Descriptive Astronomy 101
Student Comments
Below are some of the student evaluation comments for the Descriptive Astronomy 101 course. These comments and evaluations are collected by the instructor at the end of the semester. Comments are reproduced in their entirety as written by the student and are in no particular order. Opinions, views or grammatical errors are those of the student and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the instructor or Black Hawk College.
Most Recent Comments
Well just take notes when he does lectures, make sure if he is talking about something that goes through a process learn it!! it will be on the test
While the name of the course is Descriptive Astronomy, do not get the idea that it is all about stars. While the course was still very much fun, the instructor is a GEOLOGIST. So he tends to focus on the actual make-up of the planets and such. Really nice guy, funny in a geeky (but good!) way. My advice: STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! All the information and tools you need are given to you, you just need to use them!
Take lots of notes. Read the reading materials and do all the study guides. it will pay off in the long run. Ask lots of questions and pay close attention. Dont play on your cell phone during the class hour. You will miss alot.
Study hard for the tests and do the best you can to make it to every lab.
Well, this class wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. There was a little bit more math than I thought there would be. I reccommend doing the study guides and make flash cards out of the questions;that helped me a lot on the 2nd and 3rd test and I wished I would have done that on the 1st test. I would have definitely done better.This course is a lot of work, even though there aren't many assignments to do outside of class, there is a lot of studying involved. Overall, just make sure to ask questions if you are confused about anything.
STUDDYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! This is a great class and all the information is there for you to know.... you just have to study it. Start studying early. Don't wait until a few days before the test because there is to much information to learn in that short period of time. So my best and only advice is to STUDY!!!!! (and pay attention and obviously attend class everyday).
It is a very interesting course but not one that you can just sit around and expect to get an A in. Make sure you pay attention in class and do all the labs.
TAKE NOTES!!!
I liked all of the online things that were available to us
Teacher is thorough
The teacher is passionate about the subject, really kind, and fun. This is a good class to take but be warned: YOU WILL NOT FLY THROUGH THIS CLASS. It takes some serious studing but it is real good class to take, I think you will enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this course! Forewarning, there is a lot of work and a lot of materials involved in it but you will learn quite a bit! If you attend class everyday and you actually want to learn about Astronomy, then you will like this class. Definitely take notes and do the provided study guides and you will do fine in this course. Professor Harwood is an excellent teacher and actually knows what he is talking about. He is a geologist by trade and studied volcanism so there is a lot about those but it is nicely incorporated into the course and not just randomly thrown in. Also, this course is NOT about the stars. It is about planets, moons, asteroids, etc. Good luck!!
Astronomy is a great course and it was really interesting. Professor Harwood is very enthusiastic about the material. However, this class requires a lot of studying to do well, and there are no assignments so the grade in the class is basically based on how well you do on the tests.
It was a really fun course. Out of all of the courses I had this semester, my Decriptive Astronomy course was by far one of my favorites. It helped alot that the instructor actually had most of the notes already typed out for the students to use so we could concentrate on what he was saying or if we had to miss class, we didn't have to miss a GIGANTIC chunk of notes. His rule is that if you miss an exam, that you will miss all the class periods until you make up that test. It tripped me up in the beggining, but I got everything all straightened out. This is a great course that I had a lot of fun in, but in my opinion the labs were a little hard to understand some days.
Study
Over all this is a good course. If you enjoy science and the planets and all that jazz, Take it. It does require alot of studying/understanding of material but it is very informational and not too boring. GOODLUCK!
go to class
I really enjoyed this class, and I feel like I learned a lot. It definitely was not easy, but I think you get out of it what you put into it. The instructor is very helpful and knowledgeable. I had trouble understanding some of the reading material because of the high vocabulary at first; however, I found that getting books at my local library that are for adolescents really helped. I suggest that you take notes and study for the tests. I also suggest making friends with someone in the class, because you are going to want to get the notes from someone if you have to miss class for some reason.
Past Comments
Tough class, a lot of information in a short period of time. Multiple choice tests, sometimes all four answers seem correct even after studying the material. If you love science you will love this class, otherwise, stay clear. By the way, I'm getting a low B somehow.
I loved this class but, this isn't a class where you can just sit around not paying attention, and expect to pass. My advice: TAKE NOTES!! and if you really want to pass the class with a decent grade: STUDY YOUR NOTES!!! Good Luck!!!
First of all, I enjoyed this class. But let me make it perfectly clear that this is not what you were expecting when you chose astronomy. He is not kidding when he says he will deliver a "heavy dose" of geology. I strongly reccomend you print the powerpoints offline and always bring them to class, and do the studyguides. If you know the studyguides and don't miss lab days, you will ace this course.
I would definetely recommend this class to anyone who has a slight interest in our solar system. It is not an easy course, but it offers a lot of information. It is leaned a bit toward the geology side (the instructor is a geologist by trade) but it remains relevant to the course. Study hard, attend class on a regular basis (both physically and mentally), and take good notes and you will enjoy yourself for a semester. This was a class I looked forward to coming to. If you are ready for an edge of your seat thrill ride through space, time and worlds of all kinds, take this class. This course is kind of interesting but there is WAY to much information on each test.There is a lot to study and pretty much have to be in class every day.
To your advantage, read the online material when it is posted! That will help you prepare for the tests!
This class was about what I expected from a science course, it moves pretty fast so you have to keep up and try not to miss any class. The professor really does care about the subject and knows a lot about it. He might not be the most energetic and lively, but he is a great source of information. The class just takes hard work and dedication. And, of course, an interest in Astronomy is helpful too.
Be prepared to be completely lost in lecture, you'll find yourself wondering in thoughts you forgot you had. First half of the class is good and interesting but the second half really boring. So have Fun with that!!
The course taught was Astronomy, our professor had last minute notice on that he was teaching the course this semester, considering that it was very well taught. Alot of visuals and alot of note taking. I suggest printing them off line and filling them in (much easier). You won't use your book for anything so just rely on notes. Don't miss class if you don't plan on getting the notes you missed. Fast paced and alot of information but overall interesting. You will have to study your butt off to achieve a B on the test though. Be prepared to work!! Teacher is definetly smart on the subject.
Make sure to study your notes and pay attention the first time around. Review what you learn often so by the time of the test you don't have to cram for it. Shake & Bake!
A really interesting class, but you need to study a lot and get 100% on all the labs to really be able to pass, if your not good with tests. The majority of your grade comes from the exams and would only take the class if you have a strong interest in Astronomy and like to study a lot or have a good memory. Harwood makes the class more interesting and less boring. Gives honest views of the material. Although its for non-science majors, you still need some background on the subject material. The book is of NO HELP, except a lab or two.
I really loved this class. If you like taking notes by PowerPoint this is a class for you. Professor Harwood is a great and passionate teacher. I hope you take and enjoy this class.
There is a lot of information to remember in this class. If you take good notes you should do alright. We never used the book for anything though.
do not buy the book. use the notes and the study guides on the internet.
"Do not buy the book for this course, it will in no way help you in the class. If you can, avoid taking this class. It is NOT astronomy. It IS Planetary geology. If you only need a general education requirement for science and you have no interest in all the scientific theories available of how the planets camme to evolve and what they are made of, DO NOT take this class. The Professor does not curve grades and does not mind when the class average on exams is below passing. The professor is kind and willing to answer questions! Warning: This class involves alot of details. Future Students: Have a great semester!"
"I don't think that I have ever learned so much information in one course as I have in this one, but when it comes to test time, it can sometimes feel overwhelming with all of the presented information. All in all, definitely a good class to take for you lab science."
"This class can be boring at times. You have to wok for your grade in this classe. The stufy guides on line really help you perpair for the test.This class is not an easy A."
"This course does have a lot of information to get across. But if you do all the study guides and take notes you should be fine. Don't be overwhelmed. You don't need your book for anything. Mr. Harwood is a great teacher and loves what he does and wants students to succeed! I have learned so much!"
"This class was a great class if you are really interseted in astronomy. If you are not it may be a hard class and will not enjoy learning about this stuff. I would have to say that he is kind of a hard tester but looking back alot of it we should have known, and the tests don't seem that hard as long as you go to classes and go over the study guides! I enjoyed this class very much!"
"take notes, come to class, and review all notes because it is all there. you just need to make sure you study all of it."
"DO NOT TAKE DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY 101 EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT TAKE A CLASS WITH RICHARD HARWOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The expectations of the teacher are ridiculous! There is way too much information to remember, let alone the fact that it is a boring class about boring things. Once in a while, there is an interesting bit of information, but not nearly often enough. I would advise against ever taking this class for it is the worst class I have ever taken, and I HATE MATH! I would rather take a math class than endure this ever again. Pleas pass this information on to whomever you can."
"For needing a requirement in a Physical Science, Astronomy 101 with Richard Harwood is the way to go, powerpoint presentations are accurate with his lecture and easy to follow."
"i didnt like when we looked at slides of the planets unless it explained a process. having the notes and study guides was a beneifit to me."
"Professor Harwood is a very dedicated instructor to both the classroom objectives as well as to the students. His organization and presentation is very conducive to the learning experience. He provides valuable study tools such as study guide questions. If you know the questions on the study guide, you are bound to be successful on the exams. Exams and lab practicals are also not time sensitive to a 50 minute period. If it takes you three hours to complete your exam, you are allotted the needed time. This took away a lot of my test anxiety because I could focus on the questions being asked and not the clock. Although I have found many of the professors at BHC to be dedicated to their students, Professor Harwood always put "his needs" second. The student's needs always come first. All of the above elements made my learning experience very positive. I would never be reluctant to take another course from Professor Harwood. Actually, I would alter my schedule in order to have him as an instructor in another earth science class."