Professor
Lilia Illes
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Most Helpful Review
No matter how much she says that you do not need rote-memorization, trust me you do ! I didn't go for many lectures ans still got an A-. The stuff is really really simple. So basically, you have to update your blog every week with a write up and post an image of your lab. There is this software called ArcGIS which is used to create maps. You just make different maps every week and write a paragraph on it and that's your post. There are 2 exams one midterm and one final. You sit in front of the computer and they are multiple choice ! (35% each exam). Just memorize (throughly) her lecture slides a day or two before the exam and go give it. The question are straight out of the slides. I would say take this GE if you want to get done with a requirement and want an easy A
No matter how much she says that you do not need rote-memorization, trust me you do ! I didn't go for many lectures ans still got an A-. The stuff is really really simple. So basically, you have to update your blog every week with a write up and post an image of your lab. There is this software called ArcGIS which is used to create maps. You just make different maps every week and write a paragraph on it and that's your post. There are 2 exams one midterm and one final. You sit in front of the computer and they are multiple choice ! (35% each exam). Just memorize (throughly) her lecture slides a day or two before the exam and go give it. The question are straight out of the slides. I would say take this GE if you want to get done with a requirement and want an easy A
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - So let me start by saying, I took this class a GE and I really though it was gonna be like an easy GE. This class is on the tougher side and the way to do well on the tests is by attending every lecture and legit writing down everything she says. Some of the questions on the midterm and final are very specific. The labs are very easy and if you can take it with Frida, she is the best. Here is the breakdown for the class. Labs 20% Midterm 1: 35% Final: 35% Project: 10% I got a 100% on the labs, 80%, 98% on the project, 80% on the midterm and 96% on the final. The final is also significantly easier than the midterm. The class was super interesting and if you plan on taking this class the best way to do well is to study notes. She also gave an extra credit assignment that saved everyone's grade too. Good thing to know for the Midterm it covered weeks 1-4, and week 5 was the midterm. The final covered only week 6-9 where and week 10 was the final with like 1-2 questions from the midterm. Overall the professor is very engaging and it is a good class. I recommend just study and you will do good.
Fall 2024 - So let me start by saying, I took this class a GE and I really though it was gonna be like an easy GE. This class is on the tougher side and the way to do well on the tests is by attending every lecture and legit writing down everything she says. Some of the questions on the midterm and final are very specific. The labs are very easy and if you can take it with Frida, she is the best. Here is the breakdown for the class. Labs 20% Midterm 1: 35% Final: 35% Project: 10% I got a 100% on the labs, 80%, 98% on the project, 80% on the midterm and 96% on the final. The final is also significantly easier than the midterm. The class was super interesting and if you plan on taking this class the best way to do well is to study notes. She also gave an extra credit assignment that saved everyone's grade too. Good thing to know for the Midterm it covered weeks 1-4, and week 5 was the midterm. The final covered only week 6-9 where and week 10 was the final with like 1-2 questions from the midterm. Overall the professor is very engaging and it is a good class. I recommend just study and you will do good.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - Professor Illes is engaging and funny in her videos, but she is brutal and cutthroat in my opinion. She basically does not tolerate late work unless your mom died. Her 90 multiple choice midterm questions (with no given study guide besides hours of rambling lectures) were written so vague and confusing and sometimes conflicted with lecture material and that was a huge scandal. The final was better, she dropped a study guide but it was vague and I basically only got a good grade because an angel student made a Quizlet. In terms of the class, GEOG 5 is a great lab GE to take, and in terms of the content it is very easy and comparable to AP Environmental Science. I took asynchronous lectures and in-person lab, so I watched 4-6 lecture videos ranging from 20-50 minutes a week, with the weekly assignment being to write 3 questions and answers per lecture video. The lab is mandatory with no makeups (depending on your TA), but the labs are incredibly easy and often group work.
Fall 2023 - Professor Illes is engaging and funny in her videos, but she is brutal and cutthroat in my opinion. She basically does not tolerate late work unless your mom died. Her 90 multiple choice midterm questions (with no given study guide besides hours of rambling lectures) were written so vague and confusing and sometimes conflicted with lecture material and that was a huge scandal. The final was better, she dropped a study guide but it was vague and I basically only got a good grade because an angel student made a Quizlet. In terms of the class, GEOG 5 is a great lab GE to take, and in terms of the content it is very easy and comparable to AP Environmental Science. I took asynchronous lectures and in-person lab, so I watched 4-6 lecture videos ranging from 20-50 minutes a week, with the weekly assignment being to write 3 questions and answers per lecture video. The lab is mandatory with no makeups (depending on your TA), but the labs are incredibly easy and often group work.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - THIS CLASS IS NOT AN EASY GE!!!! This was probably one of the most time-consuming and confusing classes I have taken here. Now, the class is very interesting if you enjoy learning about the environment but the professor doesnt use a textbook, does not write words on the slides, and constantly mentions her other classes and opinions during the lectures. Although it is pretty funny, I took this class online but it has an in person discussion which often involves fieldwork at ucla and attendance is mandatory. If you have a good TA it is so much more helpful but if you have a bad TA you are on your own. The final is cumulative and there is no study guide or mention of what you should study besides to watch the lectures so you really have to put in the work in order to get a good grade on the midterm and final which are 60 percent of your grade. Literally everything she says in the lectures are up for grabs including the mention of any numbers and the videos she includes in the lectures. The workload itself ranges anywhere from 1-6 hours of lectures and I would never recommend unless you have to take this class for your major.
Fall 2023 - THIS CLASS IS NOT AN EASY GE!!!! This was probably one of the most time-consuming and confusing classes I have taken here. Now, the class is very interesting if you enjoy learning about the environment but the professor doesnt use a textbook, does not write words on the slides, and constantly mentions her other classes and opinions during the lectures. Although it is pretty funny, I took this class online but it has an in person discussion which often involves fieldwork at ucla and attendance is mandatory. If you have a good TA it is so much more helpful but if you have a bad TA you are on your own. The final is cumulative and there is no study guide or mention of what you should study besides to watch the lectures so you really have to put in the work in order to get a good grade on the midterm and final which are 60 percent of your grade. Literally everything she says in the lectures are up for grabs including the mention of any numbers and the videos she includes in the lectures. The workload itself ranges anywhere from 1-6 hours of lectures and I would never recommend unless you have to take this class for your major.
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