Reviews for Jonathan D. Dinman
Average Rating:| Anonymous Terp Course: BSCI437 Grade Expected: A December 19, 2008, 10:22 am | Great class by an even better lecturer. I was a little hesitant about taking virology because such a class runs the risk of getting bogged down by memorizing endless facts about endless viruses. However, I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The class is one of the most entertaining I have taken at UMD. Because the class itself is clearly organized and because Dr. Dinman is very confident about his knowledge in virology and is very witty, it turns into a thoroughly enjoyable course. And I feel like I have come out having learned and retained a lot. Grading is generous. Not missing more than three classes gives you 5 points. Writing a short review (1 page) on a classical virology paper gives you 10 points. For a class with three tests worth 50 points each and a final worth 100 points, those extra credit points give a big boost. He even said at the beginning of the semester that around 50% of us would get an A. Dr. Dinman hates pre-med point-pushers, and in designing the course has made it possible to allow students with a real interest in virology to leave with a decent grade without having to fight other students for it. That being said, you do have to learn the material. It's not a fluff class at all. If you get the chance to take this course, I would highly recommend it. |
| blackdragon Course: BSCI437 Grade Expected: December 18, 2007, 9:59 am | Oh my god, he gave extra credit for just for attending 32/35 lectures and more extra credit for writing a 5 pg max paper on a journal article. He gives at least 50% of the class A's. In the class basically an 80% is an A because he does not factor the top 10% into the average. The way he organized the course was highly logical. Dinman brings in guests speakers from NIH, FDA, HIV experts, HPV experts to enrich the classroom experience. The lady that lectures on vaccines gave out free shirts! Dinman as a lecturer was the best lecturer i ever had. He comes in with a bright attitude always smiling. In the lecture slides he wants us to learn the concepts first then examples. Whenever there was a slide with one of those complex molecular cascades he says don't memorize this just understand this... attend his reviews even though they are optional and take place during the class time. He gets his ideas for questions to write on the exam from these reviews. 75% of the questions asked on the exam were from the review and the rest were on concepts he repeated like 10 times. Highly suggest taking this class with Dinman |
| emilyes Course: BSCI437 Grade Expected: | Really enjoyed taking this class. Dinman makes it easy to understand and is very entertaining, often making jokes throughout the class. His exams do not test your ability to memorize, but instead require you to know the main concepts and ideas. Extra credit is also available, plus he curves at the end of the semester. Dinman does not want to punish students that are interesting in virology by making it hard for them to get a good grade; instead, he wants everyone to do well. |