Simon Balm - Santa Monica College

Professor: Simon Balm
Department: Earth Science
College: Santa Monica College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO1
  • 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:
This class was taken online over the summer. He is very organized and clear with what he wants. Assignments are relatively easy. Class is basically watching pre-recorded lectures and taking a weekly exam. There is no final. Relatively straightforward with everything, so you don't have to stress out. Would definitely recommend.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRON3
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Prof. Balm gives a lot of work and presentation lectures but is consistent with his schedule and grading. There's a lot of material to cover but he is straightforward with his work. He expects the same every week and spreads them out for you to finish. Plan your work ahead; you will not finish last minute. No trick questions on quizzes and no final
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO3
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Well thought out course on Canvas, good professor. Do the work on time, stay at it, communicate with the class and professor and you will improve each week. Highly recommend taking full semester class unless Science is a natural to you. Half semester class was not easy for me. You will learn allot about the skies. Communication is good for online.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO3
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Class material is straightforward. Professor Balm was always fast to respond to my questions. Some of the questions on the weekly quizzes were not covered on the weekly material. As long as you watch the lectures, turn in the assignments and discussions on time, you should be fine! There were no exams at all, not sure if this is typical or not.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRON1
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He was a really great and funny professor but his tests were impossible, they tested things that weren't in the notes at all. Thankfully there was a lot of homework so I was still able to get an A. The papers and hw are pretty easy just make sure you follow the rubric exactly and turn it in on time because he was pretty strict about that.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRON2
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof. Balm is excellent. I took his online, six-week Astro 1 class this summer and highly recommend it. Amazingly clear with a checklist at the start of each week, and review questions after each (very funny) lecture. Tests were a bit hard but open-note. Quick response times. The one negative is that his lectures haven't been updated in 3 years...
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO1
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
(COVID) I took the scholars class; it was HARD. I really learned so much, though. I can explain worm holes, black holes, event horizon, space/time, and more. This class will change your life and will make you a much more entertaining party guest. He is absolutely hilarious as a lecturer. But if you're looking for something easy, look elsewhere.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO5
  • Grade Received: C+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is so zany and funny!! I took his Astro 5 class because we were to discuss life in other planets. Very E.T.! It was a lot of fun! The images he uses in his projector are amazing! However, the material can be very challenging. It's science, of course! But they are informative. You will get a kick out of his class. Pretty cool overall!
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO2
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Even though his class was designed for "non-STEM" majors, it was surprisingly math-heavy and memorization-heavy. I had to really study for it (Crash Course videos are your best friend), as his exams were quite difficult. Good news is that he's very accessible outside of the classroom, and he's truly caring about his students.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRON1
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class was not helpful in expanding much useful knowledge. Everything is based on weekly tests and he gives a huge amount of material to learn with short discussion assignments and a test. The tests are a dominating factor of your grade and there are no sorts of makeup for errors. This is a class he has set up on autopilot. Hurt my GPA.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO2
  • 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:
Professor Balm is one of the most amazing professors I've had thus far. He's really dedicated to his work which inspires students to do as well as they possibly can. He's caring and funny and overall a very sweet man. His class was easy and engaging no matter what you're interested in. He reminds you of assignments which shows that he cares.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO2
  • Grade Received: C+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This class was my first semester, so I was nervous to take this. He gave us only 2 homework in a week and it was not heavy. Also, the class used PowerPoint so you dont need to take a note. He is kind and fun. I recommend him class!
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO5
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The lectures can feel overwhelmingly long and heavy but bearable because he is so funny and very easy to listen to. He makes the lectures extremely interesting! A humble professor that enjoys laughing. If that's not enough for you, he curves the tests too!!! Would love to take him again.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: ASTRO1
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
nice professor! funny, and we had one group project. i took his scholars class in my first semester at smc, we had online in-class tests and honestly if you take notes and study you'll be fine
Rating # 15
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 # 16
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 # 17
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 # 18
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 # 19
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 # 20
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.
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