Simon Balm - Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Professor: Simon Balm

Department: Earth Science

College: Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTRON1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very nice and funny professor. Very little homework, just two weekly assignments that took 10 mins each. Final was not cumulative. Tests are pretty easy if you study. Tells jokes in class and you can tell he likes teaching astronomy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO2
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This was one of the best online classes I have ever taken. It's very clear what is asked of you. No textbook. Same schedule and due dates every week. You will have to do the work to do well on tests. Lectures are like videos/powerpoints that you'll have to watch or read. Took the 8 week class and spent about 4h-5h a week on the class. Got an A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

At first, I didn't take this class very seriously & that was a mistake. Tests can be pretty hard since its lecture heavy & I did not find the practice questions to be helpful at all. He offers 3 extra credit options which include a field trip, research paper, & a creative work. DO THESE!! The lectures can be quite long & boring BUT informational

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTRON7
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Really great class. Very informative. Material was super interesting for me. Professor is really good. There are only 3 tests and bunch of online discussions. You need to work for an A. Tests might be hard for non-science students, but they are based on a curve. Overall, it was a fun class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great proffesor. Probably the best online class I've ever taken. I learned a lot and was challenged just enough to have to push myself a bit. You will definitely need to study (it is college after all) but its fairly easy to get an A in the class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: No
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Took this class thinking it would be fun and interesting. Honestly worst decision Ever. Lectures are very boring and he lectures literally every class. Tests are super hard. So much information covered and isnt clear on what to study.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTR5
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Clearly he's a smart man but he's not specific about what to study for and doesn't give the best advice on how to improve.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Extremely compassionate, funny and caring (when you take the time to talk to him). For a non Astro major I found the material very difficult and lectures super informational, but more suited for students who have taken other Astro classes before hand. However, if you explain what you're having difficulties with, he will do his best to help you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTRONOMY1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

EXTREMELY science heavy. Should be an astrophysics course. Tests are near impossible to study for. Professor Balm is hilarious though, and really knows his material. I enjoyed attending his class, but the tests were unbelievably hard, especially for an intro class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I Took this class online for 8 weeks and this class has become one of my favorite classes at SMC. Overall this class was a breeze Professor Balm is very organized and he has a very clear grading criteria. Everything that you need to know are posted in slides and those slides can be helpful for studying for the quiz's which are 75% of your grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Balm is wonderful. He's very understanding, very funny, great communicator, and gives pretty good material to study. You can complete the class with an A if you do the Extra Credit & use quizlet. You don't need the book at all. Google is your best friend. I would take him again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1193
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Took Astro 2 online for Spring 2017. It was an 8-week course so the material was heavy, however, as long as you make sure to do all the work, you will pass. The tests were hard and some of the slides were outdated, but overall if you study- it was an easy pass. He has a good sense of humor and is fair in grading.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I am currently in his Astro 2 class, online. I regret ever taking this class. His tests are extremely difficult and questions are tricky. Even when studying directly from the notes, which are said to have the answers right there. If you want to keep. High GPA don't take this class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ATRO1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I really enjoyed Professor Balm's class! light workload, interesting etc. class was mostly him reading the slides & the class taking notes, a lot of information covered but not stressful.. when he let his personality show, he had the best sense of humor ever & had an all-around great energy to him! paper @ the end of semester was fun to write.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Balm is one of the funniest professors ever! Even though the class was online, he really tries his best to keep the lectures interesting. He also does a great job of providing different ways to study the material instead of your standard powerpoint lecture. He is a fair grader and is clear on what he expects from his students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO5
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

His class can be a little dry at times but when its interesting its REALLY interesting. Its a pretty simple setup, you show up and he lectures, take notes, 3 tests graded on a curve, study and you do well. Nothing else to it. If you like space and are interested to know more but don't want to commit to a really hard science class this course is 4u.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great teacher! This class is very heavy with material. I wrote on average about 4-5 pages of notes a class. However, it is absolutely fascinating. 3 exams, weekly discussions, extra credit (which is about 2%). The exams are not easy (50 questions). You really have to study for them and there is a lot of material to study. He grades on a curve.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTRON1
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He offers extra credit, but its only 1% of your total grade. Test are too hard, even for me and I am a science major with a 3.9 GPA and I had to receive a W on my transcript. We are only graded on 3 weekly discussions. When you see test results, you see that the test questions are vague and could pertain to other information in the notes. Terrible.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTRON1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Awesome class but many thought it was math and science heavy - it isn't, and there are no prerequisites other than a willingness to learn. 6-week summer session weekly test w/lowest grade dropped, weekly web/news discussion post, weekly question post+response, weekly general discussion post+response. Text not required, prof provides all readings.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTO1
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Quite heavy, especially for a first Astronomy class. Online tests are 75% of final grade, 1 hour each week, too short! There are so many things to memorize! You never know which little detail you'll be tested on. On the positive side, the professor is cool and always available to answer questions! Very tough class, especially the 6-week course!