BIOL * 3450 – Introduction to Aquatic Environments F (3-0) [0.50]

This course provides an introduction to the structure and components of aquatic ecosystems, how they are regulated by physical, chemical and biological factors, and the impact of humans on these environments and their biota. Laboratory periods will centre around computer-based exercises and simulation of aquatic systems. Department of Integrative Biology.


Posted By : Anonymous
Posted On : January 3, 2019

Is the textbook recommended by the student? Yes
Did the student enjoy the professor? No
Professor : Robinson

Comment :
Frustratingly difficult course to get good marks in. The Prof is very nice and approachable/helpful. Lectures were essentially the exact material from the lec slides. Slides had a TON of info on them - too much even (literally paragraphs on each slide). Quizzes were VERY HARD (online quizzes - textbook useful for these). Midterms were okay but still difficult. Final exam was fair but long answers were quite tough. Assignments were EXTREMELY hard and tedious/time-consuming. If you don\'t LOVE oceans and rivers etc. and think of this kind of material as a hobby, don\'t take the course.
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Overall Difficulty
Posted By : Anonymous
Posted On : December 4, 2013

Is the textbook recommended by the student? No
Did the student enjoy the professor? No
Professor : Robinson

Comment :
Do not take the course if you don't have to! He managed to make something so easy into something so complicated. It's very disorganized and there are pretty much no clear definitions for anything you learn. The material is actually really simple, but the tests are not easy and there are quizzes based on textbook readings on info that has nothing to do with aquatic environments. It's his first time teaching the course and he really hasn't figured it out yet. Nothing is presented clearly.
Recommendation Rating
Overall Difficulty
Posted By : Anonymous
Posted On : November 30, -0001

Comment :
I had a prof who just started teaching it, so the whole course was really disorganized in terms of assignments and exams; there was also a lot of textbook readings to do because it was so hard to keep up with in lecture. People who took the course just for a biosci prereq ended up dropping it because it was really unfair and people in marine bio who had to take it struggled. I enjoyed the content of the class, it was pretty interesting, but if the professor was different and more thought was put into assignments and marking schemes it would be better.
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