Classes I’ve taught in Michigan
Where links are provided, they go to a syllabus page, which often links to the course activities and assessments. For the last several years, I have adopted a learner-centered ‘partially-flipped’ structure for many of my courses (especially Astro 142 and Astro 533, and to a certain extent Astro 106), with a heavy reliance on reading before class and a combination of learning activities (e.g., lecture-tutorials, think-pair-share, group discussions) and mini-lectures in class. The syllabus often links to the preparation they are asked to do before class. Some of the links are proprietary sites (such as UM’s version of Canvas, or Mastering Astronomy) and may not work for you. If there’s something that you need to see or understand that is behind a firewall, shoot me an email and I’ll try to figure out how to get you what you need.
- Astronomy 101 – The Solar System and the Search for Life Beyond Earth (introductory astronomy for non-science majors); Winter 2012, Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Winter 2021 (team taught so less active learning; linked syllabus in Fall 2017 includes a substantial group research project culminating in a poster fair)
- Astronomy 102 – Stars, Galaxies and the Universe (introductory astronomy for non-science majors) – Winter 2010, Winter 2011 (team taught so less active learning)
- Astronomy 106 – Aliens (minicourse following the format of exploring the Drake Equation and Fermi Paradox) – Winter 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Winter 2015
- Astronomy 107 – The Dark Universe (minicourse on dark matter, dark energy and black holes) – Fall 2019
- Astronomy 142 – From the Big Bang to the Milky Way (introductory cosmology and astronomy for non-science majors, more active learning) – Winter 2013, Winter 2014, Winter 2016
- Astronomy 429 – Senior Writing Seminar – Fall 2011
- Astronomy 533 – The Structure and Content of Galaxies (graduate galaxies class, more active learning) – Fall 2010, Fall 2012, Fall 2014, Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2020
- Comprehensive Studies Program 100 – Perspectives on learning and academic success – Summer 2015
- Honors 222/232 – Honors Core Course – Are we Alone? Exploring the Fermi Paradox and the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe – Winter 2018, Winter 2019, Winter 2020