Matt Turner - University of Wisconsin - Madison

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Matt Turner - University of Wisconsin - Madison

Professor: Matt Turner

Department: Geography

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: GEO537
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He clearly cares about his students & he was flexible about deadlines. No textbook but A LOT of (semi-interesting) readings assigned and online responses due each week. You have to write 3 out of 4 essays (4ish pages) and a final paper (10ish pages). I enjoyed this class as an "Advanced" GEOG course for the major but I spent a lot of time on it!

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: GEOG537
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:

Definitely recommend. Matt's interdisciplinary approach to phenomena is fascinating - perfect for geographers! In-class discussions and weekly Canvas responses monitor participation. However, lectures were too slow for me and readings too long, so I skipped about half and did just fine. A fair amount of writing: 3 short essays and 1 final paper.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Matt CARES about his students- GO TO OFFICE HOURS. I was sitting outside his office studying one day and he was telling a colleague "If these kids would just come in more, they'd nail the test" & went on to talk about the success of group of kids who came in every office hour to go over lectures. Matt is a funny professor & the material is relevant

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: GEO339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are interminable. Turner is a really nice guy, knows the material, and cares about students, but the exams are way more difficult than they are made out to be and this class was a lot of work in general. Would not recommend this class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the slowest and worst lecturers I've ever had. Takes him an hour to say what a good lecturer would say in 20 minutes. I was excited for this class, but the guy just bumbed me out. Easy though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: GEO355
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall interesting class. He makes an effort to engage students with the assignments and clearly cares very much about both the subject matter and students' learning. He grades surprisingly harshly so don't slack off. He does like to make a lot of eye contact, but he's self aware about it so if you look away he will too. It's not really "staring."

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: GEOG355
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:

Decent professor. Very passionate about Africa, especially West. I felt like I learned a lot in the class and the debates were interesting even if not always organized super well. Tests were alright. He does make eye contact a lot but it doesn't bother me. Used images and PowerPoints well to illustrate concepts. Overall, decent class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Turner is super quirky in lecture. I suggest a seat in the back because if you sit in the front get ready to be stared at. He will stare at you for a long amount of time and you don't t really know how to react. His lectures are also long and boring. He also assigns long and boring readings every week that can be time consuming.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: GEOGRAPHY339
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were on the painful side. He is very passionate about the subject matter and everything in the course is really important for everyone in the whole world to know. His power points were like novels. Every slide had words top to bottom which was overwhelming. His review sessions were really great so try hard to go to them.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: GEO339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While he certainly knows the material, his style of lecture will put you to sleep. He drones on, goes off topic, and repeats sentences constantly. He also never stops talking (in his monotone voice), so if you're trying to catch up on note-taking, good luck. He is, however a great person and highly esteemed professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: IES339
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: Mandatory

Comment:

He obviously loves what he does, but his climate change unit towards the end of the course was the worst. He tried a new format for the first time this semester and it was absolutely terrible. Tests are reasonable. Readings are important. He makes super awkward and uncomfortable eye contact way too often. Seriously, it's weird.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: GEO339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Turner wasn't the best lecturer I've had, but his classes were still interesting usually. He really loves eye contact so sit in the back unless you want to be stared at for 80% of the class. Tests were straightforward and fair. Slides were posted online. Overall a decently easy and fair course if you put in the work.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
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:

Prof. Turner is a great professor... he is very knowledgeable and really focuses on key issues in environmental conservation. Great class, great readings, great material. He does make a lot of eye contact, though. Personally, it kept me engaged, but if you don't like it, move to the back.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Tests were incredibly easy, and his lectures were ok. All of the slides go up on line, so you don't even need to go to class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Environmental conservation 339 is extremely easy. I never went to Turner's lectures and did well on the exams. Just fill out his review sheets and study those-basically all of the test questions are formulated from that material.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: GEOG537
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class had a good deal of excellent material in it, but the assignments and lecture were dull and unenlightening. A series of papers were assigned that allowed for no creative thought processes. If you did not restate what he had in slides, you would not get credit on the work. Very disappointing course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: GEO339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was incredibly boring and vague. If you ask him a question about the material, he will just tell you what is already on the slide or give you an author who explains it. His amount of eye-contact is creepy too. Exams are average.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He has different teaching style than professor for 1st half of course, but is still good. Knows his stuff. The content is interesting. Does like his eye contact--move to the back if don't like that. Exams aren't that bad.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
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: N/A

Comment:

Very repetitive. Don't sit in the front if you hate eye contact because he'll lock his gaze on you for explaining an entire concept.. creepy

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: GEOG339
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty useless for a professor. His lectures are a mess and he makes an uncomfortable amount of eye contact. Class was only worth taking due to the lecturer for the first part of the course.

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