Professor: Zimmerman Course format: Seminar Number of respondents: 24 Total Enrollment: 30 Class Composition: Froshs: 1 Sophs: 7 Jrs: 9 Srs: 11 Concs: 16 Non-Concs: 4 Don't Know: 4

Instructor Average: 1.68 Course Average: 1.40

'Cell Physiology and Biophysics' is a course designed to expose students to cell physiology and many related research areas, particularly those involving ion channels. The formal prerequisite for this class was BI 80 or BN 1, but a few students pointed out that a basic knowledge to pharmacology could have been useful.

Professor Zimmerman received mixed reviews from her students. Approximately half of the respondents thought she was a great lecturer who could explain difficult concepts clearly and concisely. The same students also appreciated the friendly professor's sensitivity to their level of understanding. However, the other half of the class complained that she either tried to cover too much material in lectures or she lectured too little. The majority of respondents agreed that they had a lot of fun working on the required student presentations.

Students indicated that they put only a moderate amount of effort into the class ­ on average 2 hours of work per week. The course load consisted of rather challenging reading assignments, one paper and an oral presentation. There were no exams. Reading Period was strictly observed.

The vast majority of the class was very glad to have taken this class because they learned a lot, in a relaxed environment. And many students were delighted to find that this 100 level course was not as difficult as they had assumed. All respondents recommend this class to biology concentrators. As one student put it, 'Don't you dare not take it!'

View BI/0110 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.