Seppo Iso-Ahola

This professor has taught: HONR258O, KNES440, KNES440H, KNES442, KNES442H, KNES498A, KNES498Y, KNES610, KNES660, KNES662, KNES689O

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Seppo Iso-Ahola KNES442 Expecting a C+ Anonymous 05/18/2024	I took this class in order to satisfy an upper-level requirement. I was surprised at the structure of this class. First, we had to read 3-4 articles per week and fully annotate them. Then we would discuss them in class every week for 2 and a half hours. The format of the class can definitely be intimidating but the subject matter is interesting. However, do not take this class if you are not ready to read. Secondly, Professor Seppo is a nice man but is very strict when it comes to attendance and is very particular about how things should be done. Also his exams are very difficult but he does give very big curves to account for the low grades. One last thing is that you never know where you stand in the class because he never posts grades. Your final grade consists of two exams (Midterm final), attendance, and participation which is 30% of your grade, and the final paper is 40%.
Seppo Iso-Ahola KNES498A Expecting an A Anonymous 12/20/2023	I took this class in order to satisfy a activity and upper-level requirement and I do not regret it at all! Seppo is one of the kindest professors and truly cares that you are learning. This course was by no means easy and you will have to work, but it is the epitome of a college class. The first half of the semester was spent at the golf course at the driving range and then we played twice at the Paint Branch Golf Course. He is very understanding of all talent levels and is very, very knowledgeable on playing so you will be pretty decent by the end of the time on the course as long as you put in effort. The second half was in the classroom with a lot of reading (we worked through a 400-ish page reading packet throughout the semester) and writing (we had 5 thought papers (5-7 pages in length each), almost daily journal entries, and presentations to present around once a week on a reading). Though this class was a lot of work, I am so happy I took it and really do value everything I learned. Seppo is THE BEST and I am so grateful to have been able to learn from him!
Seppo Iso-Ahola KNES442 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 05/05/2023	KNES442 has been my favorite college course ever. I almost dropped it after Doc sent a long, intimidating message explaining that the course would not be easy and would require us to read 4-5 scientific articles every week. I just finished my final paper and am thinking about how happy I am I didn't drop! If you have even the slightest interest in psychology, take this course! The information we learned through reading the required articles and discussing them in class is seriously priceless. Throughout the semester you read about a ton of different psychological constructs and discuss them for the full 2.5 hours of class with Doc and the other students. I am now considering going to grad school for psychology because of this class and Doc (btw, he never really introduced himself to the class and just signs his emails "doc" so that's what we call him lol). He's a great guy and very passionate about psychology as well as teaching. I honestly think this course should be required for all KNES majors as understanding our own psychology is a major (if not THE) key to improving/maintaining health.
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A Anonymous 04/26/2019	I definitely recommend this honors seminar, not because it’s easy but because it will teach you so much. I was kind of mad when I realized it doesn’t fulfill any gen eds, but I am glad I took this class. It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure. For the first part of the semester, class would be at the golf course. Kind of a trek over there, and Seppo would never cancel for weather unless the golf course closed. When you get to class there would be a quiz waiting for you on the readings that were assigned the last class. There was so much to read! Most of those quizzes were tough but they don’t count much towards the final grade. The rest of class we learned how to golf. Definitely a one of a kind experience. Seppo can be gruff at times, but he is an excellent teacher. I went from never swinging a golf club before to being able to drive and putt pretty well. It is definitely a good life skill to have. When the weather got colder we finished golfing and had class inside. That was more boring but we learned so much from psychology to physics to philosophy. We did have to read 2 books, write 5 4-6 page papers, and had a midterm and a final. But the small class size (10 people) definitely helped us bond with each other and Seppo. He brought us food on the last day! He is really a nice and interesting fellow once you get to meet him. He’ll joke around with us but was sometimes partial to the guys and treated the girls a little differently (he’s kind of old school that way). Overall loved him and his class
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/18/2018	Professor Ahola is the man. Very nice guy if you get on his good side, and very personable as you get to know him more. At first, with his accent, it may be a bit tough, but over time you can build a great relationship with him. This Honors seminar was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. If you are looking for an easy A seminar without a lot of work, look elsewhere. there is a large reading packet for between classes, journal to be written by hand after each class, many quizzes at the start of classes, 5-6 papers, 2 books, a midterm, and a final. the midterm and final are pretty tough, quizzes are very hit or miss, the journal and papers are not very hard as long as you meet the length requirements and put in minimal effort. you will get a feel for the class as the semester goes on. overall, the first 6-7 weeks you meet at the driving range and hit balls, and play 9 holes twice, making the class one of a kind. Its not easy, but definitely an enjoyable experience most of the time.
Seppo Iso-Ahola KNES442 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/29/2015	I definitely recommend taking this class; that being said, there is a significant amount of course work. Do NOT register for this class thinking psychology means easy. The readings, which are certainly interesting, are pretty hefty and not optional. All articles must be read and annotated. Don't fake it: it will come back to bite you on the midterm and final! They are super specific and frustrating, the average being low, but the curve being decent to give 1/2 A's and B's, the other half C's and D's. This is probably the only KNES class with a curve. Also, register knowing you must participate in class. 25% of your grade is class participation, so don't expect to just sit through class and not contribute. The paper is not too bad, as long as you figure out what he's looking for. I somehow managed an A, but this was a shock to me. It's very hard to know where you stand in the class
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A Anonymous 11/29/2012	Seppo is the best professor I have had at Maryland. He is fair, and his class is quite entertaining. There is a fairly large packet of readings you need to do throughout the semester, but you also get to spend half of the semester on the driving range learning the game of golf. Seppo greatly improved my game, and is a great instructor. I highly recommend this course if you need an honors seminar.
Seppo Iso-Ahola KNES442 Expecting a B ebane 12/16/2011	If you don't like to review 300 pages of journal articles, do not take this class. Each hw assignment is pages and pages of reading and highlighting. Concepts I thought were going to be cool are really just boring theories, thus the class is boring, and the paper you have to write for this class is the worst I've had to do in my college career. Tests were extremely hard but are at least curved. If you thought this was going to be like knes350 or knes451, stop. Sign up for something else.
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A Anonymous 12/09/2011	Dr. Seppo is a great professor. He truly cares about his students, and doesn't care whether you are a novice or experienced golfer. The quizzes are difficult at first, but if you do the reading, they are manageable. The midterm and finals are rough, but if you actually read the material a few times you will be fine. The best part about the course is getting the chance to play golf. You will spend the the first half of the semester on the driving range and then you will get to play one or two rounds of golf before going into the classroom when the weather gets cold. Dr. Seppo can be a genuinely funny guy, and he always seems to be in a good mood. Though some of the inside material can be boring, the first half of the semester more than makes up for it, and I still found myself willing to come to class everyday.
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A Anonymous 10/21/2010	I'd definitely agree with everything the other reviewers said. If you've never taken golf before, it's perfectly fine. Dr. Iso-Ahola grades the newbies on a different scale for the skill exam, and doesn't expect you to know the terminology right away. The quizzes are NOT easy, but once you get used to the kind of questions he asks, it's not so bad. More work than I expected for an Honors seminar about golf, but learning golf makes up for it.
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting a B cninferno 12/10/2009	This was a really fun and interesting honors seminar. Your grade depends on: - Journal entries (twice a week entries) - 6 papers (4 thought papers, 2 book reviews) - Skills tests (iron shots, wood shots, putting, etc) - 1 midterm - 1 final exam You get a thick reading packet, but the readings are fairly easy to read (except, maybe, some of the scientific articles). A great thing about this honors seminar is the chance to go out to Paint Branch Golf Course and go play 9 holes. It really is an exhilarating experience. For the first half of the semester, you practice your shots at the UMD Driving Range; the second half of the semester is in the class learning about the motor, psychological, and other aspects of golf. Dr. Iso-Ahola is very fair grader, easily approachable, and open to any comments, suggestions, questions, etc. Although not exactly an easy A class, it is a fun, and unique, Honors seminar. If you have experience in golf or are interesting in learning something about golf, take this seminar.
Seppo Iso-Ahola HONR258O Expecting an A bsuarez 10/22/2007	This class was incredibly fun. Where else can you play golf for college credit? There was a huge reading packet, weekly journals, six papers, and two books, but all of it was not difficult at all, as long as you did the work. It may sound like alot, but the course covers everything from social issues to biomechanics to history of golf, and you get to learn to play as well. Iso-Ahola was very helpful and open to students, and definitely enjoys getting to know everyone. He has been a reference for me in the past, and has also been willing to write recommendations even though I am not a Kinesiology major. If you are in Honors, and are interested in learning about golf, take this class. I enjoyed every bit of it.