Psychology · Columbia University
three noncumulitive exams and some easy homework assinments (that really help for exams).
various assignments that lead up to a final lab report and presentation (not bad workload at all)
It's a shame that this professor even has a golden nugget on CULPA. AVOID IF YOU CAN!! I know it’s required for some Neuro majors, but it’s way too much work for only 1.5 credits. Ken is a decent lecturer, but he grades the lab assignments really harshly and doesn’t give much helpful feedback. If it were a 3 credit course it might make sense, but for 1.5 it feels like way more effort than it’s worth. I took it a while ago as a Barnard student, and it felt pretty disorganized. One lab report deadline kept getting pushed back until almost finals week, which confused everyone and made it hard to plan. With other assignments piling up, the workload got overwhelming fast. On top of that, there weren’t clear guidelines for how to format lab reports, and points would get taken off without much explanation, which made it frustrating to know how to improve.
I really loved this course! I found it very intresting. Prof Light is one of the nicest proffesors ever! He tries very hard to make himself available to students. He hosts review sessions both in class and outsdie of class before each exam. I found this course very applicple to the fields I am intrested in. IT was a challanging course and I had to study to do well. If you study you will be fine! Although their is a learnign curve to his exams The exams get easier as you go as you get used to the format. There is multiple choise , short answer, and extra credit. He gives you choises in short answer usaly 3 out of 5 -which is so nice and helpfull! For the multiple choise he will let you explain up to 5 that you where unsure of to get credit back! He also grades the exams to give you the best grade possible. Very accepsible, kind, and understanding profeesor who wants you to do well. Go to class, it's helpful! Sometimes topics can be a bit confusing, but if you ask him to clarify it always makes sense. Although I should say many people found it borning.,
Ken is a bit of a dull lecturer, but overall this is a good, simple class. It is very straightforward and he lets you know what he expects of you right from the beginning so it is easy to do well. I knew nothing about scientific articles and lab reports and this class has definitely helped give me the foundations that I need to succeed if I want to continue taking more science courses. He is very understanding and tries his hardest to make sure everyone is at the same level, that being said he is a little boring.
If you can avoid Psych of Learning Lab C, I’d honestly skip it. I know it’s required for some Neuro majors, but it’s way too much work for only 1.5 credits. Ken is a decent lecturer, but he grades the lab assignments really harshly and doesn’t give much helpful feedback. If it were a 3 credit course it might make sense, but for 1.5 it feels like way more effort than it’s worth. I took it a while ago as a Barnard student, and it felt pretty disorganized. One lab report deadline kept getting pushed back until almost finals week, which confused everyone and made it hard to plan. With other assignments piling up, the workload got overwhelming fast. On top of that, there weren’t clear guidelines for how to format lab reports, and points would get taken off without much explanation, which made it frustrating to know how to improve.
1-2 paragraph homework every week (sometimes graded on completion), 2 midterms and a final. Pretty light
Moderate workload, weekly assignments that should not take long except he has very specific formats you HAVE to adhere to and the instructions are often very unclear.
I had thought this would be a fun and enjoyable course and some of the experiments were very interesting, but I would honestly avoid if possible.
The class was not the most interesting at times, but Ken was very accommodating and straightforward of what he expected of you re: participation, homework, and exams. He ended up making the final optional if you came to every class which was really nice and reduced stress. If you go to class and pay attention/take notes, the exams will be pretty easy because the exam questions aren't too difficult and just require a good understanding of the concepts themselves. Also he plays music before class which is fun.