impossible to distinguish between things that are important and things he just remembered and got excited about in his own mind.
Boring and scattered brained professor. Only interested in his book writing rather than the class, quite clearly. The books are many and very boring. If you read the first, middle and last page of chapters you can participate in discussion. Put some effort into the papers you will get an easy A. Don't bother with notes,they wont make sense later.
Straight lecture... very boring
VERY VERY Boring.. Just read the book and you'll do fine.. If you have an interest in History i suggest don't take this course, cause after its all said in done, you realy wont like history..
sooooooooo boring cannot understand what he is talking about....does not write notes on board up to you to take own notes....test are hard!!!! DO NOT TAKE HIM
Nice guy but VERY VERY BORING. Just read for yourself and follow the study guids and you will do well in his class. If you can take someone else though I would suggest it.
SOOOOOOOOO boring! but overall pretty easy class. you will have to learn everything on your own because all he does is talk and talk and its hard to follow. he never ends class early but he does not take attendance.
Attendance isnt mandatory. He is soo BORING! you dont know what to study even though he gives you a study guide. He rambles on and you dont even know what to take notes on. His study guides are not even the stuff thats on the test. Would definately not recommend
Unbelievably boring. Doesn't use a powerpoint or any teaching aid. Just stands infront of the class and rambles. Impossible to take notes. Has a study guide for every test but they're really confusing and you can't find the answers in the book. Plus the room is in Keith which is the hottest building on campus. Don't take this prof.
DONT TAKE THIS CLASS! definitely the most boring teacher i've ever had, probably the most boring and monotone person i've ever met actually. History is already boring and hard to follow, but he makes it impossible!
He is a nice guy. His lectures are monotone, but if you're a decent note taker you should be able to follow. He has a lot of detail and it is sometimes not needed. His class isn't incredibly hard, but you need to put a good deal of work into it. He is willing to help if needed, but he is a little oblivious to what you need most of the time.
Most boring class ever. He rambles a lot, but write down the important stuff (and don't fall asleep) and you will do fine. I'm not a history major, just needed the class for credit, and it was good because the tests are VERY easy and short (last one was 30 multiple choice). Take notes and use study guides. Overall, VERY BORING but EASY!
really screwed my gpa for my teaching requirements. the material is not hard, but his grading is questionable. idk where he gets things from. hes very boring and yes he is all monotone. this is a good class for all history majors but those who are i wouldnt take unless he is last resort.
possibly the worst professor i've ever had so far. should not be allowed to come back next year and teach. grading system is weird and doesnt take attendance even though he says its mandatory. I learned more from the book than i did from going to his class. Rambling is his specialty and if you like that he's your guy.
Mr. Bodle talks WAY too fast, repeats himself 7 different ways. He lectures over the same topics sometimes, so you get that bit twice. He jumps around a lot, like he forgets to mention things. He doesn't make it clear always who he's talking about. Your only grades are 3 midterms and a final... so good luck.
AWFUL. All he does is talk and you take whatever notes you think sound good. He repeats himself alot, in different ways, which makes it confusing. He jumps around from topic to topic and year to year. Only 4 grades, all tests. HARD. He gives studyguides but they are no help.
MOST BORING HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES OF MY LIFE. He doesn't use a powerpoint or anything he just stands there and rambles on about nothing the whole class. Do not take him and if you do just read what you have too... class is a waste of time. Good luck... and don't wear too many layers... Keith Hall is the hottest building at IUP.
This class is an abomination to History itself. Mr. Bodle is the worst teacher I have ever encountered. Rambles too much, said the word "um" 319 times in one class. Its comparable to playing russian roulette with a history book since he jumps around a lot. DROP NOW
Bodle's HIST195 was a joke, like his teaching. You can take as many notes as you want but he rambles between different years and subjects for over an hour which makes good notes impossible. Reading the book doesn't help either since half of the test questions are completely irrelevant to anything in the book or anything from his mouth. Avoid him.
Overall Dr. Bodle made the subject interesting with his lectures and tried to make class interesting. He did have interesting assignments and was always available for helpful comments.
I am not the studying type and I pulled out an A! It's as simple as attending every class, PAYING ATTENTION and taking notes! He is vveerryyy boring and monotone so it is easy to zone out. His exams come straight from his notes and he gives out study guides for every exam. If you take detailed notes and read over the study guide you'll do fine.
No doubt about it, this guy knows his stuff. Super knowledgable on the revolution but my god he is so boring. Lectures do not pertain to exams because there arent any. I have taken zero notes in his class and the semester is almost over. Incredibly boring.
Dr. Bodle is a history guru! He knows almost everything about everything he teaches. His classes are hard to follow because he knows so much, but you can still get an A. Taking notes for his lectures are difficult. Awesome teacher though! Helpful!
Take this class if you want to learn how to sleep, seriously. Extremely boring. There is no doubt that he knows his stuff but the tests do not match up with the notes or study guide. Avoid him!
The guy definitely knows what he's talking about. but it's extremely boring and hard. just take my advice and avoid this class.
While Dr. Bodle seems to be a nice guy, he is a horrible teacher. His lectures are essentially useless because he just jumps from year to year and subject making it hard to even tell what he is talking about. No *helpful* visual aids. Half the stuff he talked about wasn't in the book. Tests seemed easy but then came back bad. Questions were random.
I went to class the first two or three lectures, but soon discovered that I didn't need to. Taking notes is a moot point because he rambles on about things that aren't on his short, yet useless tests. If you read the book and Google the terms on the study guide, it's an easy A.
He hands out a study guide for each exam, you will definitely need it in order to have any idea what will be on the test, as things you would expect to be on it may not be and sometimes it's hard to determine what facts about a certain event to study. It helps to read the chapter in the book before his lectures or you may become lost during class.
The dude is really nice, but he was probably the worst teacher I've ever had in my life. He makes absolutely no sense when he talks, jumping from time period to time period, leaving you to play Candy Crush & go on Twitter during his class. I couldn't take it anymore and I dropped the class before I ended up failing from learning absolutely nothing.
Bodle is a terrible teacher. Seems like he'd be a nice guy outside of the classroom but I can't remember a single thing I learned from him. His lectures drag on forever and all that class consists of is his boring dry voice. Impossible to take notes. He stumbles through pictures on the overhead projector doesnt make any sense. Avoid this prof
attendance isnt manditory, his lectures are boring and dry. i fall asleep. i get all the study guide questions from book so its pointless to go to class. he gives a lot of bonus points so if you do the study guide you should be able to get an a without going to any classes and the final was a paper and you have 3 exams beforehand
Honestly the worst teacher i have ever had i hate him. His classes are pointless and you learn nothing.
Avoid him! You can't even understand half the stuff he says.
as long as you do the study guide and know everything on it you will get an A in the class. He gives 10-25 bonus points for each test so its hard to fail. He is very monotone and lectures are boring. the final is a paper which I liked. He wants you to pass. Easy class. As long as you do the study guide and know it youll get an A w/o going to class.
One of the worst professors I have ever had. I walked out of class every single day not having a clue what just happened. He is scatter brained, and doesn't use powerpoint, instead he prints out blurry pictures from google. Thank God he had study guides. Avoid at all costs.
Dr Bodle is a great guy, first of all. I took 3 of his classes even though I knew he was difficult. Freshmen taking his 19X classes might find him difficult because he sort of expects students to think for themselves when it comes to history. People knock him, but he really knows what he teaches.
Best advice is don't take this class with him. Although his tests are pretty much definition, he rambles on and put me to sleep many times. He wants you to pass, but doesn't help you much if you are failing. Not a great teacher.
The freshmen giving this man bad reviews don't know a good professor when he's in front of you. He's a good professor and extremely helpful. I go to his office hours whenever I have questions and he'll gladly help. We really don't have exams in this class( a night class) and he does ramble some times but he knows what he's talking about.
He's nice and it is obv that he knows his history, but he is very monotone, it's literally a lecture class (there's not much interaction, all you do is take notes on what he is saying), and the exams are the study guide. If you dont mind just learning the study guide (the people on it are in the book) & taking the exam, then he is ok.
Don't take this class with him. Lectures are literally the most boring thing ever and the stuff he talks about isn't even on the test. The tests are based off of the book readings. He's not helpful, but the class overall is easy if you read the book. The final is a paper.
I loved bodle and he doesnt deserve all of the bad reviews given by people taking 196.. he knows what he is talking about and is the nicest person and is willing to help. yes, his monotone voice makes you zone out but you're in college for a reason... He's a good professor, pulled out an A, which wasnt hard. GO TO CLASS & PAY ATTENTION!
I took his Colonial America class, and yes, sometimes he does go a little off topic, but I enjoyed the class overall and he was helpful during office hours. The 196 students need to suck it up.
Bodle's History 196 Class is the most painful class I have had so far. He goes off topic, he is monotonous, and frankly I don't know if HE knows what he is saying. If you can schedule another professor PLEASE DO.
Makes you buy textbook that you only use when you're looking up vocab for a test and an autobiography of Ben Franklin that you will never use. Very boring class, monotone voice. Grades are based off of 3 tests which shouldn't be too hard if you study and use his given study guide. Overall, terrible class and wouldn't recommend.
Lectures are boring and his way of teaching is using old, kind of irrelevant pictures that he printed off the internet. Note taking is nearly impossible, as you have no idea what is relevant or not. His study guides are a list of terms that he may or may not have gone over. If you email him asking a question, he's rude. No due dates, no structure.
I just cant understand his way of teaching, he just talks and talks. He goes on and off topic and your honesty lost in his class. He's not rude he just needs a new way of lecture
I liked him because he's one of those profs you would describe as a great guy. It is very hard to take notes the way he lectures, but you'll still get whats going on. No hw and gives a study guide before every test that helps significantly, also will give out extra credit, which is usually just a few built in question on the test which is nice
His Lectures are incoherent. His Grade weighting was Lazy, 4 assignments 25% each. In addition I was carrying a Low "A" At the Midterm, But Received a "C", Trick is though I never Got Grades for my last two assignments, so I have no clue where I went wrong or how to improve. In addition Each Assignment was Insultingly easy. Don't take his class.
Dr. Bodle is an extremely enlightened professor who provides information enriched lectures. Dr. B is a great guy if you take the time to connect with him. He gives you a study guide before every exam with everything you need to know. He's the reason I established history as my second major.
Bodle is kind of boring, but he knows what he's talking about. There are a couple of papers to write over the course of the semester, but they aren't very hard if you put just a bit of effort into it. The class is mostly long lectures, but paying attention isn't detrimental to passing; you could sit on your computer for the whole class
I have never been more bored in any class ever. Doesn't use a computer for lectures he uses pieces of paper that have like two pictures on them and two words then rambles on and on. It doesn't make u wanna learn at all. Only 3 tests, study guides are hard to understand, very motto toned. Good thing is there is a curve so easy A class
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
33%
Textbook Required
81%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.05 avg changeRatings by Course
340
5.0
(1)HIST480
5.0
(1)COLONIALH
5.0
(1)REVOLUTIONERA
5.0
(1)HIST340341
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
HISTORY195
5.0
HIST126
5.0
196
4.0
HIST281
4.0
HIST480
4.0