Western Kentucky University / D / Pitt Derryberry

Dr. Derryberry is an amazing man. He really knows what he is talking about. This course is not a cake course, you will have to work hard, but you learn a lot. Derryberry gives great real life examples and explains things in a way that is easy to understand. I recommend printing out his power-points before class, that way you can take fewer notes. There isn't a final. You only have about three exams over the chapters you've covered. I highly recommend you take Derryberry for Ed. Psych.

Dr. Derryberry is a cool professor and is passionate about the class. He will take randomly attendance for participation points but its only worth 5% of your grade. You have 3 exams which are kind of challenging, you have a service learning project which is pretty easy, and you have thought lesson which is creating a lesson plan based on the material you have learned in the class. I would definitely recommended Dr. Derryberry

Okay, Dr. Derryberry is first of all "easy on the eyes" and funny!!! BUT his blackboard organization stinks!! It's probably the most confusing conglomeration of material I've seen on a teacher's site. WATCH THE DEADLINES or you'll miss a journal entry or quiz which he removes the buttons once the time is past. He's adding to, taking from and changing all the time. He lectures straight from his powerpoints but don't let that fool you, his tests are psychological killers! You have to have a DEEP understanding and comprehension of the material. He pulls a few questions from the textbook for every test that he didn't talk about in class. He has major projects and a group project at the end which requires a lot of coordination between students. His test questions are situational and require thought and higher level of learning. Take this class seriously or you'll get behind!

Dr. Derryberry is an amazing professor. He makes things so much fun. He always has a joke or funny story to relate to what we're learning. It's funny to hear him try to reference pop culture sometimes because he brings up things none of us are old enough to remember :) The tests are pretty easy, I'd say. He gives you a lot of options on them. Like we could usually take home the essays and turn them in during the next class. There's an open book quiz before every unit and you get three chances to take it so making an A on that is easy. You have to do 9 hours of community service of any kind. I would recommend that you don't procrastinate because there is a lot of work in this class. You have to write a two page reflection paper for each unit and a one page summary of the service you do for your service learning project, but you usually discuss most of the papers and exactly what he wants the day before they're due so it's not too hard. I only got a B because I forgot about a lot of due dates. If I had been focused, the class would have been an easy A. I've heard that his non-honors courses are totally different from the honors section. Not only are the tests, quizzes, and assignments different, but class is really bland and involve a lot less student-teacher interaction. I would take the honors section if at all possible. It's a lot of work, but if you don't wait until last minute, it's really manageable. Dr. Derryberry is really understanding if you have issues. He's also willing to meet with you to discuss what went on in class if you have to miss. The syllabus says you're allowed three absences, but he didn't seem to follow that with our class. All-in-all, having him as a professor was a really good experience. I'd say he was probably my favorite professor this semester.

I had a lot of trouble with this course. I thought his tests were very hard, but he gives you a lot of homework that helps balance out your grade. His learning style is different, I didn't like it. He is a nice professor but this class is a little challenging.

Unfortunately, Dr. Derryberry makes it clear that there is no need for you to be in class. He takes attendance sporadically, but it doesn't seem to amount to much. All of the notes are on Blackboard (I never wrote one thing down in class) and don't bother buying the book: I scored over the class average on every test just by printing off his notes.

Derryberry is a pretty cool guy, but the material isn't exactly earth-shattering. If you have an early class, it will be an effort to go. I went about once a week and managed to get a decent grade. Probably no one can make 310 that exciting, so if you have to take it, Derryberry is a safe choice.

I entered this class as a freshman and scared to death! It was an upper-level Honors course that I had kind of signed up for by accident... it was listed on Topnet as "developmental psychology" and I thought it was going to satisfy a gen ed credit (that is what I get for failing to ask my advisor about it). However, after the first day of class, I knew I wasn't going to drop it even though I have no intentions of pursuing education. Dr. Derryberry is exceptional. He genuinely cares about each of his students and wants the best for you. His teaching methods are far superior to any other professors I have had so far. For the honors section, you will do 6 out of 8 reflection papers, 2 critical performances, a Service Learning Project with 10 hours or so of community service with 6 journal entries attached, 3 tests and a thought lesson. For the SLP, just a tip: don't wait until the last minute to find your service hours! The journal deadlines creep up on you faster than you realize. The thought lesson is the same way. Find your group about a month and a half before it's due so you can get going on it. The class is a lot of work, but it's worth it. Take Dr. Derryberry if you have the choice! He's amazing.

Some of these evaluations are outdated! this course has 2 critical performances, which aren't bad, it's just a few multiple choice and your opinion on the last paragraph. there is about 5-6 online quizzes that allow multiple attempts, one big thought lesson that you can work on in groups of up to 4, but counts for 20% of your grade! you are also required to do 10 hours of community service and submit journals over your experience. there are 3 test each worth 18% of your grade. his grading scale is very confusing. you don't really know what you have in the class until the end. the tests are very tricky. you have to think into them to get the answer he is looking for. there is very little extra credit. overall his lectures are interesting and it's good if you take notes along with the powerpoint. the book never did me any good... i would have been better off not buying it. i think i would have been happier with another prof., but he wasn't all that bad.

Pitt Derryberry keeps the class interesting. He will teach you a lot if you come to class! His tests are kind of hard, but if you go to class and pay attention you will be fine. Take him!

Dr. Derryberry is great! He makes a few corny jokes, but he'll often laugh at his own corniness. An extremely fair guy and very easy to get along with. He gave our class a choice of preparing a presentation or taking a comprehensive final for 20% of our grade. You have to do some volunteer stuff to document and write short journal entries over, but nothing too difficult. Some of the concepts are tough to completely grasp, but he gives an example for every single concept. My advice print off the notes on blackboard and only write the real life examples he provides...they will make learning the material a lot easier. Take this guy. If you finish everything and do okay on the tests, it will be an easy A or B.

What can I say? Dr. Derryberry is one of the best teachers at Western, hands down. He's reasonable, interesting, not intimidating. Think of all the good qualities of a teacher, and that's what he is.

Dr. DerryBerry is a great teacher when it comes to this class. He makes the class fun, and makes you want to learn the material. The Bulk of his grading comes from his Thought Lesson and Test. Take both of them seriously!!!! Show up, show intrest, and he'll Take Care of You.

I love Derryberry. This class was boring because it was always the same: slides, slides, slides. But it's not hard. I missed class at least once a week but he doesn't take attendance very often. I never used my book, his notes are available online. If you've ever had Derryberry before, this class is exactly the same format. There is a big research project to do, but he gives you 2 options for it, so it's not too bad.

This is an awesome class, and Dr. Derryberry is an awesome teacher. At first it seems overwhelming, but Dr. Derryberry keeps it interesting. He is one of the best professors I have encountered at WKU. He is very involved with his students and wants them to succeed. While the material is challenging, you will definitely learn a lot. I highly recommend that you take Dr. Derryberry for Ed Psy...you will not regret it!

He really knows his information, but he can run through it really fast. He acts like he always needs to be one step ahead. Overall he is a good teacher.

What a good teacher! The subject matter is not that interesting, but he does everything he can to make it as interesting as possible. I definately reccommend him.

This was my favorite class. Dr. Derryberry, despite being stuck in the 80s, is the best teacher I have had. He's funny and understanding, and really wants to get to know the students. You don't have to take notes if you print them off the internet, and you do not have to buy the book, I didn't open mine once. Just pay attention and do what he asks and you'll be fine. The final is a thought lesson that you get to do in groups, so it's not bad. It's a presentation and paper, but it's not as tough as he makes it sound. Take this class, you'll love it.

This was not an easy course, but I loved every bit of it. If I were able, I would have Dr. Derryberry to teach all of my classes. He is wonderful. You will never want to fall asleep. He has such a great teaching style. The notes are on blackboard, so that way you won't have to write many things done. It was a fun course.

Dr. Derryberry is a wonderful professor. He gives tons of extra credit opportunities and is always willing to help his students out. Most of his notes are posted on Blackboard and all of his tests are multiple choice. I would strongly recommend Dr. Derryberry for Psych 310. He is very energetic when teaching and makes this class fun.

Professor Derryberry is highly energetic and motivated; frequent references are made to popular culture like TV shows and even MC Hammer. The book is "required," but DO NOT buy it. The notes cover the exact material and are available on the internet. Have computer access if you are going to take this course; it will be important in accessing notes, assignments, and even turning in assignments. Tests are moderately difficult and make up most of grade. Many quizzes are given, but you can use your notes. Basically, if you are there, you get at least a B on quizzes. Attendance is mandatory and roll is taken. There are three critical performances and a thought lesson (group project). For all of these, you can submit work ahead of time for feedback. You will ALWAYS have class. If he is out of the country, expect to have his graduate assistant as a sub. Grades are available quickly and posted on Blackboard. If you need Educational Psychology, Derryberry is the professor to take.

Derryberry was one of the best teachers that I have had at Western. At first, you may seem intimidated by his class, but it's really cake. He says you need the book, but we NEVER used it. Do not buy it. Everything comes straight from his notes, which he posts on blackboard. You just have to print them off. He gives "quizzies" occassionally-just to take role. They are easy and you use your notes. I learned more in this class just by showing up and listening to him than by actually studing. Knows his material, but don't think he's ever met a child. Overall, great class, great teacher. But you do have to make friends in the class. Every week or so, there are activites in groups of 5 or so. Have to find people who are realiable. Grades given are very linient and easy.

Dr. Derryberry is an awesome teacher. At first, I was scared about this course b/c it seemed like it would be a lot of work. But Derryberry is such a great teacher that is turned out to be excellent. He provides all of his notes online, so you really don't have to write a lot. He is interesting and always keeps you awake, even at 8:00 in the morning.

**Important-most of the questions on his tests are online under practice tests/quizzes and in the textbook cites. They REALLY help.

I really enjoyed Dr. Derryberry. He seemed very excited about teaching this course, and he made the subject matter easy to understand. All the notes are online, so all you have to do is print them off for class and make any additional notes on the printed off pages. There were also 3 critical performances over the semester, and you could do them with a partner. They were not difficult. He gave quizzes on Fridays (his way of taking attendance) and he'd go over the quiz and let you change the answers before turning it in. It was an easy 100 just for being in class that day. We only had a midterm and a final, and as long as you understand the concepts in the notes, you will do fine. I highly recommend Dr. Derryberry.

This course is difficult but Dr. Derryberry gives tons of extra credit and explains things well. If you have to take Ed PSY take Dr. Derryberry. He is great.

I am always happy to find a teacher who knows his or her content area as well as Dr. Derryberry. But his teaching ability goes beyond simply knowing the required material. Dr. Derryberry does a great and very effective job of teaching. Excellent class!

There are four reflection papers due throughout the semester...usually running about two pages in length. As long as you pay attention in class you will do fine. He also has a helpful website with practice quizzes and outlines of the chapters. He is a very nice man.

You are required to do the three Crtical Performances (2 pages each) as mandated by the state. You also have to write three Thought Lessons that vary from 3 to 5 pages each. Also, you must do 7 hours of teacher evaluation and write a 7 page paper on that. This class requires more work than some of the other Ed Psy profs. However, Dr. Derryberry is highly concerned with his students and is more than fair in his evaluations and grades. The final is basically a repeat of the first two tests. A good professor who knows his stuff.

Way to many papers in this class. Normal Psy classes have papers but not like this man. He also takes forever to grade a paper. I didn't enjoy this class and wouldn't take him if I had to do it all over again.