Rhys Adams
Data based on 14 reviews.
What kind of test questions does this teacher use most often (choose one):
Multiple ChoiceIs the teacher available for extra help during study halls, lunchtime, before or after school, etc.?
Almost AlwaysThe teacher responds to emails promptly. Do you...
Strongly AgreeThe teacher posts in-class materials online for reference (slides, etc.):
Almost AlwaysThe teacher lets us know at the beginning of the course and along the way how much each part of the class (homework, papers, quizzes and tests) counts towards our total grade:
Strongly AgreeHow much homework does this teacher assign?
Way too muchThe amount of writing required in this class is:
Very HighThe teacher allows us to use technology in class (e.g. laptop, calculator, smart pen, etc.)
Almost AlwaysHow much memorization is required to do well in this teacher’s course?
Very HighWhat advice would you give yourself if you were just starting the class now?
Class of 2026
Make sure to know the theory, because most people find the theory to be harder than the actual calculations you have to make. Moreover, team quizzes are way harder than the individual quizzes in terms of the theoretical aspect on waves and modern physics, so please read the OpenStax physics book and the outlines that he posts before doing the team quizzes. Other than that, he's a great teacher who's available to help sometimes and teachers fairly well.
Class of 2023
A lot of self studying rather than learning in class. Be sure to already know the material before coming to class, otherwise you’ll be lost.
Class of 2023
make sure to understand the concepts well, the classes are more like review classes so check the stuff beforehand if you can. overall he's a great teacher,, practice a lot
Class of 2021
Be sure to study the concepts. I tried understanding the webwork but it wasn't enough. You really need to make sure that you understand the theory / logic behind the situation.
Class of 2022
Ask the teacher a lot of questions or else you won't understand the course. Time yourself for quizzes and good luck.
Additional Comments
Class of 2020
Very nice, passionate about the subject and really wants students to learn
Class of 2020
great teacher, clear explanations, exams are hard but fair
Class of 2021
Before reading this, keep in mind that this review is from the Coronavirus semester, therefore half of the semester consisted of online lectures. Rhys is a nice person. He is very lively and generally quite enthusiastic. His way of teaching, however, is not for everyone. If you like a well-structured class with clear notes, steer clear of his class. He is not the best at doing problem-solving and he insists on making us do problems in groups, which, in my opinion, really isn't helpful when it comes to physics. If you are into group problem solving and active learning, then I think you would enjoy it. He puts a lot of emphasis on conceptual questions and there are always 2-3 questions about it in his test, so make sure you review that. He gives quite a bit of homework, which consists of weekly webworks and Mydalites, which can take a while to do. His deadlines are often really close (like one day you'll have a lab report and the next day an exam and a webwork due, etc. ) so you get really intense weeks. Despite not being the best at teaching the material, his tests are quite hard, but not impossible. Waves is supposed to be an easier class, yet he makes it way harder than it should be. Overall, I would not recommend him for people who don't have an innate interest in physics, as you will need to put quite a bit of time aside for his class. He isn't the type of teacher I personally look for, so I give him a 5/10.
Class of 2019
Rhys is an amazing teacher. I had him for mechanics and I realized how little I understood the material in high school. I improved a lot in his class. He is a very nice person and isn't strict while correcting (he's fair). He gives complicated webworks but they definitely help you understand everything. He gives useful examples in his notes too. He will let you know in advance what you will be doing for about every two weeks so there is never a bad surprise. He likes it if you participate but will never call on you. Towards the mid-session, he will tell you what your overall grade looks like, which helps you see how you are doing. He will allow cheat sheets for tests. He will also try to help you improve your grade by offering bonus points with certain things. I would definitely recommend him and would take him for all the physics courses!