Online class is VERY easy. Half the grade is just finishing all of the modules the other half are labs (Final was cancelled due to COVID). Just show up to all of the lab sections for participation and do the labs reasonably well and you should have an EZ A
This class was much more tuned to building cartography skills. Req: a lab once a week that requires attention to detail in with software such as QGIS,ArcGIS, etc., and then a final exam which ended up being much more forgiving and simple than I would've thought. Overall it was simple but be ready to do some more advanced mapmaking.
Class turned out to be much more about the history of cartography and geospatial technology than a cartography driven course. Interesting topics and very little work is required, just some labs which require no prev. cartography skills and a final essay. Clarke is a legend in the cartography world, definitely take him while he's still teaching.
Worst class ever! I would not recommend this to anyone. Labs were graded VERY unfairly and were graded very hard. TA's were useful but if you are not VERY interested in geography I would definitely not take this course. I was very unhappy with this class.
One of the easiest classes I have taken at UCSB. Just make sure to study the questions at the end of each online lecture because they appear in the final and you should be good. He has no surprises, labs can get a bit tedious at times, but the TA's are really helpful, so go to their office hours!
The online lectures can easily be completed. Labs count for a majority of your grade. Most labs are not mandatory, but it is very helpful to go.
His online class is probably the easiest GE course I'll ever take. All the quizzes for the modules can be taken super quickly, and as long as you do them regularlyweekly, you'll be prepared for the labs once a week. Great class, loved my TA too.
Professor Clarke is a nice guy and I was very interested in the subject beforehand. However I felt ultimately disappointed with the course offering because it relied heavily on theory and less on application of technical skill. While I did learn a number of things I with I had learned more of the technical skill that would have helped me out in GIS
Easily the worst class and professor I've had at UCSB. I'd rather clip old lady's toenails then go to his boring, boring lectures. Labs were the worst though. Using an old manual for new software has never made following directions like a monkey so frustrating. Please, if you enjoy what remains of your life, do NOT take this class.
a good prof. tries to make class fun and clearly enjoys the subject. yet, it is very boring. dont take this class unless you have to. make sure to do all the labs (worth 48% of grade) and review the practice tests he posts online
Extremely boring yet easy class. Missed almost every lecture after the midterm and still pulled off an A-. Just study the powerpoints and know the main terms and youll do fine in this class.
He was a nice professor. I actually put much work into it and got an A. TA was very helpful. go to office hour if you feel lost. final was harder. it wasn't even similar to posted old final. nice class though.
Clark knows the GIS field very well. Although the lectures are not entirely stimulating all the time, he does provide in-depth information. Lectures (audio/slides) posted online for convenience. Happy to help students. Labs are time consuming but mostly enjoyable. Test are waaay too easy, but they aren't really the point of the class. Take it!
Attendance isn't necessary except for the labs! Make sure you receive a TA that isn't disorganized and has actually taken a maps course in her life. If not, it can really screw you over.
I came into this class expecting to drop it, however, moreso than any class I've had in years, I was pleasantly surprised. Although the subject matter seems boring to most people, for those who yearn to learn something they truly have little to no idea about, it is a perfect fit; especially as Professor Clarke is a joy of a teacher.
Prof. Clarke is very nice and willing to help so if ur lost (which will happen) then dont be afraid to ask. His class is actually boring though. hopefully you dont fall asleep like the rest of the class did. Also, hopefully you get a TA that knows what they are doing, because I had a TA that did not. I was NOT a happy camper.
I didn't go to lecture very often, i only read a couple pages in the book the first assignment. It was a big let down, i thought it would be a way more interesting class than it was. Labs are important, the exams are pretty much exactly like the practice tests.
This class is EXTREMELY EASY if you don't have to go to lecture since the lectures are posted online. Just go to lab since its worth about 50% of your grade. Skim the old midterm and memorize its answers and you should pass with at least a B
Helped me out by letting me take the midterm in his office b/c i had court during class. I slept a lot in lecture, didn't use too much of the text. Still got an A.
Clarke is cool but this class is boring. I went to 2-3 lectures pre-midterm and none after. Just take the labs seriously. B- and never bought the book. LOOK at lectures online for studying and old finals. Final was easier than midterm I thought. One day in lab someone said "how do you spell curvature?!" Pretty funny.
Clarke is a really nice professor who was easy to contact. The labs are pretty lame, but counted for 60% of the total grade. The midterm and final were easy, provided that you skimmed through the posted lecture slides and read through the posted old final exam. BORING lecture though; I practically never went to lecture; maybe once a week or less
great person, real passion for his field. however the class is INSANELY boring. he definitely tries his best, but it is simply a BORING class. lectures available online...however you must be disciplined enough to take advantage of them. labs are at least 50% of grade. i do not recommend this class unless you already love geography. seriously!
the class is boring but he tries to make it interesting.
He really knows his GIS