PHYS 1425

Dukes is a decent lecturer, but not for Physics. When doing example problems, he puts the entire solution slide up and then talks through it very quickly, which is basically useless. I highly recommend reading the relevant textbook sections before going to class, although you can get the iClickers without doing so. He does some really cool in-class demonstrations. Tests aren't easy, but there's a huge curve.

Dukes is a suitable enough lecturer but the real work in this class is done through going through the textbook in good detail and reviewing the slides from class, as he goes a bit too quick to take detailed notes with. Attend the classes and get your clicker points and get started on the hw sets early. Tests are difficult but there is a substantial curve - 13/17, even with two "questions" being filling in the correct section number and test form, is commonly an A on the midterms.

Dukes has one of those voices that are really easy to fall asleep to, so it's pretty hard to pay attention in class. The material is definitely learnable on your own though so you're not in deep trouble if learning in lecture is hard.

He does clicker questions in during lecture for credit since his lectures are pointless otherwise. You'll learn everything by yourself and through Yahoo Answers on the homework. Learning the previous three weeks' material the days right before the tests were not unheard of, and tbh doable to some degree. I did this and and averaged a 12/15 on the tests, which he curves to an around an A-.

Dukes has a voice that is hard to pay attention to during lecture, but go for the clicker questions. He reads off of his slides which isn't too great, but when you're studying for tests, it's helpful to go through the questions he works out. He's also a really nice person during office hours, so if you absolutely can't figure out a hw question or find it on yahoo answers, he's not a bad resource.

Dukes is not a good lecturer. His voice is very monotonous and it lulls you right to sleep. Combine that with the fact that he dims the lights in the lecture hall and voila. He lacks energy. He gives his lectures while leaning against the wall or railing with his legs crossed while occasionally pointing to the screen with his laser pointer. His lectures include long periods of time when he determines the intricacies of the algebra to completely solve a problem, when it would be much more worthwhile to simply show us how you might approach the problem and set up a solution. We are all capable of working out the simple algebra once a problem has been set up, that's not what he should spend a large portion of his time explaining. The consequence is that students mentally check out during this time and really only "take notes" by writing down useful equations which we don't know how to use. The lectures are worthless and would be empty if not for the clicker questions. You might as well just give us an equation sheet with all the formulas we might need, because that's all the lectures contribute to your learning. The Mastering Physics homework is where people actually learn. Overall, the course isn't terrible - the grading is relatively fair, there is a reasonable amount of homework - but the lectures are.

Brutal class. Took it with Duve, not good, not fun. Probably shouldn't even study for the exams because all the material on it comes out of nowhere. Took similar class early in high school and remember liking it and feeling confident on the material during the course. Nothing in this class made sense. Terribly taught. This class is pretty much the sole reason I'm transferring out of the e school.

Dukes is not good. The whole department to be honest is not good. I think its quite unnecessary that all e school majors have to take this class to be honest. Dukes has a really monotone voice and people only go to class to get clicker points you don't really learn anything otherwise. I tried to actively take notes in class for 3/4 the semester and it resulted in nothing. The only way people learn is if they read the textbook or do Mastering Physics and even then the tests are so crazy hard that you have no clue where they pulled out these questions from. The final is even harder. None of the TAs or professor Dukes have helpful office hours so you basically feel trapped.

The exams in this class were very difficult. Although each exam was curved, it is still difficult to do well in this course-- even if you read the textbook and pay attention in class.

You spend most of the class going over equations that are given to you on the formula sheet for the exams. Also, much of class is spent going over random physics topics that you do not need to know for the exams.