Speer is one of the best instructors of this school. The material may be dry, but he gets you through it and I actually learned something. I HIGHLY recommend his class because he knows his stuff. He also uses subtle wit in making jokes on occasion - he's just great. :)

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I loved Bill! He isn't the most lively of teachers, but he knows his biology. He's a hard teacher, you have to study hard to pass the tests, but I got an A so it's not that bad. He is not a teacher for the floaters. Not much homework, which is nice. The book he choose was extremely helpful. One of the best professors I've had!

He's extremely fair

Excellent teacher. Gives an outline for each lecture as well as test reviews. Tests are hard but very fair and always stick to the information on his outlines. Very willing to answer questions in class or by email.

Good Biology Teacher

Awesome Biology teacher! Very willing to do whatever he needs to help the student succeed. He is always available after class and by email. He lectures from Chapter Summaries and reviews before every test...if it is not on the review, it's not on the test : ) He also offers extra credit. I had a great experience..Nice guy!

He is a great teacher! I wish he taught more biology classes. Hardly used the book. Hands out a summary for each lecture. Tests from the lectures and test reviews. Attendance is mandatory for the review if you want to do well on the tests. Gives x-tra credit for each test. 3 midterm tests and a comprehensive final. 1 homework sheet per test.

I think Bill is the best professor I've had since I started attending at SLCC. He puts the responsibility of learning in the student's lap but does everything he can to help you. He makes funny jokes, does great reviews, and is very fair. I highly recommend him!!!

NICE NICE NICE GUY! Tons of extra credit opportunity. Will do what ever he can to help you, stay after, answer questions. I had a HARD time understanding all of the material, but he did what he could to help and went out of his way to help me!I HIGHLY recommend him. Again, I did struggle with the content, but it was a hard subject for me I got an A

He is the best teacher I have had @ SLCC. Very helpful and willing to help his students learn. Highly recomended!

he really want's you to succeed

He's amazing. Smart guy, interesting. Difficult subject matter, at least for me... but expectations clearly outlined. He wants you to do well and invests the time to teach. Highly recommended. I wish I had his for every class, every semester!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Difficult subject matter, but expectations clearly outlined and very comprehensive review. He really knows what he's talking about and his lectures are interesting. Smart guy, great class. Do whatever you can to get into his class.

Don't buy the book, do take his class. If you want an A, study for it. He will provide everything else. (VERY comprehensive review). And, he's fun. To qualify fun, I mean he knows the subject matter well is intellectually honest and he cares. He's a professional, so you should be too. You'll get that pretty quick. Wish he taught every class. <3

I would highly recommend him. His tests were straight out of the review for each exam. He also gives an extra credit assignment after each exam. You can get an A in his class!

Mr. Speer really wants you to do well in his class -- he will tell you exactly what you need to know for his tests. EXACTLY. If you go to lecture, you'll leave his class with a great understanding of Biology. He did a great job. I was impressed.

highly recommend

I took this guy soley on recommendations from this site. He is AWESOME!!! Very helpful & will give you the extra help you need-though you will need to ask. Very approachable, highly recommend!

Fun class, learn a lot but the teacher mumbles a bit and makes it hard to hear. Sit close and enjoy

He is the best! I learned so much in the class and he made it easy and Interesting. He wants you to succeed.

Bill is a very good teacher. He only cares about the important stuff meaning he gets right to the point. I do highly recommend taking his class.

BORING!!! But he's got to be the most fair teacher ever. He let's you do as much extra credit as you want, just ask and you'll pass his class. And he goes over almost question for question what's going to be on every test, he's cool.

Different and maybe a little offbeat, but in a good way. Seems to be very concerned about student progress as he is constantly asking students to contact if they have questions. Gives good test reviews. You have to work as he just doesn't hand out grades--you earn what you get.

Biology is a hard course for me and this wasthe second (fall 2010)time that i took it. Speer was way better than my previous teacher, though he did make us work. At least he ansered my questions. Dont take biology if you want an easy course at Slcc. Speermade it clearer and I passed with a B-.

Overall I liked him. It was a hard class. I had to read my text book. He was extremely helpful with any questions I had and had great test reviews. Also gave some extra credit assignments. I thought he was a little boring, but it may of just been the subject.

No book necessary for this class, I never even opened mine and I got a B+. His test are really hard but he reviews EVERYTHING you need to know. Homework is easy and I took this class in the Summer and only had 4 homework assisgnments. EXTRA CREDIT is always avaiable. Just work hard and you will get a good grade. He is kinda Boring though.

I took this class over summer semester and was SO happy to have this professor. He gives fantastic reviews before each test. If you skipped every class execpt for the reviews and the tests, you could get and A! He gives lots of extra credit, as well. No need to buy the book. I did learn a few things, along the way, as well!

GREAT teacher! I transfered into his class half way throw the class. My other class was so hard I really thought I was going to fail. His class was so much better. He gives homework and a review before the test. 85% - 90% were the same questions. I whent from studing like 20 hr a week to maybe 2.I would have got an A if I started out in his class.

Very good instructor. Knows the material very well. Good sense of humor. Always has a review before the exam. During lecture take good notes and when he emphesizes something, it will be on the exam. Offers a ton of extra credit. You do work for your grade so if you don't want your grade just handed to you his class is for you.

I transfered to his class a few weeks after the semester started and man can I say how happy I was to do that! Bill is awesome! He gives TONS of extra credit & ALWAYS does reviews before tests! I ended up with an A- in his class. He is more then willing to help if you arent understanding something! Take it from him if you can!

Material is hard but there is plenty of extra credit offered and the reviews before the tests are super helpful. The final has a lot of questions from the previous tests so study those! I would take as many classes as you can from him. Lectures are kind of boring, but the subject is boring!

Bill is great, he gives you all the info you need in the lectures so record them. His tests are fair no tricks and he offers extra credit to help. He is willing to help with any questions so ask them, I would take any class from him.

He teaches in straightforward powerpoints, and doesn't ever get too boring. The tests in the class almost always have a class average of 75%, meaning they're extremely fair. Assignments are minimal and everything is explained well.

Study what he tells you to, and you will do fine. I liked the lectures, but they are not mandatory, but very helpful. Attend the test review well prepared, and you will be fine on the test. He made me like biology.

He teaches off powerpoint. He provides you with extra credit, and he also gives study guides. His tests are almost exact to his study guides. This was my second time taking the class and I am very gratful to have taken it the second time around with him.

He's not personable, and is kind of intimidating. However, his reviews for the tests are excellent; Just study them and you will do well! He also gives extra credit assignments, which are pretty easy, and the homework isn't too bad either.

LOVED Bill's class. He sees the value in reviews prior to exams, does a great job at explaining the concepts, and offers tons of extra credit. There are homework assignments, but the tests consist of the same questions or similar questions as the homework. I got an A in his class and walked away feeling like I learned and understood everything.

Bill is a nice man. Biology 1610 is not an easy course. Don't buy the book if you take his class. He has handouts and goes by power points. He is very approachable if you have any questions. Lots of extra credit available. Take advantage of it. Attend the reviews and do your homework. I passed with an A and learned a lot.

I'm reviewing several years after taking bio. My favorite things said by Bill were: "adenylyl cyclase" (adorable), adenosine triphosphate AND deoxyribonucleic acid. All said with a southern accent. A was a great biology prof, and funny enough that dry things like oxidative phosphorylation helped me visualize mitochondrial chemistry years later

Bill was an awesome teacher! This is a really hard course, but he is really helpful. Attend the reviews, they help a lot! The book is not needed, but I found it to be very useful when I had questions at home. He responds to emails VERY quickly. Great teacher. Highly recommend!

Finished this class over the summer semester. I enjoyed this class. His reviews are golden. If you use his review sheet as a fill in the blank test you will do great. Plus he gives extra credit. If you show up to class and know the review this class will be easy.

Class is cake. Don't bother buying a book, didn't open mine all semester, its still in the wrapping, wish I hadn't wasted the money. He does a review for every test, and goes over everything you will need to know, recording it is a must. Show up to lecture, take notes, and record reviews for studying, you will pass with an easy A.

THE best professor for a tough class. He reviews everything on which he tests. He gives you every chance to succeed.

He is a really great teacher and I would highly recommend taking his classes. I would register with him in a heartbeat. You can tell he's really passionate about what he does and teaches and enjoys the material himself.

Bill was a great teacher, I don't think I would have made it through this class without him. Expect to study quite a bit, but there are nice rewards for those willing to put in the work. He really knows his stuff and is willing to help those that need it. Take this class from him if you have the opportunity!

Great teacher! Second time taking it and he is very clear. The course is 45 homework assignments, 3 exams, extra credit, and a final. He reviews everything, uses ppts, and is very understanding. Has a different personality that most people might consider rude but is a great teacher! Not many good biology teachers so take him; will help you pass.

professor Speer is awesome, 4 homework, 4 exams, 4 extra-credit, are ahead you. I studied just his power point lectures. Final materials would come from previous tests and homework, so you can get a easy A even if you study just for exams. You would have a very easy class with him without any stress. Highly recommended.

This class is a lot of work but this teacher is great. He is straight to the point and when we gives a study guide as long as you study it you will pass the tests. It is a lot of material but I appreciated how it was taught and how I never wondered what we were doing next. He gives 40 points of extra credit as well! cant go wrong!

The extra credit saved my life. I would have gotten a B- without it. The reviews are basically the test, so I recommend you recording it to help you study. Compared to other professors around, he is the best one to go to when it comes to this class since he gives extra credit and the reviews are straightforward. Get ready to read.

Great teacher! Offers a lot of extra credit! Very easy test. All of the test are from the homework. The final is from the 3 test and the final review. Easy to pass. Do the extra credit and your grade will be great!

Show up for class. His lecture/power point covers most of the test material. He makes all his material available online so you can go over it again. Test reviews are spot on and cover what will be on the test so show up to the review session he has the class before. Reading the chapter before hand helps a lot.

If you do the homework early he grades it early so you know how you did, and can use it to study for the test. A lot of the the questions come from the homework assignment, and his online powerpoints. If you study these, you will do good.

He reads primarily off powerpoints, but expects you to read the chapter before you come to class. He can sometimes be a bit confusing, but does really good reviews. He grades very quickly, which is nice. He also offers a lot of extra credit, he wants you to succeed. Show up to class, take good notes, read the chapter. You'll do fine if you study.

Profess speer is WONDERFUL. He can be a little vague sometimes on his instructions but he always clarifies in the end. However, his lectures and slideshows are wonderful. He does a review session in the class time right before the test and basically tells you exactly what you need to know. He sets you up to succeed!!! I really loved his class.

Awesome Guy! His lectures are pretty great, considering its biology.. He is very clear on what you need to know for each test, and gives great feedback. Would definitely recommend! Get ready for some dorky humor.

Speer is awesome! He is very clear on what the tests are going to be like and his lectures are thorough. I would definitley take this class again from him. It really is an easy A you just need to study and pay attention in class. He always has homework graded quickly that you can use for the exams. Great class!

Trust me on this Speer is the best biology teacher. He tells you exactly what he expects you to know for the exams and finals. Take this class from him!

William Speer is an amazing Professor! He gives a review before all exams and they contain everything you need to know for the tests! He gives plenty of extra credit and is an absolute pleasure to be around. Funny guy! I'm really glad I took his class!

Bill is very intelligent and great at teaching exactly what the department expects you to learn. Offers lots of extra credit. You need to show up to class and take good notes. Test reviews were awesome.

Powerpoint presentation lectures, homework assignment due before test which is very similar to the test and helps you prepare for the test. He gives extra credit on the test as well as after the test. I though the lectures were interesting and clear, as long as you go to class for the lecture & do the homework to prep for the test you'll be fine

Professor Speer is excellent! He is direct and his expecatations are very clear. Want an A? Take his class. Go to every class. Print out his PowerPoints and take notes on them. Do your homework. Go to the review sessions before each exam. Study the review guide and homework for each exam. He is not super personable, but that doesnt matter to me.

Although this class is all lecture and exams, this professor is very clear on what he expects from you. If you miss class, make sure you have a friend take notes for you or you read up on the slides. He probably was one of my favorite professors so far. A lot of extra credit opportunities. Dont skip out on those.

Honestly, I cant recommend this professor enough. He is very intelligent and has ALOT of extra credit opportunities. His reviews for the exams have all the material you will need to pass the exam. If you pay attention and put in the work you will do better than just merely pass this class. Flash cards of the exam review are the way to go.

Professor Speer is a great biology professor. He gives you literally EVERY chance to get an A. I ended up with a 112% in his class because of all the ways and chances he gives you to suceed. His test reviews are on point and he lets you know what you need to study. If you don't get an A it is because you did not try!

Mr. Speer is very clear about what he is going to test you on. He gives reviews the class period before the test that cover everything that might be on the test. I found his method to be very upfront and simple. Would definitely take a bio class from him again.

This class was pretty easy. Graded only on a few things. There are 3 tests, a final, and a homework assignment before each test that helps review for the test. One easy 2 page paper. He can be funny, except if you go talk to him one on one. He isn't rude but definitely not the friendliest. Record him during lectures cause he talks fast and moves on

This class had little homework and the homework questions were on the test. Speer was very clear about the material you would be tested on. If you go to class, study his power points and the homework, you will do fine on the tests. He offers plenty of extra credit. I would absolutely recommend taking this class from Speer.

I'm currently wrapping up Spring 2019 with William Speer in Biol 1610. He offers PLENTY of opportunities for extra credit. I chose not to do 1 extra credit assignment and my grade is 3 points less then what it would be. He gives test reviews before each test. He also gives out a 25-question homework assignment. Overall, really nicee man. Easy A.

HEAVY lectures, so get ready to type/write, he goes through the slideshows pretty fast. I thought the tests were challenging, but he always offered extra credit for every exam. If you struggle even a little bit go to his classes and use Quizlet! He does not take attendance, and not once did we use the textbook in class so save yourself the money

He is a rude guy when you ask ?'s and talk to him 1:1 but don't let that discourage you. We did not once use the textbook in class but is recommended to read chapters as most content is on slideshows. There are 3 midtrms, a HW assignmt before each midtrm and a final. Offers plenty of extra credit. Study the 3 midtrm exams and 4 revws to pass final.

I haven't had a science class since 10yrs ago so this was a bit scary. How did I pass? YOUTUBE if you have questions cuz he is rude if you ask him, DO THE EXTRA CREDIT he offers, flash cards on reviews (flash crds on prev. 3 exams for final),read chaptrs & record reviews . There were 3 midtrms, 1 easy 2 pg. projct , 3HW assignmts and final.

I really enjoyed taking this class from Bill Speer. He's a really funny guy. His sarcasm can be interpreted as rude by some but I really got his humor. Don't buy the book, you won't need it.

Speer is great. He teaches all you need to know in class, so pay close attention. Take notes on the review sheets before exams and you'll ace each test, no problem! Also shhhh the final is all repeated questions from past exams. Don't freak yourself out studying for it. Didn't use the book or do any extra credit and still got an A. He sets you up!

I really loved taking biology from Speer. He was just one of those professors that made biology click for me. I feel like he's straight up and lets you know what is going to be on the test, can be a little boring in his lectures, but they are super informative. If someone like myself can get an A on his tests, that's saying something!

I really enjoyed his class and would recommend taking his BIOL 1610 class. Turn HW assignments in early and he will let you use them to study for Exams which is GREAT b/c a lot of the HW assignments are on his Exams. He gives extra credit and does all he can to help his students succeed. If you didn't pass its b/c you didn't put in a good effort.

If you go to class and do your homework, you will pass this class. This class is extremely boring and lecture heavy but you know exactly what he expects of you and with over 50 points of extra credit he is setting you up for success. I didn't show up often or do all the homework and I got a C.... and C's get degrees.

He gives you extra credit on every test (5 questions). If you ask him a question about the homework he will help you. Some of the homework questions are on the test so hand in your homework early to study. His tests are like the homework. I would record the test review and write out the answers, that is what you might need to know for the test.

Awesome Class! He's clear on what he teaches and he takes his tests based on exactly what he taught in his class. Pay CLOSE attention to the test reviews he does before every exam and the summaries, those are THE KEY to get a perfect grade on this course.

This class was so straightforward. The lectures are a little boring, but its a lecture so... hes very clear about what you need to know for tests and really tries to set you up for success. He offers plenty of extra credit, but if you study the homework and the exam reviews youll do just fine without it.

William was very well organized. All the information that you need as far as homework assignments and notes/handouts are all listed in the files section of Canvas. Just make sure you pay attention to the syllabus for all due dates and what is expected. He also offers easy extra credit, which is always a plus.

Positives: There is a homework assignment before each test that gives an idea on what will be on each exam. He is easy to get a hold of, but can come across as harsh. Negatives: He is VERY monotone and rambles, so if you have a hard time understanding biology, choose a different professor.

Professor Speer lectures by powerpoint and everything in his powerpoints is considered must-know material. He does not make it clear what you should know. He expects you to know everything that is taught while in class and then be tested on about 75% of that. Four homework assignments that are sort of like pre-tests to the 3 tests + 1 final.

The class was fairly straight forward. Quizzes for each chapter and a total of four tests. If you study the homework (not turned in) and quizzes you will be just fine on the exams. I would watch his lectures because he is pretty good about pointing out what you'll need to know for the test.

A little rough around the edges but definitely perfect if you are looking for something straight forward with no homework. If you just listen to the lecture, he will tell you exactly what will be on your quizzes. There is a weekly quiz and 4 exams. 1 paper to write but its only 2 pages. He sends a list of everything to review for each exam.

Speer knows his stuff and I learned a lot. I took this course post-covid (Video Lecture). He takes a while to warm up to and at first he comes off as arrogant and cold. He says "mmmKay" enough to turn into a drinking game. He will answer your questions and re-explain things if you ask. Worth taking his course! Also, the class is organized nicely.

Professor Speer was a great teacher. Biology is not the most interesting thing to talk about but he covers everything you need to know in lectures. He offers extra credit after the test which was awesome! I really liked him. I think the negative reviews on here must come from people who did not attend lecture or pay attention.

I think Professor Speer was great. There were two zoom lectures a week where he made sure you understood what was and wasn't important! So be sure to listen for when he says to "make sure to write it down". There was a signature paper we did throughout the semester and if you get it done before the deadline he offers great feedback on what to fix!

He isn't going to be a warm and fuzzy professor if that's what you're looking for. But he create tests and quizzes straight from his lectures. He even makes note that "this might be on the exam." There are only 12 quizzes and 3 exams. Lectures were recorded and accessible any time, didn't take attendance. you have to study, but he is thorough

I never was a fan of biology but this professor made it interesting he would explain things great during the lecture, and if you had questions or are confused he is happy to help you out! This professor was very caring I had very low grade during the middle of the semester and talked to him about, and he was more than happy to help me out!

Bill is a funny professor. He will say the works "mm okay" once every 20 seconds, so learn to be amused by it or else you'll lose your mind. He goes over the material he wants you to know in class, so do not miss it. I enjoyed his class overall, but had to hype myself up. If you appreciate people with quirks, take Bill

Instructor Speer was a funny guy. Sometimes the lab protocols were confusing, and we would have to help each other as classmates to understand the tasks but overall his class was good. Quick to respond to emails and wants everyone to do well. One required group presentation at the end of the semester. Just show up and participate and you will pass.