Oliver Gaycken

This professor has taught: CINE245, CINE301, CINE319G, CINE469M, CMLT679B, ENGL143, ENGL143C, ENGL245, ENGL329F, ENGL329G, ENGL329K, ENGL329M, ENGL329Q, ENGL329W, ENGL428X, ENGL468C, ENGL468E, ENGL602, ENGL702, ENGL759A, ENGL759E, FILM245, FILM301, FILM412, HHUM106, SLLC468F, SLLC698F

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Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/24/2024	Class is so easy. Definitely take CINE245 if you need a DSHU. I guess it does depend on the TA, since everything is graded by them, but omg it was so easy. I went to most lectures but you honestly didn't need to after like halfway through the class. All exams were OPEN NOTE, OPEN SLIDE, OPEN TEXTBOOK. It was like difficult to fail them lol. Final was kind of hard because it was a lot of essays, but the TAs grade reasonably and lightly. Just copy notes from the slides if there are any, and watch the movies. The films are classics anyway and they're mostly good to watch regardless :D very very chill class
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/14/2024	I never went to lecture towards the end kinda boring, we kinda just watched clips in class. Few big assignments but not much homework. Not an easy gened you don't just "watch movies" so take that into consideration. But if your genuinely interested in the film industry this is a great foundational course. I wish I got more into the course but I had a heavy load this semester and didn't quite have the time to sit down an analyze all the movies.
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/11/2024	Fun professor who knows what he's talking about. Mainly goes over slides in his lectures tho. Sometimes can be boring depending on topic. Discussions are kinda useless tho.
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/23/2024	His class is fairly interesting and the stuff he lectures on is pretty cool. He posts slides for the lectures (the exams are open note), but they are sparse in information and therefore are not enough if you are looking to them for answers. The exams can also get kind of specific at times to ensure that you have watched the films and attended lecture. The films are all classic Hollywood and while some are very captivating, it is easy to get behind on watching the movies, so try not to be too behind. I was honestly looking forward to watching "In the Mood for Love", but it seems he took it out of the course which was kind of sad. Our TA recommended we try to watch films through kanopy (accessible with a library card) as well. This is generally a pretty relaxed gened with minimal course work, so if you're interested in classical Hollywood films and such, this is for you.
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Anonymous 11/19/2024	No complaints. Nice guy, better lecturer. Would recommend.
Oliver Gaycken ENGL143 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 07/21/2024	Easy professor and an easier class. Gradebook consists of a weekly discussion post (he drops like 2 or 3) and a paper (intro, rough draft, and final so 3 grades total). No real midterm and final (other than an optional survey for free points that you take at home). You are basically guaranteed atleast an A- on the final paper as long as you listen to the TA’s suggestions. Also, he is VERY understanding about late work especially for the paper! Just send him an email/explanation/heads up!
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/12/2024	This professor is awesome! He has so much insight and so much to share about cinematography. I can feel his passion through his teaching. I really enjoyed this intro class and am now thinking about minoring in film. Very understanding and pushed back a few due dates/dropped the final essay for us. Grades consist of discussion participation, a midterm, an essay, the final exam, and like one or two minor projects.
Oliver Gaycken CINE245 Expecting an A sundriedtomato 12/19/2023	Really knows his stuff, a lot of textbook reading assigned but you usually can just skim or get information from lecture, all you really have to do is at least watch the assigned movie every week, take some notes at lecture, and most definitely come to discussion (attendance/participation is graded but honestly I barely participated and got an A for it--this probably depends on your TA though). Also he often started class a few minutes late while people trailed in, and a major plus: the exams are open note. The essays were okay (one was 1-2 pages, the other was 3)--short but analytical. There's a fun group assignment where you make a short story using different kinds of camera shots, basically a short film in a series of photos. Overall: Not too much graded homework and open note exams (1 on paper, 1 online midterm, 1 online final)
Oliver Gaycken ENGL143C Expecting an A Anonymous 12/06/2023	Best carillon class to take super laid-back professor who is super nice and is understanding. Class is always cut short and the grades come from once a week discussions which are easy and the other half from a project. Easy class.
Oliver Gaycken ENGL143C Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/06/2023	I would highly recommend this course and specifically professor. He is very chill and cares about the students. Half of the time he would show up late and end the class early because he knows we have other classes which are more important. No exams the whole class is discussions and a semester long project which isn't hard at all. Overall I would recommend if looking for easy course.
Oliver Gaycken FILM412 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/02/2021	Took during Summer 2021. Learned a lot from his class and the work was very very manageable for summer schedules.
Oliver Gaycken ENGL143 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/07/2020	Great professor! Professor Gaycken always asks us how we are doing especially because he understands that online learning is tough. He does assign readings and videos to watch but it is nothing you cannot handle. Almost every single class was a discussion. He is also very understanding that students have other classes to worry about as well.