Professor
Kevin Coffey
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2021 - I took this class as a freshman at UCLA in my fall 2021 quarter. Everyone on BruinWalk said it was really easy, the professor was great, etc., so I decided to take it for my science GE lab credit. However, don't be fooled by these reviews, as this class is not as easy as everyone says. Professor Coffey is great and gives pretty engaging lectures. He makes learning about rocks as interesting as it can be. But he went into pretty vivid detail about the concepts and I was surprised by how much we were required to know for an intro level course. (To be fair, I am not a science person, so if you love science, you probably won't struggle too much in this class.) The material isn't hard to understand, but there is a lot of it that you have to know. I studied maybe 3-4 hours each for the 2 midterms and the final and got a fairly low grade on each one. I had to pass/fail the class because the tests and labs were pretty difficult and were bringing down my grade. Some of the labs are tricky as well. We did the labs through CCLE and they were mostly multiple choice with a few short answers, but you do not really receive partial credit for anything in the labs. The labs consisted of identifying different types of rocks (harder than it looks when you have 10 black rocks in front of you that look exactly the same) and going through Google Earth stimulations (these were pretty easy as you just follow the instructions that guide you through it.) There is also a 5 or so minute presentation on a science book at the end of the quarter. This presentation is pretty easy and you can skim the book, make a slideshow, and still get an A. Overall, this class wasn't necessarily hard, but it is definitely not a super easy science GE. You are required to go into pretty vivid detail on the midterms and final in order to get an A. You really need to know the material inside and out because the TAs are looking for detailed, specific answers on the exams. You definitely can't bs your way through this class, and you have to put in a pretty big amount of effort to get an A. There is basically no math in this class besides converting measurements, and it is easier than any chem, physics, or bio class I have taken previously. Also, I had Jake as my TA and he was pretty chill, nice, and funny. He let our lab section retake a lab because the average score was like a D or something like that. Anyway, this class is overall one of the easier science GEs at UCLA, but is by no means easy. Put in a LOT of effort into really studying and memorizing the material, and take the labs seriously (don't slack off), and you should be fine.
Fall 2021 - I took this class as a freshman at UCLA in my fall 2021 quarter. Everyone on BruinWalk said it was really easy, the professor was great, etc., so I decided to take it for my science GE lab credit. However, don't be fooled by these reviews, as this class is not as easy as everyone says. Professor Coffey is great and gives pretty engaging lectures. He makes learning about rocks as interesting as it can be. But he went into pretty vivid detail about the concepts and I was surprised by how much we were required to know for an intro level course. (To be fair, I am not a science person, so if you love science, you probably won't struggle too much in this class.) The material isn't hard to understand, but there is a lot of it that you have to know. I studied maybe 3-4 hours each for the 2 midterms and the final and got a fairly low grade on each one. I had to pass/fail the class because the tests and labs were pretty difficult and were bringing down my grade. Some of the labs are tricky as well. We did the labs through CCLE and they were mostly multiple choice with a few short answers, but you do not really receive partial credit for anything in the labs. The labs consisted of identifying different types of rocks (harder than it looks when you have 10 black rocks in front of you that look exactly the same) and going through Google Earth stimulations (these were pretty easy as you just follow the instructions that guide you through it.) There is also a 5 or so minute presentation on a science book at the end of the quarter. This presentation is pretty easy and you can skim the book, make a slideshow, and still get an A. Overall, this class wasn't necessarily hard, but it is definitely not a super easy science GE. You are required to go into pretty vivid detail on the midterms and final in order to get an A. You really need to know the material inside and out because the TAs are looking for detailed, specific answers on the exams. You definitely can't bs your way through this class, and you have to put in a pretty big amount of effort to get an A. There is basically no math in this class besides converting measurements, and it is easier than any chem, physics, or bio class I have taken previously. Also, I had Jake as my TA and he was pretty chill, nice, and funny. He let our lab section retake a lab because the average score was like a D or something like that. Anyway, this class is overall one of the easier science GEs at UCLA, but is by no means easy. Put in a LOT of effort into really studying and memorizing the material, and take the labs seriously (don't slack off), and you should be fine.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - TLDR: You will learn how to map with your class, you might freeze, you will definitely slip, and you will definitely consider getting a headlamp. I did enjoy this class, you will learn the foundations of geologic mapping and you will bond with people within your department. But while I did enjoy this course, many people in this class have been accused of academic dishonesty especially with the final mapping project. This class consists of: - 1 midterm - Kevin provides goals for each unit, and it's best to go over these one by one and make sure you understand them. - several lab assignments: these are a little difficult, but do not despair (everyone will be confused). I highly recommend getting help from the TA and not dwelling on it, there are a couple of these so one bad score won't ruin your grade. - a final - about the same difficulty as the first midterm. Study the goals and be prepared to remember specific things like geologic symbols and the rule of v's - a mapping exam - you will complete this on your second weekend in Rainbow Basin and you will be miserable, and you might give up–but just draw what you see and you'll be fine I swear - a final mapping project - this one is for all of the marbles. Mapping Rainbow Basin is a rite of passage that we all have the misfortune/fortune of completing and you will be better for it. Kevin is a bit nitpicky about academic honesty and I have heard of students getting reported for trivial things like "similar colors" and similar notation so I'm just going to say that you should NOT work on your maps in the presence of others. In fact, DON'T EVEN BREATHE in the direction of someone else's map.
Fall 2023 - TLDR: You will learn how to map with your class, you might freeze, you will definitely slip, and you will definitely consider getting a headlamp. I did enjoy this class, you will learn the foundations of geologic mapping and you will bond with people within your department. But while I did enjoy this course, many people in this class have been accused of academic dishonesty especially with the final mapping project. This class consists of: - 1 midterm - Kevin provides goals for each unit, and it's best to go over these one by one and make sure you understand them. - several lab assignments: these are a little difficult, but do not despair (everyone will be confused). I highly recommend getting help from the TA and not dwelling on it, there are a couple of these so one bad score won't ruin your grade. - a final - about the same difficulty as the first midterm. Study the goals and be prepared to remember specific things like geologic symbols and the rule of v's - a mapping exam - you will complete this on your second weekend in Rainbow Basin and you will be miserable, and you might give up–but just draw what you see and you'll be fine I swear - a final mapping project - this one is for all of the marbles. Mapping Rainbow Basin is a rite of passage that we all have the misfortune/fortune of completing and you will be better for it. Kevin is a bit nitpicky about academic honesty and I have heard of students getting reported for trivial things like "similar colors" and similar notation so I'm just going to say that you should NOT work on your maps in the presence of others. In fact, DON'T EVEN BREATHE in the direction of someone else's map.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - This class is a bit complicated I have to say–it requires the ability to really visualize concepts which is a bit of struggle. This class consists of: 2 midterms - the first one is more information based where as the second is more about the understanding of concepts (labeling, drawing). Midterms will consist of a couple true/false questions, some free response questions– labeling, defining, and drawing. Lab exercises - these will be hard–genuinely–my friends and I literally stuck to our TA's side for the entirety of lab towards the end of the quarter. In fact, to this day I cannot look at a stereonet without getting flashbacks. Presentation - you're going to choose a paper about a geologic feature and present on it to your class ( if you don't want to present in front of a large group–choose a time towards the end of the presentation period). Final examination - this will be stressful, I suggest going through the goals for each slide deck and really understanding things conceptually.
Winter 2024 - This class is a bit complicated I have to say–it requires the ability to really visualize concepts which is a bit of struggle. This class consists of: 2 midterms - the first one is more information based where as the second is more about the understanding of concepts (labeling, drawing). Midterms will consist of a couple true/false questions, some free response questions– labeling, defining, and drawing. Lab exercises - these will be hard–genuinely–my friends and I literally stuck to our TA's side for the entirety of lab towards the end of the quarter. In fact, to this day I cannot look at a stereonet without getting flashbacks. Presentation - you're going to choose a paper about a geologic feature and present on it to your class ( if you don't want to present in front of a large group–choose a time towards the end of the presentation period). Final examination - this will be stressful, I suggest going through the goals for each slide deck and really understanding things conceptually.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2024 - Kevin is an excellent lecturer, and his engaging teaching style made this class highly enjoyable. His enthusiasm and expertise significantly enhanced the learning experience. However, there are several structural aspects of the course that could be improved to enhance student understanding and retention of the material. Firstly, the course is structured in a way that begins with the present day and moves backward in time. While this unconventional approach initially seems intriguing and aligns well with the field trip (which was incredibly fun and educational), it ultimately proves to be confusing. The backward progression is counterintuitive because cause and effect naturally move forward in time. As a result, the sequence of historical and geological events becomes jumbled, making it difficult to form a coherent understanding of the material. Another issue is the heavy reliance on student presentations. While peer-led presentations can be valuable, the quality and effectiveness of these presentations vary widely. Some students deliver excellent presentations that enhance understanding, but many others fall short, leading to gaps in knowledge and a fragmented grasp of the sequence of events. This inconsistency makes it challenging to develop a comprehensive understanding of historical and regional geology. To address these issues, I believe the course would benefit greatly from Kevin taking on a more central role in lecturing. If Kevin delivered the majority of the content, the course would be far more cohesive and structured, significantly enhancing our grasp of the material. Additionally, if student presentations remain a component of the course, it would be beneficial for Kevin to meet with each student a week or two before their presentation. This quality control step would ensure that the presentations meet a certain standard and are effective in conveying the necessary information. Overall, I still enjoyed this class and would recommend it. Learnt a lot of cool things but I really wish I had learnt more.
Spring 2024 - Kevin is an excellent lecturer, and his engaging teaching style made this class highly enjoyable. His enthusiasm and expertise significantly enhanced the learning experience. However, there are several structural aspects of the course that could be improved to enhance student understanding and retention of the material. Firstly, the course is structured in a way that begins with the present day and moves backward in time. While this unconventional approach initially seems intriguing and aligns well with the field trip (which was incredibly fun and educational), it ultimately proves to be confusing. The backward progression is counterintuitive because cause and effect naturally move forward in time. As a result, the sequence of historical and geological events becomes jumbled, making it difficult to form a coherent understanding of the material. Another issue is the heavy reliance on student presentations. While peer-led presentations can be valuable, the quality and effectiveness of these presentations vary widely. Some students deliver excellent presentations that enhance understanding, but many others fall short, leading to gaps in knowledge and a fragmented grasp of the sequence of events. This inconsistency makes it challenging to develop a comprehensive understanding of historical and regional geology. To address these issues, I believe the course would benefit greatly from Kevin taking on a more central role in lecturing. If Kevin delivered the majority of the content, the course would be far more cohesive and structured, significantly enhancing our grasp of the material. Additionally, if student presentations remain a component of the course, it would be beneficial for Kevin to meet with each student a week or two before their presentation. This quality control step would ensure that the presentations meet a certain standard and are effective in conveying the necessary information. Overall, I still enjoyed this class and would recommend it. Learnt a lot of cool things but I really wish I had learnt more.
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