Steven Kawaler - Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Professor: Steven Kawaler

Department: Physics

College: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I really enjoyed taking this class. It was tough at first because I still had to learn a lot of the vocabulary first. It's not necessarily a hard class, but you do have to work hard in order to do well. He goes through the lectures pretty fast, so the readings help. Studying is highly recommended for exams in order to pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you don't attend class, you're going to miss out on a lot of these lecture challenges he gives out. The reading is supposed to help you answer the problems he gives in class but they don't so don't bother. The tests are very tricky because he phrases them weird and the info is very obscure. Homework is impossible and hard and takes a lot of time

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class if you are looking for an easy science credit. It is fascinating, but you have to work hard to get an A. Kawaler is very understanding and caring. The professor is awesome, but the class sucks.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kawaler is amazing. The class on the other hand is not meant for people who are looking for an easy A. It's not happening unless you're good at science.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO150
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Steve is a great professor but the description for Astro 150 was very different from the actual class. It is very heavily Physics based and not being a science major and never having taken Physics I am very lost. The TAs are good during recitation. Basically you are graded on the 3 exams during the semester and that's it. But Kawaler is good

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Love this teacher, he doesn't give too much information in a lecture and he knows how to expand on what he's got in the powerpoint. He always knows how to crack some good, random, jokes. Another thing, he also likes to show examples whether that's with something he brought to show or a video.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best teacher I have had so far at ISU! He has a dry but fun sense of humor and plays music every day before class! He's knows a lot about astronomy and is very enthusiastic. It made me excited to learn astro.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome! He's very interesting and you can tell he knows his stuff. Great sense of humor, easy-going, and an all around great guy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Really nice, and passionate about his subject. Lectures were a little dull, but i am not a science major so that could account for part of it. Great course, you learn some fun things.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Steve Kawaler is the man!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loves teaching this class, TA'ed for Carl Sagan. I think that's honestly about as awesome as you can get.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pros: Easy class with interesting content. Cons: Not a good class if you're sleepy after lunch. Low lighting and calm delivery = zzz.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was my enjoyable class this semster. Loves the subject, fun in-class demonstrations...

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome, his passion for the subject will drive your interest level through the roof.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very helpful when it comes to answering any questions you might have.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

It's been 3 years since I took his class and I still remember how much I liked it. If you want an interesting elective, take Astro 250 with Kawaler

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Posts notes online, gives essay q's before tests and posts a practice exam (but w/o answers). funny guy, knows and cares about astro! class semi-difficult, more physics than i would like, but thats astronomy so oh well

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Pretty funny, and interesting. Has a lot of experience in the area, so he can relate material to the real world.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you liked him for Astro 150, he's even better in Astro 250. A very humorous and really nice guy that teaches you to view astronomy beyond the regular stars and planets stuff. I highly recommend him for any class!