LIFESCI 7A
Cell and Molecular Biology
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, 75 minutes. Introduction to basic principles of cell structure and cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - World best professor. I took AP bio in high school and frankly the class was mostly a review. The class moved really quickly and the professor did an amazing job of keeping class engaging and fun despite being online. It felt like Aly really put in the work before class to make sure lectures were polished and clicker questions were well written. It was an amazing class (especially for being online).
Summer 2020 - World best professor. I took AP bio in high school and frankly the class was mostly a review. The class moved really quickly and the professor did an amazing job of keeping class engaging and fun despite being online. It felt like Aly really put in the work before class to make sure lectures were polished and clicker questions were well written. It was an amazing class (especially for being online).
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - People complaining about this man's accent are really trying to cover up the fact they didn't do as well as they wanted to purely due to their own incompetence. Pham's lectures are fast-paced, but he goes over the clicker questions very well, which are all that really matter. I never attended his office hours but every time I asked him something after class, he was nothing but kind and extremely helpful. The LS Core Curriculum have a specific way of explaining problems and he does a great job of explaining what type of knowledge is expected of us. I would go to his lectures to figure out what type of material will be tested and go to your TA's office hours instead because they offer much more personal help.
Winter 2019 - People complaining about this man's accent are really trying to cover up the fact they didn't do as well as they wanted to purely due to their own incompetence. Pham's lectures are fast-paced, but he goes over the clicker questions very well, which are all that really matter. I never attended his office hours but every time I asked him something after class, he was nothing but kind and extremely helpful. The LS Core Curriculum have a specific way of explaining problems and he does a great job of explaining what type of knowledge is expected of us. I would go to his lectures to figure out what type of material will be tested and go to your TA's office hours instead because they offer much more personal help.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - Material: This is pretty much exactly like AP Bio in terms of material covered. My brother who was taking AP Bio in high school at the same time that I took this class was learning the same things I was. Tests: 2 midterms and a final. You need to know your stuff inside and out for the tests, they're tough if you don't because the multiple choice answers can be very similar (all tests were multiple choice, but don't be fooled). The tests are less about memorization and more about testing your mastery of the concepts and applying them to new situations. LaunchPad: Gotta buy the LaunchPad subscription, all your readings and quizzes are done through this :// -- it's like $70 and up depending on the plan you get (if you aren't taking 7A,B, and C all in one year then you should get the 2-year subscription) if you take diligent notes on LaunchPad, it can take up to 5/6 hours do finish, but if you don't, you could get through the work in maybe an hour or two depending on the workload that week iClicker: If you're going to be taking a lot of science classes, it's a good idea to buy an iClicker ($40 unless you're able to buy it from someone for a cheaper price -- you can also rent one from Powell (see here --> https://www.teaching.ucla.edu/iclicker-rentals)) Lectures: participation is HUGE with Pires -- her lectures revolve almost entirely around clicker questions and collaboration in class and discussions Structure: graded on a straight scale, three lectures per week and one discussion Discussion: you do worksheets together with other peers and they're really helpful for tests Extra resources: when I took the class, the TA hours were really helpful because one of the TAs made mini worksheets to compliment the course, which were really helpful. A lot of people came to these office hours because of the worksheets, and there were usually two or three TAs around to help. it would get crowded, but all the students helped one another too
Fall 2018 - Material: This is pretty much exactly like AP Bio in terms of material covered. My brother who was taking AP Bio in high school at the same time that I took this class was learning the same things I was. Tests: 2 midterms and a final. You need to know your stuff inside and out for the tests, they're tough if you don't because the multiple choice answers can be very similar (all tests were multiple choice, but don't be fooled). The tests are less about memorization and more about testing your mastery of the concepts and applying them to new situations. LaunchPad: Gotta buy the LaunchPad subscription, all your readings and quizzes are done through this :// -- it's like $70 and up depending on the plan you get (if you aren't taking 7A,B, and C all in one year then you should get the 2-year subscription) if you take diligent notes on LaunchPad, it can take up to 5/6 hours do finish, but if you don't, you could get through the work in maybe an hour or two depending on the workload that week iClicker: If you're going to be taking a lot of science classes, it's a good idea to buy an iClicker ($40 unless you're able to buy it from someone for a cheaper price -- you can also rent one from Powell (see here --> https://www.teaching.ucla.edu/iclicker-rentals)) Lectures: participation is HUGE with Pires -- her lectures revolve almost entirely around clicker questions and collaboration in class and discussions Structure: graded on a straight scale, three lectures per week and one discussion Discussion: you do worksheets together with other peers and they're really helpful for tests Extra resources: when I took the class, the TA hours were really helpful because one of the TAs made mini worksheets to compliment the course, which were really helpful. A lot of people came to these office hours because of the worksheets, and there were usually two or three TAs around to help. it would get crowded, but all the students helped one another too
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - I had the combination of Deb Pires and April Pyle, and the last couple weeks when it was Pyle I really disliked coming to class . She tried to make attempts at jokes to make the class a bit more interesting, but it just didn't work out for her . Also, sitting through clicker questions for 6 minutes after finishing discussing it for 1 minute made the class feel like it was 3 hours long instead of the 1 hour 15 min .
Winter 2020 - I had the combination of Deb Pires and April Pyle, and the last couple weeks when it was Pyle I really disliked coming to class . She tried to make attempts at jokes to make the class a bit more interesting, but it just didn't work out for her . Also, sitting through clicker questions for 6 minutes after finishing discussing it for 1 minute made the class feel like it was 3 hours long instead of the 1 hour 15 min .
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2017 - This review is for LIFESCI 7A. Roth-Johnson doesn't require much commitment for this course. Tests and midterms are easy as long as you have read the textbook (which you will have to do anyways because that's part of the homework). She gives extra credit, but it does not affect your overall grade much. Have a friend alert you when a clicker question goes up if you have a tendency to zone out, because they count toward your grade (correctness is not counted, only participation). Overall an easy course. Edit (6/7/2018): LS 7A is now a course taught by Professor Roth-Johnson. I have edited this review to be on the correct course (was formerly on LS 2).
Fall 2017 - This review is for LIFESCI 7A. Roth-Johnson doesn't require much commitment for this course. Tests and midterms are easy as long as you have read the textbook (which you will have to do anyways because that's part of the homework). She gives extra credit, but it does not affect your overall grade much. Have a friend alert you when a clicker question goes up if you have a tendency to zone out, because they count toward your grade (correctness is not counted, only participation). Overall an easy course. Edit (6/7/2018): LS 7A is now a course taught by Professor Roth-Johnson. I have edited this review to be on the correct course (was formerly on LS 2).
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