Spencer Barrett - University of Toronto - St. George Campus

Professor: Spencer Barrett
Department: Biology
College: University of Toronto - St. George Campus
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120H1F
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Make sure you actually read the book because he does pick out specific things from it and asks them on the exam. Additionally, lab participation counts a LOT so make sure to speak up - even it is a little it'll go a long way.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Tests are very difficult and annoying, everyone likes him cuz he's a first year bio teacher with lots of enthusiasm but he would fly through lectures and there was no textbook.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Barrett was an excellent lecturer and his passion for BIO120 was very evident, which made attending lectures fun, especially from 6pm-8pm. His tests were definitely challenging but not impossible if you put in the work and listened to lectures
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I enjoyed having Barrett as a prof. He was very clear on what would be testable material (Especially his personal work as a researcher *WATER HYACINTH*). Keep in mind that because of huge class sizes, questions were not taken during lecture.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
ppl saying 'too much unnecessary detail; idc about who went to what university" etc shouldn't go to UofT. this info wont be tested, but is impt nonetheless. It's impt to know history, legacy, and impt people in the field esp when you go out and work. learn to learn, don't learn just for a test. itll get u thru 4 yrs @ UofT. Barrett was the best.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: BIO101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Pretty Decent Prof
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He taught one of my favourite and what I believe is one of the most important biology classes anybody could take. His lectures were great and his passion for what he taught showed. Thanks for teaching Barrett and I hope you enjoy your retirement
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He's a great prof but it's hard to pay attention to him talk throughout the entire lecture. Not everything he says in lecture is important but if he's talking about his own research you better pay attention. His portion of the tests focus mainly on his own work rather than actual course material.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
A good prof whose lectures and required readings were interesting!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
While actual doctors teach real science about relevant anatomy and issues that are destroying human lives around the world, this guy is busy walking fields counting plants. Pathetic legacy.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
SUMMARY -- talks about past researchers and his life achievements/adventures with A LOT of passion - wish I could say the same evolutionary biology. His slides are easy to understand, you can leave reciting everything you learned but the tests seem to be a shoot or miss. Some like him for his accent and puns, in reality he ins't that great. :/
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Prepare to see more than a few "cartoons." Barrett is an exceptional lecturer whose passion for evolutionary biology (particularly water hyacinths) is contagious through his every British word. He's been teaching for decades, and can convey the material in an eloquent and engaging manner. Easily the best lecturer I've come across at uoft.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His bio lectures were the best. Great prof; I'm going to miss him :(
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Prof Barrett is the WORST lecturer I've had in my entire academic life. It feels like he's preaching his life experiences rather than the core concepts of evolutionary biology. I don't care about "X evolutionary biologist went to Y university and (yes/no) won a nobel prize," but for some reason it makes up 30% of the lecture slides & audio.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Found him to be a quintessential lecturer of evolutionary biology. Really good at what he does.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
he really loves his water hyacinth
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Prof. Barrett's lectures are intricate and amazing and I often stayed for the extra tutorial hour. He didn't seem very approachable one-on-one, but it is not surprising in late night first-year courses. I would absolutely recommend this lecturer.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Very clear and concise. Has a knack for explaining concepts in a way that you'll remember them. Loved the course much more than BIO130, with the exception being that we had to know the names of the scientists for the tests. Loves his water hyacinths more than life itself. British accent is an interesting touch.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120H1
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He's alright. Sometimes funny.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: BIO120H1F
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
His lecture material is not very difficult. But you will need to revise the material in order to do well in his part of the course.
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