Ben Edwards - University of California Davis

Professor: Ben Edwards
Department: Biology
College: University of California Davis
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Took this SS1, 2 quizzes, 2 homework, 1 midterm and 1 final. Quizzes are the easiest points to get, then comes midterm, then homework, then final. Final included A LOT of microscopic techniques like fluorescent microscopy, SDS PAGE gel, and such. Best, try to understand the paper assigned, especially the notes under the Figures'.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Extremely disorganized with very little structure in teaching or assignments. Ambiguous quiz and test questions with overbearing focus on key phrases. Obsessed with assigned journal article and making you memorize verbatim the results. Didn't really feel like I learned much. Not many good options for BIS 104 unfortunately.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Class was poorly organized, never felt like I truly knew what we were doing. Would have appreciated a more structured organization approach because sometimes it felt like we were talking about random, un-related things. Excessive focus on experimental techniques on exams. Did not really feel like I learned a whole lot about the cell in the end.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Avoid this prof: speaks fast, doesnt transition topics leaving the class lost, ignores raised hands, grade based on an article he never goes over, 75% of the time tell us to read the book after his poor intro to that topic, doesnt write down what he says, posts unnecessary PDFs of trivia we DONT need to know but doesnt post what we DO NEED to know.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Edwards is not a tough professor, but his exam and quiz questions feel like curve balls. The essay is the easiest thing to get a 20 on, but otherwise, this class isnt too hard, but can be if you dont do the readings at all. Be sure to read the book, go to OH, and you should do fine. Btw, no curve in our class, 75% is cutoff for B-, 85% A-
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He was hard, but the class is really good. He covers a lot of lab techniques so having prior lab exposure makes the class a lot easier. He says he doesn't curve, but he makes adjustments after looking at the class point distribution. I got an 82% and that was an A. Read what he gives you, lookup what you don't understand. MT's harder than the final
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
It's a hard class but he's probably the best out there. I got a D from another teacher, retook it in his class and got a B, but it was lot of work. READ ALL ASSIGN READING THOROUGHLY & IN DETAIL. The reading will cover 85-95% of what he says in lecture. So pay 70/80% attention in lecture, read & understand the reading you'll get at least a solid B.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Professor Edwards gives you all the material you need to succeed in the class. He gave out a study guide for final and if you do and know that you are set. Learn techniques well and read all assigned articles. The class wasn't challenging or overwhelming. Definitely take his course if you have the opportunity.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Meh, it's a lot of work for a 3 unit class. The material isn't "difficult" per se, but it's a lot of material. If you can straight up memorize everything, you're probably ok. A lot of reading, a lot of notetaking, etc. He's pretty boring and you have to really pay attention. I wouldn't prefer him, but the other 104 profs aren't that great either.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I really liked his class. The material from the book was very interesting, and his emphasis on techniques (while sometimes overdone) was also interesting. Class is not very hard, he just wants specific answers/phrases on his tests. Know the article he assigns well. Go to class. I never went to office hours. Overall he really knows his stuff.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Lectures were difficult to understand since he mumbles a lot, and frustrating since he sometimes talked too fast but luckily he posts the podcasts usually. He emphasizes a lot on figures and assigned assignments for exams. Thankfully he redistributes the grades based on the average, or everyone in the class would have failed. GO TO Office Hours!
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Great professor, but you need to read EVERYTHING he assigns you and really understand the article that he assigns. Go to office hours, it really really helps. He has set curves, but in the end he does curve the class more. Be prepared for a lot of work. .
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He covers a lot and you should know everything because he can ask you anything on the tests. He really expects you to be on top of things. I almost feel like you need to work in a lab and have mastered 102/105 in order to do well! He doesn't curve, but I think he bumps grades in the end. Despite all this, I liked his class. Hes really knowledgeable
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No harder than the lower division BIS series. And of course, it's always interesting to learn about cells!!
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
what a great teacher. very engaging and the midterms are pretty straightforward. take him over any other bis 104 instructor!!
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I took him for BIS 104 over the summer and I thought he was great. Eloquent, engaging and I loved learning the experimental techniques. His TAs were also very helpful. Go to office hours to get the most out of this class.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I think he may have gotten easier, because all you have to do is read the stuff he gives you...it's basically you read those instead of reading the book and you're fine! People would read the book and not his handouts, so they get bad grades...you should concentrate on his lectures/materials and not so much the book...I didn't even buy it!
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Although the class may be hard, he makes it obvious what you need to know in order to excel in the course. He has lots of office hours and TAs and if you put in the effort then you can get an A no problem. He is very professional and doesn't look down on you for not knowing something.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This is probably the worst class I've ever taken. The lectures are incredibly boring and I did not feel like I learned any cell biology. Tests and quizzes focused way too much on experimental techniques and tiny details. Prof. Edwards never made it clear what to focus on for exams. Do not take him!
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: BIS104
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Terrible. This class is entirely on experimental techniques and little to nothing on the cell itself. Tests and quizzes go into unnecessary detail rather than applying any of the concepts you learn. He will test on the smallest details making it difficult to get a good grade. Absolutely killed cell biology for me. Avoid. Save yourself.
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