Simon Capstick - Florida State University

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Simon Capstick - Florida State University

Professor: Simon Capstick

Department: Science

College: Florida State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: PHY2048CSTUDIO
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Studio makes learning physics a social event. Totally impeded my ability to learn; didn't learn anything. You will spend 7 hours in class a week, but at least it's 5 credits. You do have to read the text book; it takes an hour or two a week. Other than that I didn't study and got an A thanks to a curve after an F-average final. Kind guy, bad class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: PHY2048C
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Capstick is amazing. He drops the lowest quiz grade, is always free during office hours, and provides great feedback. He is very kind, very funny, and shows a real passion for the course material. It is a very hard class and he sometimes over-estimates students' abilities on test/quizzes. But he does curve if needed.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: PHY2048CSTUDIO
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Going to office hours is definitely a great idea for this class. You're assigned weekly reading and it is super important you read and understand the text before coming to class. It's never a long text, but getting that understanding helps a lot in the mini lectures he gives before groupwork. Quizzes are a little difficult, but not impossible.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: PHY2049C
Grade Received: C
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He makes his quizzes VERY hard. However, if you study and put in the effort, then they should be easy. With DC circuits, I didn't understand them until the very end of the semester.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: PHY2048C
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Capstick is a great teacher and handled the COVID situation very well. He was accessible and willing to answer any questions asked. Take this class with him if you have that option.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: PHY2049
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This was a studio class. Capstick truly cares about his students but if you need to get a hold of him do not bother emailing just go to office hours. This class is hard but he explains things very well. Studio is much better than lecture physics from my experience in both.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: PHY2048CSTUDIO
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Physics 1 studio with Dr. Capstick was really easy. I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND GOING TO HIS OFFICE HOURS. He is basically going to give you everything you need to know for the weekly quiz.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: PHY2054C
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great guy, but a bit disorganized. Lectures are sometimes posted weeks after the quiz about that topic has happened. Group projects are a nightmare, very chaotic. While the tests are fair, they are by no means easy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: PHY2054C
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Capstick is extremely enthusiastic, and really enjoys physics and his students, but sometimes he makes it unclear what is going to be on exams and quizzes, and he doesn't always upload the lecture notes in a timely fashion.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: PHY2048C
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Capstick is a very good professor. He is very clear and understanding. He is also very understanding. He rewards those who puts in effort. I would highly suggest him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: PHY2053C
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Disorganized is an understatement. Great person outside of teaching, but bad teacher. Online textbook is awful. Would not recommend this class unless you have to take it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: PHY2053C
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great guy, and super caring about his students. Truly, wants them to learn. However, this class is by the far the most unorganized class I have ever taken. There is a total disconnect between the profesor and the TA's. Furthermore there is no textbook, but an online wiki book from the University of Maryland. Readings often unrelated to class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: PHY2048CSTUDIO
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Hes an awesome teacher! My favorite one here at FSU! Hes easy to talk too, gives good feed back. Makes learning about physics, fun! Its a hard class but he makes bearable with all of the real demonstrations! labs are always fun as well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: PHY2048
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I never felt valued in the class and he never really listened to my opinions. Very set in his ways. I'll be looking for a different professor in my other courses.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: PHY2048
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very good person, very good instructer. Puts a lot of time into teaching and his students very good choice.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: PHY2048C
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He's one of the better physics professors at FSU. He gives clear examples in class and actually takes time to explain concepts to students who are struggling. If I had to take another physics class, Capstick would definitely be my first choice.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: PHY2048CSTUDIO
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I am seeing a lot of reviews here so I just felt I should share my positive experience. Group work was helpful and the class participation level encouraged real learning, and interaction with the prof. Not an easy A but a great way to learn the material well if Physics is a major component for you moving forward.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: PHY2053C
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Capstick himself is very kind, and if you go to him in office hours, he is very helpful. But the studio class is the worst thing in the world. The homework is difficult and irrelevant to the quizzes and tests. What's going to be on the quiz every Friday is anyone's guess. Tests are very hard. No one (including TAs) have any clue what's going on.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: PHY2053C
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Capstick is wonderful, his class not so much. From what I gathered, most people in the class had little clue what was actually going on. There's no textbook to provide practice. One of the TA's was consistently rude. Quizzes often had concepts we'd seen maybe once or not at all. HW was overcomplicated and unhelpful. The class was miserable.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: PHY2053C
Grade Received: D
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Capstick is a nice guy, however this class is a disaster. The structure is made that you teach yourself everything in groups but he never tells you if you're right. No textbook. Lots of hw. Hw rarely coincided and was impossible unless you went to O.H. Barely any lectures, or sample questions given. Exams and quizzes are hard. 3 hour classes 2xweek

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