Professor
Georgia Kernell
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2024 - Professor Kernell structured the class so that there were in person lectures on Tuesdays (75 minutes) and virtual lectures in place of Thursday's classes (30-45 minutes). I didn't mind this layout, as it allowed more flexibility for me to learn at my own pace. However, the virtual lectures were often clearer than the in person lectures and the professor very clearly struggled to explain concepts to students. In response, she would lead us through practice problems but even though she explained each computational step, she didn't quite explain the significance of what we were computing which in my opinion is more important for depth of understanding. A lot of my exam preparation ultimately ended up being from Youtube videos covering basic statistics concepts. Her grading scheme is split across exams, homeworks, lecture quizzes, and discussion attendance. The homeworks are graded pretty harshly and sometimes without a sufficient reason. The quizzes are easy and fact-based. The exams are mostly free response and are an accurate reflection of the content on the lecture slides. The exams are easy if you've taken Stats 10/AP stats before, but for those unfamiliar with these concepts be prepared to self-study. The final is also cumulative so make sure you refresh on pre-midterm content as she will definitely test you on it. This is a core class for comms so it is unavoidable, but not impossible to ace. You may just have to be prepared to learn the concepts on your own.
Spring 2024 - Professor Kernell structured the class so that there were in person lectures on Tuesdays (75 minutes) and virtual lectures in place of Thursday's classes (30-45 minutes). I didn't mind this layout, as it allowed more flexibility for me to learn at my own pace. However, the virtual lectures were often clearer than the in person lectures and the professor very clearly struggled to explain concepts to students. In response, she would lead us through practice problems but even though she explained each computational step, she didn't quite explain the significance of what we were computing which in my opinion is more important for depth of understanding. A lot of my exam preparation ultimately ended up being from Youtube videos covering basic statistics concepts. Her grading scheme is split across exams, homeworks, lecture quizzes, and discussion attendance. The homeworks are graded pretty harshly and sometimes without a sufficient reason. The quizzes are easy and fact-based. The exams are mostly free response and are an accurate reflection of the content on the lecture slides. The exams are easy if you've taken Stats 10/AP stats before, but for those unfamiliar with these concepts be prepared to self-study. The final is also cumulative so make sure you refresh on pre-midterm content as she will definitely test you on it. This is a core class for comms so it is unavoidable, but not impossible to ace. You may just have to be prepared to learn the concepts on your own.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - This class was honestly falsely advertised. I felt the syllabus and what the professor said would be covered in the class didn't actually correlate with the lectures, and the content turned out to be extremely dry and boring. Additionally, the professor wasn't very clear in her communication (ironic that she's a comm professor) and I felt like I could have learned everything literally from just doing the readings. If there wasn't a clicker question at the beginning of each class there's no way I would have ever gone.
Winter 2019 - This class was honestly falsely advertised. I felt the syllabus and what the professor said would be covered in the class didn't actually correlate with the lectures, and the content turned out to be extremely dry and boring. Additionally, the professor wasn't very clear in her communication (ironic that she's a comm professor) and I felt like I could have learned everything literally from just doing the readings. If there wasn't a clicker question at the beginning of each class there's no way I would have ever gone.
Most Helpful Review
The long evaluation preceding mine is just plain wrong. Is this a time-consuming course? Yes. If you cannot handle it, shame on you. Maybe you shouldn't have chosen UCLA. The 3 hour iMovie thing could have been avoided by a.) simply emailing the Prof. Kernell and saying "I do not need training for iMovie; I am proficient in it." (I know how incredibly difficult that must be) or b0 fast-forwarding until you get the completion. To say she doesn't care about students with disabilities or those with children/commuters is just plain ridiculous. She was one of the most caring professors. How many do you know that take the time to learn almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S NAME?????? She is the only Professor I have ever had to care to do this. Also, I have had SEVERAL courses that do not allow computers and if you are a Comm major, you will need to take Comm10 and Suman doesn't allow electronics either. Some professors due this based on RESEARCH that PROVES that students learn better by handwriting notes. Sorry that you cant go on facebook for a damn hour and 15 minutes. She DOES NOT force you to buy a Mac.. LOL That is just insane to say. My specific group used iMovie, but she that if you are proficient on another platformt hat you could use that instead. Plus, it was a 3 person group and, at least in my group, only ONE person had a Mac and used it for iMovie. You could have rented an iClicker and if not she gave you the option of taking the quizzes at the front of the class. Does that sounds like someone who does not accommodate her students? NO. Plus, one should be thankful that JUST CLICKING IN GIVES YOU 12 FREE PERCENTAGE POINTS. THAT IS GENEROUS. Most of the quizzes were easy enough to guess right even f you had not done the readings. Lastly, on this topic, she gives you plenty of time and even makes sure that each student has their clicker out before she starts the quiz. Then she READS THE QUESTION AND OPTIONS THROUGH FOR US TWICE. If you didn't have enough time, you deserve to lose those points. Again, these clickers are NOT mandatory if you for 2 minutes sit in front of class and take a paper quiz. She was an excellent professor with excellent material and engaging lectures. She continuously allotted time for us to break into discussion groups and collaborate with our peers, another refreshing rarity on this campus. She had several videos that were fun and relevant to the material, which made class that much better. I went to her after class, or in Office Hours a few times and felt she was genuinely helpful and caring! To say otherwise baffles me. She even cares to ask about your personal life and is encouraging and helpful if youa re at all confused. NEVER would she belittle someone. Though, at times, the workload was a lot I would recommend this class because I think you will learn A LOT and be forced to think in a new way. If you don't want to do the work and read a lot, then don't take this class. You don't deserve to. However, if you come to UCLA to get, oh, I don't know, an EDUCATION, then I urge you to take this engaging course with an AMAZING, CARING Professor. Georgia Kernell should be placed under review by the Academic Senate Committee and considered for an AWARD. :) BAM!
The long evaluation preceding mine is just plain wrong. Is this a time-consuming course? Yes. If you cannot handle it, shame on you. Maybe you shouldn't have chosen UCLA. The 3 hour iMovie thing could have been avoided by a.) simply emailing the Prof. Kernell and saying "I do not need training for iMovie; I am proficient in it." (I know how incredibly difficult that must be) or b0 fast-forwarding until you get the completion. To say she doesn't care about students with disabilities or those with children/commuters is just plain ridiculous. She was one of the most caring professors. How many do you know that take the time to learn almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S NAME?????? She is the only Professor I have ever had to care to do this. Also, I have had SEVERAL courses that do not allow computers and if you are a Comm major, you will need to take Comm10 and Suman doesn't allow electronics either. Some professors due this based on RESEARCH that PROVES that students learn better by handwriting notes. Sorry that you cant go on facebook for a damn hour and 15 minutes. She DOES NOT force you to buy a Mac.. LOL That is just insane to say. My specific group used iMovie, but she that if you are proficient on another platformt hat you could use that instead. Plus, it was a 3 person group and, at least in my group, only ONE person had a Mac and used it for iMovie. You could have rented an iClicker and if not she gave you the option of taking the quizzes at the front of the class. Does that sounds like someone who does not accommodate her students? NO. Plus, one should be thankful that JUST CLICKING IN GIVES YOU 12 FREE PERCENTAGE POINTS. THAT IS GENEROUS. Most of the quizzes were easy enough to guess right even f you had not done the readings. Lastly, on this topic, she gives you plenty of time and even makes sure that each student has their clicker out before she starts the quiz. Then she READS THE QUESTION AND OPTIONS THROUGH FOR US TWICE. If you didn't have enough time, you deserve to lose those points. Again, these clickers are NOT mandatory if you for 2 minutes sit in front of class and take a paper quiz. She was an excellent professor with excellent material and engaging lectures. She continuously allotted time for us to break into discussion groups and collaborate with our peers, another refreshing rarity on this campus. She had several videos that were fun and relevant to the material, which made class that much better. I went to her after class, or in Office Hours a few times and felt she was genuinely helpful and caring! To say otherwise baffles me. She even cares to ask about your personal life and is encouraging and helpful if youa re at all confused. NEVER would she belittle someone. Though, at times, the workload was a lot I would recommend this class because I think you will learn A LOT and be forced to think in a new way. If you don't want to do the work and read a lot, then don't take this class. You don't deserve to. However, if you come to UCLA to get, oh, I don't know, an EDUCATION, then I urge you to take this engaging course with an AMAZING, CARING Professor. Georgia Kernell should be placed under review by the Academic Senate Committee and considered for an AWARD. :) BAM!
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