Professor
Kerri Johnson
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2019 - I just want to warn everyone before attempting to take this class because it seems easy and the reviews are "not that bad" that this was the WORST class I have taken at UCLA by a milestone. I also would like to preface this by saying that I am a good student too and this class was the first time I have ever received a D on anything. Anyways so the class consists of the professor and the TA. There is no discussion for this class only a lecture. Also, keep in mind that the professor is a researcher at UCLA and the TA is her assistance so they are super close. Basically the entire class you sit in on these lectures which are these TERRIBLY designed slides of just photos and then she explains experiments and studies all class. Its just study after study and by the end of the class you've essentially heard over 100 different studies. Her slides are also designed in a way that its impossible to understand if you didn't attend lecture since its basically all pictures. Then you have readings every single week too that are extremely complex that we never ever go over in class. The exams are supposedly 50/50 of lecture and readings but I swear she purposely puts the most difficult things on the exam which by the way is all short answer. Anyways this class is seriously not worth the time and to put it in perspective of the number of studies you have to memorize in this class the midterm and the final each were 50 plus page study guides that the class created because there is that much information. Also, the TA knows absolutely nothing and there's basically no way to get help. There were multiple rants on how difficult this class was for no reason. Save yourselves and take a way easier elective.
Spring 2019 - I just want to warn everyone before attempting to take this class because it seems easy and the reviews are "not that bad" that this was the WORST class I have taken at UCLA by a milestone. I also would like to preface this by saying that I am a good student too and this class was the first time I have ever received a D on anything. Anyways so the class consists of the professor and the TA. There is no discussion for this class only a lecture. Also, keep in mind that the professor is a researcher at UCLA and the TA is her assistance so they are super close. Basically the entire class you sit in on these lectures which are these TERRIBLY designed slides of just photos and then she explains experiments and studies all class. Its just study after study and by the end of the class you've essentially heard over 100 different studies. Her slides are also designed in a way that its impossible to understand if you didn't attend lecture since its basically all pictures. Then you have readings every single week too that are extremely complex that we never ever go over in class. The exams are supposedly 50/50 of lecture and readings but I swear she purposely puts the most difficult things on the exam which by the way is all short answer. Anyways this class is seriously not worth the time and to put it in perspective of the number of studies you have to memorize in this class the midterm and the final each were 50 plus page study guides that the class created because there is that much information. Also, the TA knows absolutely nothing and there's basically no way to get help. There were multiple rants on how difficult this class was for no reason. Save yourselves and take a way easier elective.
Most Helpful Review
This class seems very difficult but in reality isn't. The class is basically concerned with all sorts of scientific studies pertaining to what our bodies/motion convey to others (both lectures and readings). You will learn about each study - hypothesis, method and findings - and be tested on them. You actually have to do the readings for this class because they will be covered on the exam. While there seems to be a lot of material, and the exams seem to be difficult, she curves very VERY generously. I thought some of the studies that we covered in class were pretty interesting. Others were okay. She also posts her powerpoints online, which is helpful. There are three exams; you get to drop the lowest one. There is also a paper in which you summarize a scientific study.
This class seems very difficult but in reality isn't. The class is basically concerned with all sorts of scientific studies pertaining to what our bodies/motion convey to others (both lectures and readings). You will learn about each study - hypothesis, method and findings - and be tested on them. You actually have to do the readings for this class because they will be covered on the exam. While there seems to be a lot of material, and the exams seem to be difficult, she curves very VERY generously. I thought some of the studies that we covered in class were pretty interesting. Others were okay. She also posts her powerpoints online, which is helpful. There are three exams; you get to drop the lowest one. There is also a paper in which you summarize a scientific study.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - Very interesting class and the professor is always willing to provide alternative explanations to her slides if the class doesn't get it. She is always available during office hours and grades very fair. Would take again! The textbook can be pricey but you NEED it for the class. It is easy to understand and appears on about 40% of the test.
Winter 2016 - Very interesting class and the professor is always willing to provide alternative explanations to her slides if the class doesn't get it. She is always available during office hours and grades very fair. Would take again! The textbook can be pricey but you NEED it for the class. It is easy to understand and appears on about 40% of the test.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2021 - TAKE THIS CLASS. Seriously. This class is so applicable simply based on the fact we are all humans and use negotiation skills almost daily subconsciously. The setup of the class is once a week for three hours. Usually, Prof. Johnson will prep the week's case a little, show us assignments with other members of the class we will be negotiating against/with, and then everyone reads their "role assignment." You literally get a piece of paper that says "you are now an Oscar-nominated director entering negotiation for a new feature... you want X actor to play the lead and Y artistic director and Z amount of artistic control," might be nerdy but I found it super cool to get to flex our "acting" skills a little and take on different personas every week (and people take them super seriously it's very entertaining). Then you get put into a breakout room and negotiate with classmates for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Sometimes it's huge groups, mostly it's you in a breakout room with one other person and an hour to get a deal. Both intimidating and engaging. This class is 100% based on your willingness to participate, and the fact that the entire class is putting themselves out there and just trying to learn how to negotiate in a safe, classroom setting really made for a great experience. By the end, I had made a lot of acquaintances/even friends in the class (and you work with different people out of the 50 every week which really gets you to meet people). Grade wise - you have to turn in 5 case summaries (out of 8 total cases, you can pick which ones) basically just describing what you learned and incorporating some textbook concepts (textbook is super helpful, VERY straightforward). I'm pretty sure everyone got 100 on these for just turning them in - just put some effort in and you will be fine (for reference, I only spent 1-2 hours doing hw for this class until the last few weeks when we were doing a project). The final few weeks you're working on a "capstone" negotiation with a larger group. While I found it annoying to coordinate group work outside of class, I actually really enjoyed getting to plan strategy and prep for negotiations and then execute them with a team (and we ended up having some great banter). We had to do a final write-up as a group, super straightforward and simple (and this was the final). There is also an article summary where you basically take some research about negotiation and comment on it. I actually found this assignment awesome (and super easy, 4 pages double spaced, lots of 'what were the methods' and 'do you think the research is valid') - I read an article about how women are perceived as easier to lie to at negotiation tables which leads them to worse deals. Depressing, but super interesting. Prof Johnson is engaging, clearly intelligent and qualified, and a GREAT professor for this course. She skillfully articulated a lot of the negotiation basics and understands how to frame the classroom to be a very safe and useful learning environment. She knows what she is doing! She also mailed me (and our entire 50 person class!) a HAND WRITTEN postcard in the middle of the quarter thanking me for my enthusiasm and participation in our online world. I thought that was really sweet. I know I've rambled here - but the best part about this class is that it will push you. It is not a challenge academically, it is a challenge because for a lot of students (including myself) you are forced to be direct and confrontational and try a new skill you really haven't explored yet. I felt really anxious a few times with some imposter syndrome, worried the entire class was pro-negotiators and I was a blatant amateur, but I was proven so wrong. It was a total community learning experience and really allowed me to progress in negotiation settings, but also just more generally as a person - which is something I really can't say for any other class I've taken.
Winter 2021 - TAKE THIS CLASS. Seriously. This class is so applicable simply based on the fact we are all humans and use negotiation skills almost daily subconsciously. The setup of the class is once a week for three hours. Usually, Prof. Johnson will prep the week's case a little, show us assignments with other members of the class we will be negotiating against/with, and then everyone reads their "role assignment." You literally get a piece of paper that says "you are now an Oscar-nominated director entering negotiation for a new feature... you want X actor to play the lead and Y artistic director and Z amount of artistic control," might be nerdy but I found it super cool to get to flex our "acting" skills a little and take on different personas every week (and people take them super seriously it's very entertaining). Then you get put into a breakout room and negotiate with classmates for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Sometimes it's huge groups, mostly it's you in a breakout room with one other person and an hour to get a deal. Both intimidating and engaging. This class is 100% based on your willingness to participate, and the fact that the entire class is putting themselves out there and just trying to learn how to negotiate in a safe, classroom setting really made for a great experience. By the end, I had made a lot of acquaintances/even friends in the class (and you work with different people out of the 50 every week which really gets you to meet people). Grade wise - you have to turn in 5 case summaries (out of 8 total cases, you can pick which ones) basically just describing what you learned and incorporating some textbook concepts (textbook is super helpful, VERY straightforward). I'm pretty sure everyone got 100 on these for just turning them in - just put some effort in and you will be fine (for reference, I only spent 1-2 hours doing hw for this class until the last few weeks when we were doing a project). The final few weeks you're working on a "capstone" negotiation with a larger group. While I found it annoying to coordinate group work outside of class, I actually really enjoyed getting to plan strategy and prep for negotiations and then execute them with a team (and we ended up having some great banter). We had to do a final write-up as a group, super straightforward and simple (and this was the final). There is also an article summary where you basically take some research about negotiation and comment on it. I actually found this assignment awesome (and super easy, 4 pages double spaced, lots of 'what were the methods' and 'do you think the research is valid') - I read an article about how women are perceived as easier to lie to at negotiation tables which leads them to worse deals. Depressing, but super interesting. Prof Johnson is engaging, clearly intelligent and qualified, and a GREAT professor for this course. She skillfully articulated a lot of the negotiation basics and understands how to frame the classroom to be a very safe and useful learning environment. She knows what she is doing! She also mailed me (and our entire 50 person class!) a HAND WRITTEN postcard in the middle of the quarter thanking me for my enthusiasm and participation in our online world. I thought that was really sweet. I know I've rambled here - but the best part about this class is that it will push you. It is not a challenge academically, it is a challenge because for a lot of students (including myself) you are forced to be direct and confrontational and try a new skill you really haven't explored yet. I felt really anxious a few times with some imposter syndrome, worried the entire class was pro-negotiators and I was a blatant amateur, but I was proven so wrong. It was a total community learning experience and really allowed me to progress in negotiation settings, but also just more generally as a person - which is something I really can't say for any other class I've taken.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - Professor Johnson is an amazing professor. She genuinely wants you to do well and will help you in any way she can. The class itself is composed of small assignments, one exam, and a social psychology experiment. The small assignments were mostly graded on completion. The exam was based purely on lecture slides, although, you could use the book to supplement lecture material. For the experiment, you work in a group of your choice to establish a novel experiment. This class definitely requires time and effort but the ending results are worth it. If you're looking to satisfy the lab requirement, take it with her!
Winter 2019 - Professor Johnson is an amazing professor. She genuinely wants you to do well and will help you in any way she can. The class itself is composed of small assignments, one exam, and a social psychology experiment. The small assignments were mostly graded on completion. The exam was based purely on lecture slides, although, you could use the book to supplement lecture material. For the experiment, you work in a group of your choice to establish a novel experiment. This class definitely requires time and effort but the ending results are worth it. If you're looking to satisfy the lab requirement, take it with her!
Most Helpful Review
*M137B (not an option) If you have the chance to take a class with Professor Johnson, you MUST! She gives a fantastic and interesting class. 3 exams (only 2 count!) and a paper due at the end. There is a lot of reading, and YES it will be on the exam. But she is very available (even did a phone conversation with me because I couldn't make it to office hours) and fair in her grading. This was a very fun class and I learned a ton! She is so passionate about her work and provides some great advice.
*M137B (not an option) If you have the chance to take a class with Professor Johnson, you MUST! She gives a fantastic and interesting class. 3 exams (only 2 count!) and a paper due at the end. There is a lot of reading, and YES it will be on the exam. But she is very available (even did a phone conversation with me because I couldn't make it to office hours) and fair in her grading. This was a very fun class and I learned a ton! She is so passionate about her work and provides some great advice.
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