I feel like nothing really clicked until this week as I was studying for the final. The book is really awful - I suggest reading Bruice's book on spectroscopy. He is a good teacher but I feel like he doesn't make important things clear sometimes. Do a lot of practice questions. I thought the final was pretty fair. I did badly on the midterms though

Class average in all his tests are low (50-60%) and he doesn't put it on a curve. His lectures do not meet outlined schedule (always falls behind). Never knows what will be on the test until a few days before. Has dry humor and is sarcastic. i clicker points are voluntary but I advise you to participate, points earned may affect your grade

Very funny guy! Kept the lectures interesting. Could explain a little clearer, but overall great teacher! After the class i realized that every question on the tests/quizes were done in class.

Russak is a really funny guy and he honestly teaches pretty well. the issue with this class is it's a 'weed out class' and also the ALEKS (the most vile learning system any course has ever taken on). Some interesting demonstrations and the curve is good, but the class is really hard. Clicker is super necessary.

Rushes through lectures, so if one doesn't review lectures online they won't understand anything. Also writes tests that demand you think on the same wavelength as him. If you don't, good luck, try learning to do back of the chapter problems and reviewing online lecture notes. Ironically, attending class is a bad idea.

Keeps the class very interesting and involved. His lectures have just the right amount of iClicker questions, examples, and instruction. This is a hard course however, so studying a LOT is definitely a must but Professor Russak really helps the students in understanding the material.

An overall really good teacher. Really interesting lecturer (hard to do for such a boring subject) and also very clear in his expectations. If you pay attention to problems in class and study you will get a good grade.

I wanted to grab his booty

Liked Russak a lot, always kept class interesting and was the first time I've ever been that focused in a science class (yes, he did blow up a pumpkin). Not the clearest of professors but if you work the practice problems he gives in class and on the syllabus they're very similar to the tests.

Everything about him and the class are terrible. If you want to learn and be treated like an adult, do not take his class.

Lots of aleks homework but hes a good guy and you will learn a lot.

yuck he needs to stop teaching.

Kind of annoying. He tries too hard to seem "cool" for the students. The tests can get kind of tough, but as long as you review the text and do the quizzes you should be ok. He did admit to putting material on the final that he hadn't gone over yet, but he was fair and didn't count those problems.

had some entertaining experiments and made a couple funny jokes. in terms of actually learning in his class, I would have rather just done the aleks and went to clas but he had iclickers so you were supposed to go to his class. the aleks assignment was terrible and he had no sympathy or desire to change the flaws in it.

Tries very hard to keep class mildly entertaining, even on very boring topics. Difficult, but not impossible by any means. Never went to OH but he seemed like a nice guy who wants his students to understand the material. Review old tests he posts online and definitely read the text, it helps.

Russak was a terrible professor. He goes much to quickly in lecture for most students to follow. I used my book a lot of the time before a midterm trying to teach myself the concepts but his obscure questions still trumped me. A tip i would give to get a good grade is changing professors

Although some of his lectures are pretty entertaining because he does experiments and occasionally makes some funny jokes, he is so hard to follow. He doesn't work new problems step by step and goes though difficult concepts very quickly. I learned a lot more through Aleks than him.

Professor Russak is an awesome teacher. He likes to keep the class fun and exciting with experiements and his great sense of humor. He makes you feel like your in a comedy club and not a boring chemistry class. He is an amazing teacher and I would definately recommend him.

Russak is a horrible teacher, goes on random tangents and you end up learning more about his life than chemistry. ALEKS and attending CLAS was way more helpful than actually going to lecture. Most students only went to lecture to get iClicker points.

avoid this guy at anytime. cant teach at all and went through lecture very fast. exams have many ridiculous questions. average midterm is 70

Justin is the biggest jerk ever. he is the WORST lecturer ever! and don't EVER come to his office hours. he can't explain anything and will embarrass you, and be like "so why don't you get this?" he is awful!

terrible lecturer, midterms and finals use a lot of the same questions as previous ones he puts up. power points are very boring and confusing, hopefully you have a good TA who explains things well!

He's an awesome teacher! He puts up a ton of things on his website to help you prepare for the tests and know the material. DEFINITELY take his practice tests from previous years because he recycles questions. The textbook helps a lot too. If you prepare well enough you can get an A.

Justin is the best! Funny guy, laid-back, super helpful during office hours, and most of all a great professor and person. You'll have fun in his class! His midterms and final are very fair, and he puts up practice tests from all the years before to help you. Definitely take him if you get the chance!!!