Javier Estrada - Grand Valley State University

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Javier Estrada - Grand Valley State University

Professor: Javier Estrada

Department: Physics

College: Grand Valley State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Estrada was a great professor. His accent might make it a little difficult to understand but not impossible. Hes very passionate about astronomy and adds his own personal experiences with the topics he gives. Hes also always available for extra help if needed. This class is impossible to fail.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: C-
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Estrada was incompetent at teaching. You cannot understand a word he says and it's so easy to fall asleep in class. His tests have material on them that he never goes over in class. The labs are just an extra two hour lecture that don't help. He also does not use blackboard, so I had no idea what my grades were until after the semester.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was a joke. The lab was just another lecture, we didn't do any hands-on activities. He posts homework late on Friday (due Monday) and posted his PowerPoints with all of the important info blacked out. He ignores in-class questions and doesn't explain things well. From what I hear over half the class is failing, this is a 100 level class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Estrada is a really nice guy, he tries to crack dry jokes sometimes. However, he has a heavy Columbian accent which makes it kind of tough and boring to focus during lectures. However, he is very intent on teaching his students things that they can put to use in real life, like the night sky and such. Nice guy, just tough to stay awake.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I failed this course and it wasn't for lack of trying. Estrada is a very nice, intelligent guy, but I found his expectations of students to be a little high. We had to memorize all equations, where other profs gave equation sheets or note cards, and we were not allowed to use calculators. Physics is difficult enough without that added pressure.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty average. Talks slow, repeats the same thing in different ways, kinda boring. Labs are mandatory but don't always help you - like watching movies. The tests aren't necessarily hard but it's different than the notes. He is understanding if you miss an exam but keep up and go to class - participation grading happens a lot.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall a very good professor, he is understanding if you have to miss class, if you come to his office hours, but is not very lenient on missing lab. The tests are never really what you think they are going to be, but that doesn't mean they are difficult. Homework is boring, and not helpful, but mandatory. Lecture and lab are both just lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you go to class and put in the work you WILL do well. His tests often reflect practice problems from lecture so take good notes and go to class. This is a tough class to begin with but Estrada is the perfect prof for it because of his patience. Tests are multiple choice which was a plus in my opinion.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: C
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very unclear about what he expects from his students, his checklists given to study for the exams do NOT help whatsoever. Participation exercises almost every discussion period. Participation, homework, and lab is what saved my grade. This class was very hard & he did not make it any easier for the students to do well.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: PHY221
Grade Received: A+
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Estrada is not very happy about teaching the trig version of this course. He actively avoided us during office hours, allowed some students more time on exams if they skipped other classes, and is very hard to understand. The textbook is even more garbage as it doesn't actually reflect anything from his tests. Exams are brutal.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: B-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Estrada was overall a good professor. If you went into his office hours after an exam he would often give you some points back. Exams are anywhere from 10-20 multiple choice questions so if you miss a few you're kinda screwed. One of the kindest old men I've ever met. Kind of awkward and quirky. Would recommend taking him but a hard class

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Physics is a tough class no matter who your professor is. Professor Estrada was, I thought, pretty good. This was by far the hardest class I've ever taken but I feel like compared to the other professors, he was one of the better ones. He really does care that his students understand the material and is always willing to help.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The exams are VERY difficult.. I did all the homework honestly without cheating and thoroughly understood everything in lecture and still didn't perform on exams. Symbolic manipulation is EVERYTHING; after 4 exams I still couldn't tell you how to study for them. The exams are all never before seen types of problems that are difficult to solve.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: PHY220
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really awesome professor! Jokes are hilarious, lectures are slower paced--but you leave them with a thorough understanding of the material. His exams are multiple choice and there are no calculators allowed, but they are incredibly fair and not out to trick anyone. Would absolutley take again!

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought this class would be easy because I took astronomy in high school but it was somewhat difficult. The tests can be kind of hard because they are over so much material. However, if you go into his office hours he will tell you what you should review. Also, his accent makes him hard to understand at times.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall he was a good prof but like others are saying he did have a pretty thick Colombian accent, lectures were kind of long and boring but he was a funny guy and very nice. He never updated blackboard though and he doesn't figure out your grade till the end so the whole class you only know what score you got on tests but never an overall grade.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: PHY105
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He genuinely cares about his students passing. At the end of the year, he told me I was just below the minimum requirement to pass the lab portion of the class and allowed me to have a make-up lab after the final. He speaks quietly, and has a thick Colombian accent, so be prepared for that. Overall, he's one of the best professors I've had so far.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: PHY230
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good sense of humor and an overall likable guy. However, lectures couldn't have been more inefficient and frustrating. If you have good algebra and basic calculus skills, or have any physics experience, you will want to slam your head against the desk while he lectures. An entire hour could be spent on one proof some days.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: PHY230
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:

If you have any aptitude for mathematics or physics, this class will not be difficult. Lectures go at a snail's pace. I did not show up the last month of lecture and still received an A in the course. When he lectures, he confuses more than he helps. Great sense of humor; nice guy overall. Take Estrada if you already know Physics, not to learn!

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: PHY230
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:

He's a funny guy. He's always willing to explain concepts in or out of class and provides both proofs and examples to help all types of learners. His light Columbian accent is easy to understand, and uses a microphone to help amplify his voice. I would recommend him.

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