Western Kentucky University / M / Charles McGruder
Averages:
Overall Rating
OKv
Grade Received
Bv
Course Difficulty
Difficultv
Quantity of Notes
Overkillv
Tag Summary:
True/False: 23
Multiple Choice: 37
Matching: 4
Problem Solving: 2
Mandatory Final: 33
Cumulative Final: 25
Textbook Required: 7
Extra Credit: 2
Attendance Required: 11
37 Total Evaluations
ASTR-104 : - Posted 9/12/2013
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Attendance is not mandatory, but he gives quizzes at the end of class basically to encourage you to have to come to class. The quizzes are super easy (he leaves all the answers on the board). His exams are hard, but the curve is huge because he knows how hard they are. The highest number of correct questions someone in my class got was 85 out of 163, and many of us still came out of the class with an A. TAKE GOOD NOTES. What McGruder is saying is always important, and it's honestly really interesting. I'm an English major, and this class was extremely enjoyable. Take him if you want an interesting, science class with minimal work and easy grading.
ASTR-101 : Astronomy - Posted 5/8/2013
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Make sure you show up to class, he gives a quiz at the end of class almost every day but leaves the answers on the board. His test are hard but gives a huge curve. My first test went from a D to an A because of the curve. Other then that the lab that comes with this class is pretty simple. As long as you show up, listen and study notes you will do fine!
ASTR-104 : Astronomy - Posted 12/14/2011
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
I don't know what everyone's problem is with this class/teacher. This class is soooo easy! There are only two tests, but if you go to class, take notes, and actually study for the tests, they aren't that bad. He knows the tests are hard so he curves the grades. He doesn't take attendance, but he will have at least one "pop quiz" a week. He grades on a pass/fail basis. HE LEAVES THE ANSWERS FROM THE NOTES ON THE BOARD. If you are there and you at least get some answers right, you get full credit. You have to be dumb as a rock to fail a quiz. I think he drops one or two of the quiz grades. You also get to go to the planetarium twice. I think he gives you a grade on if you attend that, too. McGruder knows his stuff, so he may come off a bit pretentious, but that's because he is a professional astronomer, which is pretty cool. if you ask me. I prefer my teachers to be passionate and experience at what they do. If you want your astronomy teacher to hold your hand throughout the class, take another class. If you want to listen to someone who has years of experience and knows his stuff, take McGruder.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy - Posted 11/6/2011
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
Dr. McGruder is great! He makes you really nervous at first. I thought I was going to fail the class, but I ended up getting an A. He leaves all the notes on the board whenever he gives you a pop quiz. He also grades the quizzes on a pass fail basis. If you get more right than wrong, you pass. If you go to class and take notes you will do well on the tests. You also get to go to the planetarium, which is pretty cool. Take him!!!
ASTR-104 : - Posted 5/15/2011
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Dr. McGruder was, to put it lightly a TERRIBLE professor. The textbook is required, but here's the rub: He has NO idea where you are in the book, but he also claims it as fair game for the midterm/final. Although this is an introductory course, he expects you to understand concepts and equations that astrophysics friends of mine didn't learn till their Junior year. I can honestly say that although I walked out with an A, I didn't learn a damned thing in that course. He never had our grades ready, like at the final, and he has a tendency to lose quizzes and then expect you to come and find them. Hard to fix discrepancies when he isn't in his office!!!!! It was nice not to have to take a lab, though. That is the only benefit to this course.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy/solar System - Posted 1/2/2011
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
This semester this course was a challenge because McGruder was in Africa a lot. We had class over skype and needless to say it was painful. The tests are difficult and attendence is not mandatory but there are unannounced quizzes through out the semester that are a large part of your grade.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar Systems - Posted 10/20/2010
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Few/None
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
This class is very easy if you show up and listen. HOWEVER, Dr. McGruder's teaching style is sporadic; the man conducts the class as if he has no plan whatsoever. If you are an organized person, this class will drive you crazy because there is really no rhyme or reason to his notes, and it's difficult to get the overall concept of his teaching because it's constantly interrupted by his absences. It almost seemed like he was gone more than he was there; however, instead of canceling class for those days, he would have other professors sub for him or have the class watch a video. I think I learned more from those than from his teaching. His tests were curved, so that you either did really well, or terribly. Overall, this class wasn't difficult, but was definitely obnoxious. I found Dr. McGruder's lack of interest in his own class to be highly unprofessional, and made the class incredibly dull.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 7/17/2010
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Okay, he's probably the most difficult professor I have ever had (I'm a junior) BUT I also learned the most from his class. He lectures every single class the entire time so get your wrist ready to write. His quizzes are just fluff because he always leaves the answers on the board and he makes them up as he stares at the notes from his lectures?!?! Attendance is a MUST and his tests are KILLERS. He simply does not want anyone to pass his tests and the questions are more in depth reasoning and thinking than what your lengthy notes are about. BUT because everyone makes bad grades on his tests, as he expects you too, he has one heck of a curve for his grading. For example, I'm a straight A student and never made above a C on his tests but yet I came out with an A?! Almost half the class dropped it after the first test and I've never seen that happen before. Be warned and prepared but like I said, I learned more in his class than any other and he is an extremely intelligent man.
ASTR-104 : Intro To Astronomy - Posted 11/12/2009
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
This guy is a joke he left the country for 3 weeks and then slapped our class with a huge hard as hell final, he leaves answers for quizzes on the board tho if i were any student take someone else he is a waste of my time and yours his grade curve is awesome tho i would recommend it to anyone wanting a good grade overall tho this class is a waste of my time and hard earned tuition dollars take someone else
ASTR- : Intro To Solar System - Posted 5/10/2008
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
Not Specified
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
This class is extremely boring but if you pay attention and copy ALL the notes from the board then you should have everything you need to study. Attendence is not mandatory but he will give random quizzes so you need to be there, those quizzes will keep your grade up. The tests are difficult you have to study your notes. He is a fine teacher just boring and not personable at all.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy/solar System - Posted 1/11/2008
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
WOW! He was in Africa the first 2 months we were having class so we had subs and watching movies. When he came back we had our mid term which was crazy hard. His grading scale is nuts and unfair! The final is scary hard! I only knew 10 questions. He has a quiz almost every class but he leaves everything on the board.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy - Posted 5/15/2007
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Although I got an A in the class they way he handles things was horrible. He says that the tests come from the notes, we took a mid-term and a final and all i did was multiple guess. Our final had a question that asked when a planet did something in 2004 and seeing it's 2007 obviously the notes weren't used for the test. He does have this ridiculous grading curve that helped me pass, but unless you have to i would suggest taking someone else
ASTR-104 : Astronomy 104 - Posted 3/28/2007
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Dr. McGruder's course was really interesting. He DOES NOT take regular attendence, but he does give random quizes, which can not be made up, so it kind of works like attendence. I bought the text book, but I didn't open it once, and still got an A, so I would not suggest buying it. Everything that's important he will write on the board, and I would suggest just copying that, also, the quizes come directly from his lectures, and all of the answers are on the board already. He also speaks at a very good pace, so note taking is quite easy. I would highly recomend taking this course, especially if you're interested in Astronomy, he's a great professor.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 1/6/2007
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
This class was mostly boring. I've always been interesting in Astronomy but this course completely turned me off of it. Dr. McGruder is very intelligent but he wants to make you think with his class discussions, he doesnt just want to give you the answers. I took entensive notes b/c thats just the kind of note taker I am. The course lists a text book to buy but we never used it in class. He pulls his exam questions from class discussions but there are a few in there that come from the book. Still not very hard but only buy the book if you want a back up for extra information. I dont know how i made a freaking C in his class b/c he grades on a large curve and I did great on his mid term and final which together are 60% of your final grade. Also on that note, at midterm he screwed up everybodies grades in the class, a class of probably 50 students, and he managed to screw up everybodies grade. And he managed to do it again before the final!!! It was more annoying than anything but it makes me wonder if he screwed up my final grade too. Not the best professor I've ever had, thats for sure, but definately not the worst.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy/solar System - Posted 1/4/2007
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
I just have to say that Dr. McGruder's class is quite a joke. He hates having to give grades and wants at least 50% of his class to make As and Bs as their finals grades, so the more you try, the better you are. Even though he never takes attendance, make sure you go to class because he has random pop quizzes at the end of class and you never know when he is going to give them. If I would have went to most of my classes, I probably could have gotten a B instead of a C just for taking all of the quizzes. The answers to the quizzes are on the board because he takes the quiz questions from that class's lecture. Every grade is either pass/fail, except for the midterm and final. All you have to do is at least put a little effort into your quizzes and go to the planetarium dates, and he will give you full points for those. At least take notes in his class, even though it is HIGHLY boring, because the midterm and final are very difficult. The final IS cumulative and worth 40% of your final grade, so be sure to study, but if you want an easy grade by just coming to class and doing busy work, then you should take Dr. McGruder.
ASTR-104 : Atrronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 5/8/2006
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
This class isn't great, it's just ok. McGruder himself is a balls to the walls astronomy hardass, but it's nice to have someone who cares about what he teaches for a change (it's also nice to see someone of color in science, I'm tired of listening to fat balding white guys who think they know it all). I like McGruder. I like astronomy. But I still don't think this class is all that great. It's just missing something. If you're looking for an A, look elsewhere. His curve automatically lands 70% of the class in the C grade range somehow, you have to work like the devil to get an A. Easy C, impossible A. You make the call.
Tip: Don't waste your money on the book, he doesn't follow it at all and the exams come right from the notes (even though he says you need the book). I didn't find anything in the book that helped much that wasn't already in the notes. Visit wikipedia if you want extra study.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 12/22/2005
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
The class is tough, but it was still good. Only take if you enjoy Astronomy and if you take good notes. There are two labs and two planetary shows that you go to. The book is not required, but if you have never taken astronomy then i would suggest that you buy it because you never know if you might need it. He also has random pop-quizzes but he leaves every thing on the board. The mid-term and final are not easy. make sure you study for them.
ASTR-104 : - Posted 7/5/2005
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
WENT OFF ON RANDOM STUFF DIDNT KEEP UP WITH HIM... OR HIS NOTES... OR ANY OF HIS THEORIES. I WAS LIKE WHAT THE ... WHEN I WAS IN HIS CLASSES. BUT, HE GRADES EASY ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE TESTS. I GOT A C WHEN I NEVER CAME TO CLASS DIDNT TAKE THE MID-TERM AND DIDNT STUDY AT ALL FOR THE FINAL. YOU MAKE THE CALL ON THAT ONE
ASTR- : Astronomy - Posted 4/25/2005
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Dr. McGruder is a cold-hearted ass. He favors people who speak up, but is very disagreeable towards people with excused absences. Within one week, one students parent died, and another students parent was diagnosed with cancer, and Dr. McGruder demanded certified noted from these students. However, some kid that often made stupid comments was permitted to turn in a lab three days late. His lectures are boring and he makes them up as he goes along. Pop Quizzes are given to regulate attendance, and the answers are always on the board behind him. Unless you have a healthy family, and need some time to catch up on sleep, i do not recommend this man.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy - Posted 3/25/2005
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
I did not enjoy McGruder's class at all! I don't like science classes in general but he only has a midterm and final and that is it for tests. The final is cumulative and hard. I studied for weeks before the exam and I got a C in the class. His lectures jump around and around from one topic to another. For it being a lab class it was alright in that aspect. You only have to go to 2 planetarium labs and all you have to do is sit there. There are two out of class labs but they are really easy. But overall I would NOT take him for this class.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 12/28/2004
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Mr.McGruder may not be the easiest teacher to take for this course however he is not all that bad. He wants his students to truly learn something, as this subject is important to him. He does not have mandatory attendance but does often have random pop quizzes over the lectures with the notes on the board, as a way of taking attendance. His final is cumulative and 40% of your grade, but is not all that difficult if you study. He curves your grade also which makes it easier to get a better grade.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 11/29/2004
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
I enjoyed this class alot. There is alot of notes but if you take good notes you can do good on the huge multiple choice tests. The labs are easy.
ASTR- : Astronomy - Posted 11/22/2004
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
ASTR-104 : - Posted 5/10/2004
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Not Specified
Comments
I did not like this teacher or the way that he taught the class. You have to take a ton of notes because anything that he says in class could be on the tests. There are only two tests, the mid-term and the final both of which are extremely hard. Like 150 to 200 questions. He tells people that they need the book, but really it will not help you. I didn't read any of the book because he doesn't go by it at all, he just makes chapters up in his head. Then I couldn't sell it back at the end of the semester, I never even opened the thing. So save your money and don't buy it. The labs were pretty easy because he lets you use the internet. He doesn't take attendance, but all the quizzes are pop. He gives them at the end of class (which will last the full time period) and he just makes the questions up as he goes. The quizzes are all pass/fail so if you didn't take it, you failed it. My class had like 25 quizzes. However, they are easy too, he leaves all the answers on the board. I got an A because I studied my notes like they were a new religion. If you rely on a review to do good on the test, or quizzes to look over, or homework, forget taking this class. Be prepared to write down everything, and I do mean everything that this man says.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy - Posted 5/6/2004
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Mr. McGruder does not explain anything. He does not tell you what is going to be on any of the tests so you are able to study for it. I would definitely not take him again for anything.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar Systems - Posted 5/5/2004
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
C
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Find another Astronomy teacher. Mr. McGruder is ok, but there are many better options out there for astronomy professors. I've heard Bohuski is good. Take Mr. McGruder as a last resort, BECAUSE: his tests are impossible. There is a mid-term and a final (which counts as 40% of your grade) and basically everyone in the class fails them because they are so hard. He grades on an extreme curve because they are so hard and you think he would make the material a little more comprehensible, but he doesn't. There are random quizzes on unnanounnced days, he just at the end of lecturing will go "ok quiz today" and they are pass/fail, which is nice. There are only 2 labs and they are pretty simple, but all in all the bad outweighs the good about this course. The textbook is required, according to him, but i bought it and never even opened it so it is kind of your call on that one. He tends to ramble about random things and anything and i mean anything that was even mentioned in class once could end up on the final. So in the end, if you have another choice for a professor take it, but if not then good luck and go every day.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 4/29/2004
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
Not Specified
Quantity of Notes:
Overkill
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
This man was my worst nightmare! He works for NASA, so he thinks that he is god. He treats his students with zero respect, and don't even think about asking a question because he will not answer it. He may just be the rudest profesor on campus. His quizzes are easy, but his tests are so hard that no one passes them. He doesn't explain anything to you and his tests cover anything and everything that has been mentioned in his class. I would drop out of school before taking his class again.
ASTR- : Stellar Systems - Posted 4/22/2004
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Dr. McGruder is very passionate about astronomy-- which is wonderful for students. He is very repetitive, so when test time comes around (which is only twice), it should be fairly easy to know what's on it. Also, there are quizzes about every other day, but he almost always gets the questions from the notes that are left on the board. His class is easy if you put in some effort.
ASTR- : Astronmy Of Solar System - Posted 11/14/2003
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
F
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
McGruder is extremely BORING! His test are extremely hard. His pop quizes are esay but he is ahrd to follow during his lectures. His grading scale is HORRIBLE. There is not much structure, hard test, and the man has a nasty tude! Don't take. You won't remember anything!
ASTR-104 : Astronomy/solar System - Posted 4/28/2003
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
This class is pretty easy if you come to class. Be sure to take notes and show up for random pop quizzes. There are two tests and he grades on a curve because they are so hard but if you get a 55 that is equivalent to an A. just be sure to be there for quizzes
ASTR-104 : - Posted 4/14/2003
Overall Rating:
Poor
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
McGruder is not a good teacher. His lectures are dull, and if you don't show up to class he has quizes after some of the lectures so you miss them and don't get credit.
ASTR- : Astonomy Of The Solar System - Posted 11/28/2002
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
To fill my science requirement, I wanted to take Astronomy instead of the traditional biology, chemistry, etc.. I am so happy I took this course with Dr. McGruder. He is so knowledgeable about this subject, and his love of astronomy really comes out in his lectures. It cracks me up how excited he gets about stuff. I can see how some would rate this class as 'boring'... the class is mainly all lecture with little deviation. However, I think Dr. McGruder does a great job of making the material interesting. I find his exams pretty easy and straightforward. Word of advice: Attendance is not mandatory, but he does give random quizzes. Be careful of what classes you choose to skip. He doesn't do make-ups, and you'll get a zero for the grade. (Know from experience) I would definitely recommend Dr. McGruder for this course.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 11/12/2002
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
Dr. McGruder is an AWESOME teacher! His lectures are lengthy, but you learn a lot of interesting stuff. The quizzes are very random, but they're usually very, very simple. He never erases the board, so the answers to the questions on the quiz are usually still up on the board behind him! The tests are all scan-tron and are not that hard. Showing up to class is not necessary except for the first time. But, if you want to know what's going on, you should go. He knows his stuff and makes it really interesting to learn it! I would highly reccommend Dr. McGruder and hope to take him again in the future!
ASTR-104 : Astr. Of Solar System - Posted 8/19/2002
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Few/None
Difficulty:
Easy
Comments
I liked his quizes because they all had an odd # of questions, if you get the majority right, you pass. Majority wrong equals failing. The pop quizes are really randomly done, they are truely pop quizes. Most of the answers are on the chalk board behind him. His tests have NOTHING to do with notes you took during class and come, I spose, straight from the book. But you don't really need the book b/c of the huge ass curve he grades on. I slept through 95% of the classes and still got an A. But he is not that effective of a teacher.
ASTR-104 : Astronomy Of The Solar System - Posted 5/10/2002
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
If you are looking for an easy AST grade, this is not the course. The lectures simplify the material, however that's not how it appears on the two exams. He gives pop quizzes all the time that are pass/fail. If you're not there, you fail. The saving grace of this course is that he has an extreme curve on the tests. (Which doesn't make sense...If he has to curve the test that much, he should probably realize something is wrong.) There are much easy cake profs for this class.
The labs two labs are extremely easy and are not due until the later half of the course.
FINAL EXAM 40%
FIRST EXAM 20%
LABS 20%
QUIZZES 20%
ASTR-104 : Astronomy of the Solar System - Posted 9/12/2000
Overall Rating:
Good
Grade:
A
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Moderate
Comments
Dr. McGruder makes astronomy very interesting. He also really cares about his students and want to make sure they understand everything (he will spend a whole class period explaining a question to you) His tests are hard and all multiple choice and this was a huge class, but I really understood astronomy after taking it. Also the lab was incredibly easy and it fufills a science requirement.
ASTR-140 : Astronomy - Posted 4/18/2000
Overall Rating:
OK
Grade:
B
Quantity of Notes:
Moderate
Difficulty:
Difficult
Comments
Teaching is hard to follow. I did terrible on the tests, but he grades on a HUGE curve.