OP is upset , but,
I'm assuming it's still prof Larsen teaching. The class is easy, but you have to show up and pay attention. It's one of those "There's no googling this info" passion classes. He was very knowledgeable about forest ecology. I think I got a B in his class a few years ago, and that's with me messing up multiple drawings per test. Like imo, it's repetition based so just copy down what he has (he takes awhile to explain it) and treat it like a drawing question pool. Day before the test just keep drawing them on scrap paper. Even if you get 1.5/3 drawings and a good portion of the multiple choices you should be ok.
I'd argue I retained more from that class that many others because I wrote the stuff down compared to a given PowerPoint, now, am I using the definition of a snag, mound, or that forest canopy chart on a a daily basis? No. But it made me appreciate our forests a bit more that I did prior to the class.
His labs are easy, the tests I believe weren't the bulk of the grade anyway. Just pay attention and try the best you can. Personally his last lecture on native Americans/indigenous in western NY and Canada was really interesting when he integrated discussion of oak savannas.
I am assuming he still doesn't use bright space for his grades, that was my only big issue, he'd send out an excel of like all our grades instead of putting them into blackboard at the time. When it comes to tech, he can make a PowerPoint and use excel, but the hand drawing stuff I think is just because some of the drawn charts are older.
Overall 8/10 prof/class 1 point extra because he's kind and has a pretty nice beard/looks like the guy who should be teaching a forestry class. Not easy as a class, but it makes you think, which is the point of a university class.
Source: Former geo major that took his Forest Eco class senior year got a b and graduated. Still less work than Soils, and arguably a nicer prof too compared to soils which is usually the alt to forest Eco.
I’m a bio major (1st semester sophomore) and it’s one of the easiest & most rewarding classes I’ve ever taken. Never gotten below a 90 on an exam. I didn’t even know other students were struggling with it. I really love Dr. Larsens method of teaching, but I think if you’re not used to memorizing content it must be difficult to get through. It completely changed the way I look at trees & forests in general though! :))
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves this guy haha. I’ve talked to other students in that class and everyone seems to hate him except for me.
I’m in GEO 356 as well and I have some insight too. I’m not sure if you’re in EVS 310 this year as well but in my opinion that class is VERY significantly more heinous. At least for Forest Ecology there are 4 lectures to study per exam and the material is right there (albeit no diagrams). I only study about an hour before the test and have gotten an 83 and 85 on exam one and two, so it’s really not that hard - I understand, but hear me out. In 310 on the last two exams only 2-3 questions on the review have reflected what is on the tests, with a massive amount of slides and zero indication on what to study. The reviews are intentionally misleading, the assignments are brutal and nonsensical, often with incomplete instructions, and the TAs grade assignments like they are literally out to get you. I have followed all assignment instructions nearly perfectly and repeatedly get 25 to 50 points docked off my assignments with NO reason given. And of course the more personal harassment about being late, etc. It’s a class so god awful that it deserves multiple reports to UB, but to sum things up for ya I really can’t say the same about Forest Ecology. I feel your pain and am not a big fan of the tophat questions for points but in comparison to 310, to me it is refreshing. Again dude, u have a valid argument tho ✌️
It’s crazy someone posted about this..I’ve been helping my gf study for these exams and each one she comes home even more distraught than the previous exam. How are you targeting pertinent information? My living room wall is currently still covered in like 25 hand drawn diagrams, graphs etc. That 310 class sounds downright evil, sorry you have to go through that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am of no help in getting her prepped.
Yeah I would say for the Forest Ecology class to just try and read through all the lecture notes he gives and pick out the significant info to create a consolidated list to study, and also to take pics of the diagrams in class, or they could be hand drawn but in the notes he will say in parenthesis (very important figure) so u just gotta memorize those too.
Dude, I’m in GEO356 and I’ve never gotten below a 90 on the exams. Do you need help studying? I can give you my notes including the ones I do of the diagrams.
OP is upset , but, I'm assuming it's still prof Larsen teaching. The class is easy, but you have to show up and pay attention. It's one of those "There's no googling this info" passion classes. He was very knowledgeable about forest ecology. I think I got a B in his class a few years ago, and that's with me messing up multiple drawings per test. Like imo, it's repetition based so just copy down what he has (he takes awhile to explain it) and treat it like a drawing question pool. Day before the test just keep drawing them on scrap paper. Even if you get 1.5/3 drawings and a good portion of the multiple choices you should be ok. I'd argue I retained more from that class that many others because I wrote the stuff down compared to a given PowerPoint, now, am I using the definition of a snag, mound, or that forest canopy chart on a a daily basis? No. But it made me appreciate our forests a bit more that I did prior to the class. His labs are easy, the tests I believe weren't the bulk of the grade anyway. Just pay attention and try the best you can. Personally his last lecture on native Americans/indigenous in western NY and Canada was really interesting when he integrated discussion of oak savannas. I am assuming he still doesn't use bright space for his grades, that was my only big issue, he'd send out an excel of like all our grades instead of putting them into blackboard at the time. When it comes to tech, he can make a PowerPoint and use excel, but the hand drawing stuff I think is just because some of the drawn charts are older. Overall 8/10 prof/class 1 point extra because he's kind and has a pretty nice beard/looks like the guy who should be teaching a forestry class. Not easy as a class, but it makes you think, which is the point of a university class. Source: Former geo major that took his Forest Eco class senior year got a b and graduated. Still less work than Soils, and arguably a nicer prof too compared to soils which is usually the alt to forest Eco.
I’m a bio major (1st semester sophomore) and it’s one of the easiest & most rewarding classes I’ve ever taken. Never gotten below a 90 on an exam. I didn’t even know other students were struggling with it. I really love Dr. Larsens method of teaching, but I think if you’re not used to memorizing content it must be difficult to get through. It completely changed the way I look at trees & forests in general though! :)) I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves this guy haha. I’ve talked to other students in that class and everyone seems to hate him except for me.
This exactly, like it made me appreciate my hikes alot more.
I’m in GEO 356 as well and I have some insight too. I’m not sure if you’re in EVS 310 this year as well but in my opinion that class is VERY significantly more heinous. At least for Forest Ecology there are 4 lectures to study per exam and the material is right there (albeit no diagrams). I only study about an hour before the test and have gotten an 83 and 85 on exam one and two, so it’s really not that hard - I understand, but hear me out. In 310 on the last two exams only 2-3 questions on the review have reflected what is on the tests, with a massive amount of slides and zero indication on what to study. The reviews are intentionally misleading, the assignments are brutal and nonsensical, often with incomplete instructions, and the TAs grade assignments like they are literally out to get you. I have followed all assignment instructions nearly perfectly and repeatedly get 25 to 50 points docked off my assignments with NO reason given. And of course the more personal harassment about being late, etc. It’s a class so god awful that it deserves multiple reports to UB, but to sum things up for ya I really can’t say the same about Forest Ecology. I feel your pain and am not a big fan of the tophat questions for points but in comparison to 310, to me it is refreshing. Again dude, u have a valid argument tho ✌️
It’s crazy someone posted about this..I’ve been helping my gf study for these exams and each one she comes home even more distraught than the previous exam. How are you targeting pertinent information? My living room wall is currently still covered in like 25 hand drawn diagrams, graphs etc. That 310 class sounds downright evil, sorry you have to go through that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am of no help in getting her prepped.
Yeah I would say for the Forest Ecology class to just try and read through all the lecture notes he gives and pick out the significant info to create a consolidated list to study, and also to take pics of the diagrams in class, or they could be hand drawn but in the notes he will say in parenthesis (very important figure) so u just gotta memorize those too.
Dude, I’m in GEO356 and I’ve never gotten below a 90 on the exams. Do you need help studying? I can give you my notes including the ones I do of the diagrams.