Bretton Kent

This professor has taught: BSCI207, BSCI392, BSCI393, CLFS510, CLFS609F, CLFS725, CPSP219L, ENTM701, HLSC207

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Bretton Kent HLSC207 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/27/2020	His content is interesting and he knows the content really well, but he did not really teach. It might just be because of the whole COVID situation, but he just made us read his slides and did not have any live or video lectures.
Bretton Kent HLSC207 Expecting an A ILSboi 12/26/2020	class was fully online due to covid He doesn't teach. That's it. I didn't hear his voice after the first day of class. His idea of a lesson is releasing an annotated powerpoint and having his students read through it to basically learn the material themselves. I paid $2000 to download powerpoints off the internet, for an honors class. That's just insulting. Also, he decided to assign group papers called “explorations”. Group projects are already bad before it's impossible to actually meet with your group in person, and group papers are the worst type of group project. The papers were supposed to make us engage with the new material, but he did that by forcing us to research some obscure topic ourselves, then turning around and teaching it to us the following week. Or rather, releasing his research the following week and making us teach ourselves, because again, he doesn't teach. The final was optional though, so that's kind of cool. For anyone reading this who's considering joining ILS- the honors college is great. This professor isn't. It was his first year teaching the class, and I hope it will be his last. Please don't let this professor hold you back from choosing ILS. Despite my bad experience, I think it's worth struggling through this class for all of the other benefits the honors college can give you.
Bretton Kent HLSC207 Expecting a B- Anonymous 10/15/2020	Yes this is his first year teaching the class, and yes it is an online learning environment, but it doesnt excuse his lack of teaching. He only holds office hours once a week and gives us poorly done powerpoints as our only material. His TA's hold office hours for longer than he does but they've never had him as a teacher so they aren't as much help as they should be (even though they can be useful). He will tell us not to worry about specifics and not to memorize certain information then test us on exactly that. The exams consist of 10 vague short answer questions in a 50 minute window that forces students to write until their fingers fall off because the questions are so vague they don't actually know what he expects in the answers. He is a nice guy but should not be teaching this class if the experience continues this way.
Bretton Kent BSCI393 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/01/2020	Wonderful guy! Loved him! Super enthusiastic about his work! And with the Covid situation, he is transitioning to online, and everything he's doing is amazingly smooth!
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/20/2018	One of my favorite professors! He is so interesting and smart and presents everything in a pretty standard, easy to grasp way. He is very accessible outside of class as well. Exams require a lot of studying but are not too difficult.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A synaptic-gap 07/11/2013	While I would say that it's important for you to know how to apply and connect information without memorization, this class is a HEAVY memorization class, and if they tell you otherwise, do not believe them. True/False questions on each exam nearly killed my grade, because they were straightforward answers and I was thinking abstractly. STICK TO THE FACTS.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A synapticgap 05/27/2013	So, while the content and lectures are COMPLETELY relevant to the field... The exams were slightly unfair to those of us ahead of the game in connecting things abstractly. They comprised mostly of multiple T/F questions, which is like a memorization course. Thus, when he says that this is not a memorization course, do not believe him. He's a wonderful professor who knows how to relay the material well, but the exams were horrendously memorization-based.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting a B KevinRich 05/20/2013	Kent makes it interesting and is extremely knowldgable of the subject. But its a very hard class
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A wordlife2101 07/29/2012	Great lecturer - really keeps you interested in the material which could otherwise be very, very boring. Very engaging, and always willing to help if you stop by his office. Tests are hard, so study well. And definitely go to class!
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/28/2012	I took Dr. Kent's BSCI207 course with Dr. Haag this Spring 2012. It was an extremely interesting course, with a large focus on macrobiological concepts like physiology and biochemistry. It is a great introduction to upper level biology courses. When I first signed up, I was a little apprehensive because I heard a lot of bad things about BSCI207, about how it was hard and uninteresting. But in actuality, it is very relevant to anyone who wants to pursue a degree in Biology. The main thing is to GO TO LECTURE. You will not do well on the exams if you don't go to lecture!! The slides contain minimal amounts of information. All the tested material were things that Dr. Kent/Dr. Haag explained in lecture. The exams are fair. They're not easy, you actually have to study a lot for them. Dr. Kent is an outstanding lecturer and takes the time to drive home important points of the topic. Tough, but enjoyable class.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting a C+ Anonymous 05/15/2012	I really didn't want to take this class but I had to because it is a requirement for my major. Unfortunately, I was stuck with Dr. Kent and Dr. Haag for Spring 2012. By far one of the WORST bio classes I have taken at this university. All the material is random BS which makes you want to pull your hair out. They test you on the most pointless topics (3 exams, lowest dropped, weekly quizzes -10 total). Final exam is cumulative with a strong emphasis on the most recent material. All the exams are about 30 true false, 10 multiple choice and short answer. Although Kent is very passionate about the subject material, he is a very difficult person to deal with. He really wants to fail his students (which he has expressed he doesn't mind doing). Just an old and cranky old man who does nothing but sip his coffee while lecturing you. Overall: boring professor, difficult, passionate about bio. Bottomline: Avoid this professor if you can. Otherwise, good luck...
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting a B Anonymous 01/13/2012	I took him with Higgins last Spring. Kent was pretty good. You can tell he enjoyed the material since he was very enthusiastic during lectures. His enthusiasm made it easier to pay attention. His tests were hard, but that's only because BSCI207 is designed to filter people out. He, like Higgins, pointed out specific concepts that were definitely going to be on exams so the class generally knew what to focus on. Overall, I enjoyed his teaching. If you decide to take him or Higgins, go to lecture! Most of the exam material stemmed from his words and NOT the powerpoint slides.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 defeatthehuns 05/17/2011	Great lecturer, hard tests. You literally have to study each and every word in his Powerpoints. Not as goofy as Higgins, but I liked him.
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2010	I really loved BSCI392. Dr. Kent is a great lecturer, and the class was fascinating. But be warned that this class is not an easy A -- it might not even be an easy B. He posts his lectures online and they are helpful outlines to study from, but you MUST go to class. There is a ton of information that is not in the PowerPoint and sometimes he'll even hint as to what will be on the final exam. His tests are pretty tough (16 multiple-multiple questions and 2 short answers) but there are two group reconstructions that will boost your grade. If you truly care about the subject, pay attention and study a moderate amount you should get an A. If you skip class a lot and don't study much you will be lucky to get a B. Kent is a very nice person who genuinely cares about us and how well we learn, but he holds us to a high standard. If you are interested in paleobiology (especially vertebrate paleobiology) he will be the perfect professor.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/15/2010	Kent- his lectures are really boring.. his exams are soo hard. He will have short answer questions on the most random things and tiniest details which are worth a lot of points. Therefore, you pretty much need to study EVERYTHING on his slides.. which is crazy.. Higgins- I learned a lot more from Higgins than Kent. Higgins is a lot more entertaining and his exams are based more on concepts than straight memorization like Kent. BSCI207 sucks.. pointless class that you have to study so much for.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 hippoterp 04/24/2010	I took 207 with Higgins and Kent. Kent was boring though he is clearly very knowledgeable about the subject matter he teaches (which, unfortunately, is also boring). I thought his test was also a LOT harder than Higgins' because it was less straight forward. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great either.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Anonymous 05/22/2009	I took this course with Higgins and Kent, and found that I got more out of the lectures with Kent. While they both post their lectures online, Kent had more text so it was easier to follow along and take notes. Definitely do what they recommend, and print out the lectures beforehand and take notes directly on them. And go to class, because most of the exams are based on the lectures, not the book. The class was really hard, and you definitely need to study along with the lectures instead of cramming the night before an exam. That said, it's not impossible to get a good grade in this course; it just takes work, but you really do learn a lot.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting a B joepenn1 05/01/2009	Great teacher who knows his stuff. Had BSCI 207 with him and Higgins and Kent, while the less eccentric of the two, still loves participation and likes to have fun with the material. MUST go to lecture, nothing else including posted slides and the text will due. Tests based on lectures.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Anonymous 04/10/2009	I had a class with Kent and Higgins together and Kent is by far the better teacher. He thoroughly explained concepts where Higgins would just hope that you knew them. Kent was also nicer and wasn't obnoxious like Higgins.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A jessgord 11/15/2008	He was a GREAT professor and a really nice guy. He and Higgins had a great relationship too. He explained all the concepts clearly and thoroughly and answered any questions students had. He also moved at a reasonable pace. You just have to take extra notes during lecture and study hard and you'll do well.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/22/2008	Kent was a very good lecturer. Between him and Higgins, I liked Kent better. He was a little clearer when explaining the material and wasn't as intimidating. His lecture notes also have more words that Higgins' so they are easier to follow. Must attend class though, the lecture notes don't have everything. I also thought his test questions were very fair.
Bretton Kent BSCI207 Anonymous 03/16/2008	I have a class dual taught by Kent and Higgins. Though Kent is the less dynamic of the two, he is an excellent teacher. He can move quickly, but still explains everything thoroughly. He is very interested in his subject matter, and very knowledgeable. Must attend lecture because the slides don't contain all the information. Receptive to questions and likes participation.