James Cahill - University of Alberta

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James Cahill - University of Alberta

Professor: James Cahill

Department: Biology

College: University of Alberta

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: BIOL495
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is good

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: BIOL495
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough grader. He prefers students active in his class (i.e. higher grades). It is definitely not an easy A course, same as his Bot 332, even tough you put 100% effort. Exams are friendly but the answers are not as good as he said "there are many correct answers..." if you think you cannot engage in class, avoid it

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I learned more in this class than I have in all of University. I loved how interactive the lectures are, really made you think about the content. I discovered my love of plants in this course!

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His class was a total chill. Two term exams, no final. Gives questions ahead to time for the exams. Labs couldn't get any better than it is in this class. Only one experiment through out the whole semester. The field trip was worth it. Class attendance is a must since he doesn't post notes, lecture notes are from class discussion.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor. Doesn't give powerpoint slides and mostly taught verbally so need to take own notes, although the course is not as material heavy as BIOL 208 . It's more theoretical than actual material you need to memorize. The lab was not very intrusive but was interesting, and no final (only two essay writing midterms). Absolutely hilarious

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

AMAZING LECTURER... he's very passionate and tries to bring that to you. Would take another class with him in a heartbeat. Main thing that I didn't like - the amount of time he took to mark his stuff. Not a lab intensive class - very theoretical concepts. A lighter class to take...

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Awesome prof. Was a little unsure at first because he doesn't post lectures online, and his slides have almost no text so you have to take notes off of what he says. However he explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and would restate important points so you had time to write them down. MC tests are brutal though

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

JC is an awesome lecturer. I freaked out when he told us he wasn't posting online notes, but in the end I really liked it (plus he lets you record lectures). His tests are fair and he is really interesting to listen to talk. He is very knowledgable, funny, and approachable. The lab was not too difficult as well. Recommend him for bio prof!

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He doesn't post online notes, so you have to go to class and write down everything he says, but he explains things in such a way that you remember the concepts well! Awesome lecturer, I just wish he had posted notes for the mathmodel sections. Crazy hard multiple choice exam questions, but if you study you should be okay. Lab was easy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: BIOL208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Best prof so far. he's a bit of a jackass. Stick it out. He's cocky because he knows what he's talking about. You'll do best if you participate in lecture. Not necessarily speaking, but actively think about the ideas he's discussing. His tests are weird. Memorizing won't help you, be prepared to apply understanding of the material. lots of graphs

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Really great prof but quite a challenging class. Tests aren't the easiest, and they really make you think. Definitely NOT straight memorization. No posted notes, attendance is an absolute must. JC is fantastic for office hours and always willing to help! Definitely recommended.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has got to be one of the best professors I have ever had. The fact that there are no downloadable notes and few lecture slides really forces you to pay attention and actually learn the material as opposed to just memorize it. Exams were a nice blend of written and MC and you WILL be rewarded on them if you attend! Also the lab is stupidly easy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: BIO208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Overall and enjoyable class - prof was a bit cocky at times but never disrespectful. No downloadable notes, however if you follow the textbook and complete the readings you will do fine. Exams part written and part MC,and if you like graphing this is a course for you!

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: BIOL208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

My favourite professor to date. He makes class so interesting! However, there are no downloadable notes, and he doesn't write much on the board or over head. His tests require you to think instead of straight memorization. Still a terrific class!

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He blew my mind every class. I liked him a lot. He has a different lecture style (lots of talking and you trying to write down what he says) and his classes really make you think. But such a high quality prof in my opinion.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: BIOL208
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:

Good prof. Exams required use of ones mind as opposed to just pure regurgitation.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are fun to attend, but grading seems to work out best for students who put less effort in. I'm an A student and I got a B on my favorite subject, but I'm not convinced that it's representative of what I really deserved. He's also quite arrogant and he brings some blatant faculty politics to class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: BIOL208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

super cool proff.. we had newbry for the first half of the class and i nearly failed the midterm but then Cahill did the second, hes got a wierd lecture style but if you keep up with the reading before the lecture he clarifys things and puts them in a way that will make you remember them. i think hes good for a laugh once in a while to.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: BIOL208
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I found him to be incredibly boring. He knew his stuff and taught it well, but had no way of keeping me interested in a topic I really didn't care about. He wrote the textbook so he relied a great deal on it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: BOT332
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: N/A
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Cahill has a very weird way of lecturing. I didn't like it at first but now think its great. I never thought plants would be fun.

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