ASTR C1610

Problem Sets This semester, there were only four (last one was optional). He took the highest three scores. They require knowledge from the lectures but also some self-searching on Google and reading through the book. Midterm Related to lecture notes. There's extra credit that's related to poetry relating to astronomy. Part multiple-choice, part short answer. Final Related to lecture notes (NOT cumulative - only tests on things after the midterm!) There's extra credit, again, related to poetry. Part multiple-choice, part short answer.

The greatest thing about Patterson is that he is super enthusiastic about astronomy. You can tell he loves the subject, just from the fact that writes and performs songs about astronomy in class, or from his useful and entertaining lecture notes. The only problem with this course is that it isn't structured too well. Patterson will claim to send out problems sets today which won't be available until a week later. Sometimes, his lectures can be confusing as he jumps from one concept to another. The class did seem quite disorganized as a whole. It would probably help to read a little ahead so you can understand what he says in lecture. Thankfully, though, he sends out lecture notes (although they are not exhaustive - you still have to go to class!) and shares cool news and events in astronomy. Once, he had a miniature party/get-together at his house, which was nice. As for mathematical background, you really only need to know Algebra. Be comfortable working with units and manipulating formulae (not too difficult).

I pretty much agree with the last two reviews. About the easy A matter, I wanted to add that I don't think it's hard to get a good grade in the class. Probably about the same as any other class. Even though the raw scores for the midterm seem low at the time, the raw scores don't mean anything on their own, because the final grade for the semester is curved up to a standard distribution. I think a good number of people got in the A-/A range for their final grade. Probably my favorite professor so far. Good class.

4 or 5 problem sets (he takes your top 4 grades) ~ 20%; midterm ~ 25%; final ~ 35%; class participation ~ 15%.

I loved this class (I hate to begin with such a biased comment, but I guess I should show my hand). It's been several months since the class concluded, and I believe I can safely say that this course will forever remain as one of my most memorable and fulfilling classes at Columbia. Of course, no class is perfect, and I know there were moments of frustration for some students; I intend to cover both the pros and cons of the class in this review so that you know what to expect. Basically, I share the opinion of the previous reviewer (Dec 10, 2009) but I feel that a three year absence of reviews is too long and that this page probably needs something more current to attest to the brilliance of this course. The Pros: My high regard for this course has everything to do with Professor Patterson. He has real character and enthusiasm that infuse every class. He's a teacher who values true *teaching* above all else, as opposed to simple rote learning or pointless parroting of information. What he's interested in is encouraging creative thinking, facilitating a deep understanding of concepts that are essential to our current worldview, and making the whole class enjoyable (if that sounds intimidating I don't mean it that way! It's relaxed, fun, and goes at an easy pace). He values class discussion and participation, and his lectures lead the class through the most interesting developme…

Problem Sets: Four of them. The fourth was handed out on the last day of class and is optional, depending on how you performed on the prior three. They are challenging and require quite a bit of work, but are rewarding and teach you concepts for the exams... Midterm: Not like the problem sets, but the concepts taught in P.sets pop up here. This is easier than the problem sets, and a lot of the questions are qualitative. Final: No comment. However, word on campus is that it is easier than the Mid Term. Participation: Really counts. However, with such an interesting professor, you'd be foolish not to exploit his resources. Optional Paper: In case you didn't do so well OR want a generous grade bump OR don't have a girlfriend/boyfriend and have nothing better to do on a Saturday night. He counts this as either extra points or as a formula adjustment...whichever helps you more.

***In the interest of presenting an un-biased review, this review was written before the final grade received*** Quick-Statement: Extremely interesting material presented by a truly engaged, if not a bit quirky (but what Astronomer isn't) professor...assuming you are reasonably proficient in high school math and basic physics. The GOOD: This is the first science course I've taken at Columbia, and I took it because the subject matter was very interesting to me. He made it abundantly clear on the first day of class that the course would ultimately be far more quantitative than qualitative, which was fine. The implementation of quantitative methods actually ENABLES you to understand the abstractions he makes - which can be very convenient in the highly-likely event that most of this material seems foreign. The lectures are actually pretty interesting - and he has myriad handouts which explain everything you will need to know for the EXAMS (and most things you'll need for the problem sets). He actively engages the students, and even gives out fun trinkets such as meteorites & Kit Kats for good questions/answers. The workload is extremely manageable, and he is a very fair grader. Supposedly, he has a generous curve - I won't know until I get my final grade back. Finally, he is almost ALWAYS in his office, and is unbelievably helpful with problem sets and lingering questions. He hol…

4 difficult problem sets, the lowest one is dropped. one midterm one final

This was really not a pleasant class. I fell asleep in lectures multiple times, even though Professor Patterson is clearly knowledgeable. I took this course for the science credit, and I feel like I could've chosen a different way to get the science requirement that would've been more enjoyable. Patterson's lectures, problem sets, and exams all cover different material. This is really problematic. The problem sets in particular are extremely difficult and take a long time to do, mostly because I didn't have any of the information I needed to answer the questions even though I went to every lecture. I have taken some physics, and I still didn't know how to start the problem sets. They are very heavy on the math. Patterson is always willing to help with these problem sets, but it's frustrating to need every one explained. He hands out notes most classes, which do sometimes relate to the questions on the exam. All in all, I would not whole-heartedly recommend this course. The material is interesting, but Patterson does not communicate it effectively. If you have a strong physics background, this is a good class for you, but otherwise, be prepared to work your butt off.