Professor: Witman Course format: Lecture w/section Number of respondents: 66 Total Enrollment: 81 Class Composition: Froshs: 14 Sophs: 27 Jrs: 19 Srs: 20 Concs: 45 Non-Concs: 16 Don't Know: 1

Instructor Average: 1.74 Course Average: 2.01

Is Darwin your hero? Really? Then you might want to consider taking "Principles of Ecology." Bio 20, as well as a little math, should be a sufficient background for this course.

The professor put a lot of effort into creating informative and coherent lectures. He made good use of visual aids, such as transparancies, slides, blackboard diagrams, and lecture handouts. Professor Witman's lectures were organized, and the subject matter covered in lecture correlated well with the readings and the exams. Some respondents felt that it was rather difficult to be motivated in class, however, especially because it met at 9 a.m. for an hour and a half. However, those who did show up felt that they learned a lot, and were able to spend less time studying outside of class. Many students wished that the professor had been more available to answer their questions, but they also commented that the TAs were very helpful.

Reviewers spent an average of two hours per week on this course, reading from a textbook and from recent journal articles. They advised future students that they should concentrate on the required texts, but not on the recommended textbook. There were two tests during the semester, as well as a non-cumulative final. Several respondents suggested that a web page for the course would be beneficial, because two of the homework assignments involved downloading computer programs. And for all you humanities students looking for a charming science course, be prepared for some mathematical models! This course will give you a basic understanding of various ecological concepts, however, such as competition, dispersal, and populations.

View BI/0042 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.