Derek Besner - University of Waterloo

Professor: Derek Besner
Department: Psychology
College: University of Waterloo
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH458
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Besner's teaching style may be gruff and a bit confrontational but his intent is to challenge students to think for themselves. He wants you to give it a try and then he steps in to elaborate. It's not for everyone but if you're up to the task you'll learn a lot from him.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
avoid if ego fragile (even better, avoid university). if u want to be challenged and learn what research is about this course is for you. tough love by someone who actually cares if you look below the gruffness
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH308
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Fantastic professor. Very dedicated to his research and genuinely wants to see his students reach their full potential. Although he enjoys playing the bad guy, by challenging you beyond belief, but if you could learn not to take things to heart, he really lets you grow! I found his tests wordy, you must read it a few times, but super easy MC.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Presentations & interesting discussions. BUT, speak before being asked to show you are "following along", or a zero for participation will be assigned regardless you've engaged in discussions during seminar and are all subjective marking by the professor If email at the end of term for grade issues, from the third email you will be ignored
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
VERY polarizing. Don't take a big lecture with him-take a seminar course. You can't have a thin skin with him, but if you're tougher, you'll probably feel like the course is very worthwhile. A tough-love kind of prof. He's helpful in a answer-your-question-with-another-question way. Whether you enjoy the course depends on how fragile your ego is.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH308
  • 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:
He's very engaging - always asking random students questions to ensure they understand. He knows his stuff, and is a large part of the research discussed in the course. Great grading scheme for the course (just weekly quizzes, and SONA). The course itself is sometimes a bit dull though.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: HIST308
  • 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:
Great prof!! You do have to get used to his way of interacting with you. If you're not comfortable with him calling on you in class, let him know. He'll respect that, as much as he encourages students participating and asking questions. Really helpful in office hours. No excuse for a low grade except laziness.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • 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:
Dr. Besner is an awesome professor. It is not hard to do well as long as you show up and do the readings. He says what he feels, but don't be afraid when presenting.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH398
  • 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:
Dr. Besner has a sharp mind and will go out of his way to help those who bother to ask questions. He is a very understanding, funny guy once you get used to his manner of speaking, and genuinely tries to challenge people in his classes.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The most propitious course I've ever taken in my 4 year university career. Dr. Besner may come off as blunt at times, but his suggestions are always warranted, and are very beneficial. His anecdotes and personal experiences were highly educational and entertaining. Highly recommend that you take at least one course with him! Very knowledgeable!
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH397
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
amazing prof.every negative comment is not warranted, every positive explanation is correct. likely much better in seminars (this was) as you do need to get to know him.NOT a bully, just sarcastic, means well.he does mumble,how is that his fault ? tell him! seminars as should be-students teach each other, prof supervises!
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH458
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
15 min. Quizzes every other week. Five 1pg. papers. 1 small presentation.Easy. People mistake his teasing as belittling students, but really it's all harmless fun and funny.He is intimidating at first,but soon I began to appreciate his blunt no B.S. way of speaking. He's not afraid to tell you you're wrong and why, and he only does it to help you.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH308
  • 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:
Great course - Great Prof. Honestly I don't understand some of the negative comments. He always promptly answered e-mails. Weekly quizes reinforced material. Straightforward class. And NO TEXTBOOK!!! Sometimes though he speaks a little bit lowly so if you have a difficult hearing just move closer (Even still - I sat at the back and did fine)
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: COGNITIVEPSYCH
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I felt that teaching was not something he wanted to do, he did it so that he could complete his research. He was cold and uncaring with the students.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH394
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
challenging. wound up thinking that I better understand what research is all about.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH207
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
knowledgeable, seems hardcore - but his tests are not.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH207
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Besner's style of teaching is less spoon feeding and more challenge. His explinations aren't the best, but they leave you thinking. He admits he has a habit of speaking softly and asks students to point it out, nobody does, then they get mad about it
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH207
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
he is supposed to be a cognitive psych professor at the most highly ranked univeristy in the country and yet he can't explain anything worth a damn and can't get information into his student's memory, isn't that what the study of cognitive psych is?
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH207
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's horrible. Mumbles, talks too fast, etc. Doesn't listen to concerns of students. Not very good at explaining concepts.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH207
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very knowledgable; cite journals and papers on the fly to support an argument.
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