Great physics professor, though physics in general can be hard to learn or understand. Tests have MCQs, and are usually easier than the weekly homework. Clear feedback. Though, she uses Pearson (the devil) so prepare to spend $85.
Physics lab was frustrating, because whatever you submitted, the TAs would always find a way to mark at least 15% of your grade off. Sig figs are always wrong, and make you lose points too. The only good thing is that this lab is only once every two weeks. Has nothing to do with Physics lecture, and seemed useless in general.
Lecture videos were okay. She is probably the worst communicator I have ever tried to work with at UCSB. TPS responds quicker.
Great teacher, but the class material is difficult. Go to her office hours and PRACTICE!!
I had Popescu for Phys 1, 2, and 3. Her video lectures for Phys 1 and 2 were really well-made: informative and concise. I found her in person lectures to be hard to follow at times due to the difficult material so you really have to pay attention. She offers a lot of extra credit so it shouldn't be too hard to do well in her classes.
Lectures were okay, and she definitely cared about her students. I learned a decent amount conceptually, and hw & online quizzes helped improve understanding a bit. Not too difficult to pass the class, don't expect to become a physics mastermind with this course, but you will learn general overviews of the concepts and do decent in the course.
I found the lectures impossible to learn from. She will do long and complicated derivations for the formulas you need to use rather than actually practicing problems. The rest of lecture was filled with her reading from slides which are copy and pasted directly from the textbook.
Awesome lecturer who just wants students to understand material. Doesn't care for making insanely difficult tests like most of the physics department.
Professor Popescu is a great lecturer who really cares about her students' success. Physics 2 can be a tricky class, but the homework reflects the lectures and she is always willing to answer questions about the content. I would recommend her for any physics class at UCSB.
Well, I don't think Paula is the best teacher - she may not present the material most clearly. However, she did her best to help you succeed. She gave useful hw and fair exams. She did a lot of curving, gave a lot of extra credit, and even gave a big ec assignment. I took her from Phys 2 to Phys 4 and always felt good.
Made all her tests online including the final (no midterm). Weekly tests were 6-question quizzes while the final had about 10 questions, part mc part frq and did not need the entire 3 hours.17 question Pearson homework every week that made up a big part of the grade, overall pretty easy professor with easy-to-understand lectures.
Seriously the best professor Ive had yet! She is very kind and genuinely wants you to learn. Her lectures are very loosely structured, but reading the textbook beforehand helps. Weekly homework is substantial, but doable. Easy weekly quizzes, no midterms. Discussion sections were very helpful! Overall, a well-balanced class.
Had a great quarter with Paula! Her lectures are very clear and she gave fair quizzes and final. The section attendance was not enforced and each time less people went to the section than the last time. Extra credit was available for the final - make your study guide!
Good lecturer but the final was the only test so beware!
One of those professors who is super nice but not a great teacher. Lectures were a weird mix of easy conceptual stuff and complicated, poorly explained derivations. I went into her class with a passion for physics and left with that passion diminished. Her class is great if you just want to pass, bad if you want to enjoy the learning process.
Took her over the summer and really enjoyed her class! No wishy-washiness, very direct about what the material on the exam is. Assigns a very reasonable amount of work. Would 100% take her again.
Course was organized extremely clearly. No midterm. HW (MP) was big part of grade, yet quizzes and final were hardly like it. Lectures were usually short (sometimes too short). Final was extremely fair and shorter than other phys finals. Weekly quizzes were conceptual and not too hard. Def going to take her again if I have the chance.
Professor Popescu put a lot of effort into editing recorded lectures, her videos were straightforward and the examples were helpful which I really appreciated. Sometimes it seemed like a few videos got cut short for some reason though. There are weekly quizzes, homework assignments and a final. The workload is very manageable.
Professor Popescu wasn't did not communicate well: didn't respond to emails, nectir that often, etc. Her lectures felt rushed (sometimes they weren't even finished) and were basically very short summaries of the textbook. Homework was easy... far too easy for a physics class. No midterm, weekly quizzes and a final. Easy class, but not great.
Lectures were clear and very helpful in understanding material. Exams were straightforward, there were no nasty surprises. But the weekly HW was 35% of the grade and there was way too much of it. I didnt do most of it and still got a b+ on the final so I doubt the usefulness of assigning that much work
Based on past reviews, she seems to have found her stride as a lecturer because she was very clear about the material and what was to be expected on the exams. The practice tests are very similar to the actual ones. She's also very understanding and made the final optional during the middle of all the coronavirus chaos.
She always got through all the material she needed to, her slides were organized, the tests were pretty challenging but fair. Reading isn't required but highly recommended. She really wants her students to learn so ask questions. Her class was fair but challenging so make sure to use all your resources if you want to Ace her class.
Best physics professor I've had at UCSB (which doesn't say much but still). Lectures are relatively in tune with homework and tests. MasteringPhysics is time consuming as always, but with that, CLAS, and her practice tests (which are very accurate) you should do well on her tests. Listens to students when it comes to due dates and pacing.
No logic in lectures, will no curve