Great explanations. His own best publicist, though.

He loves astronomy + he loves teaching = GREAT COMBO.

Great lecturer. Able to teach astronomy to non-math people, and he makes it fun. He does not show much interest in getting to know students personally. Recycles tests. His courses are some of the most popular at Foothill!

Very clear explanation with lots of motion. Fun class. Learn a lot. Great instructor. high;y recommanded.

Very clear explanation with lots of motion. Fun class. Learn a lot. Great instructor. high;y recommanded.

Great Teacher! Teaching the easiest( i suppose) physical science class in Foothill. Funny lectures. You will never get bored. Although materials at the end of the quarter are quite abstract.

Very good teacher, clear, knowledgable, cool guy. Favorite teacher so far, made a otherwise boring class into a fun course. I actually went to class everyday not because I have to but because I wanted to. Highly highly recommended.

Earned a B in the class and never opened the book - take copious notes and there are 5 pop quizzes, 1 midterm and a final.

Fraknoi is a GREAT, very funny instructor. He simplifies everything into terms that normal people can understand, and seems to really enjoy teaching. He also allows a notecard on tests, which is very helpful.

The truth is, he's one of the best astronomy teacher in the nation. This is a fact.

He is as funny as Robbin Williams but has the intellect of a scholar. His speaking ability is supperior to most teachers I have had and he teaches you everything you need to know in class so that the tests become easy. A+++

Fraknoi is a GREAT teacher. he is very enthusiastic and knowledgable. he has trouble helping students individuall because he has so many.

He is a great teacher, both entertaining & educational. Remember to turn off your cell phone in class though and don't talk during lecture or he'll embarass you in front of 160 people.

Justifies attending the school.

The man was born to teach.

one of his qoutes "I have no dignity," he has also a poor little brother. Very fun and interesting class.

Mr. Fraknoi teaches because he loves to teach and he loves astronomy. He blows me away with his knowledge, he should be at NASA. His enthusiasm is contagious and inpiring! He's looking for a star student in you. :)

THE BEST CLASS I EVER HAD. HE IS A GREAT TEACHER. I ENJOYEN EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF HIS CLASS.

A VERY GOOD INSTRUCTOR

Absolutely GREAT lectures. You will do well in all his exmas and quizes as well as you listen to him EVERYDAY. He is always busy and is quite difficult to get on to him and talk. However the problem is his grade curve.

If you don't fall asleep in his class you'll pass with a B, with out doing anything.

Fraknoi has some good jokes but the material was not enough to keep me focused. The tests quizzed you on minutia. I'm glad the class is over!

I enjoyed his class in physics very much. I'm not a science person so I liked the history of the subject. This instructor is not for everyone, but who is! I liked him.

Great teacher. He loves his subject and explains it well. Pay attention to lectures (take notes). and the tests and quizzes will be super-easy. No math at all-nice! He has no patience with jerks who distract the class, I LOVE it when he tears into them.

Love this professor! He's extremely enthusist on the topic, and quite funny. Attendence is very important and classroom ediquitte is a must. Both lecture notes and studying are needed tremendously.

Fraknoi is great. I learned more in that class than I ever thought I would - and I'm no science person. He takes out the hard math stuff and essentially tells you what you need to know for the tests. Very passionate and knowledgeable - LOVED THE CLASS!!

Very good teacher. Tells a lot of corny jokes, but they are funny in their own way. Makes learning about astronomy fun... and really loves teaching it. Tests were easy if you pay attention to his lectures. Funnest teacher I have ever had.

Yery boaring class! He tells the same jokes everyday, and is anal about students coming late/leaving early. You don't need to read the book at all-he tells you everything you need to know-plus more. A plus is that he dosn't require you to memorize any numbers!

He is a very knoledgeble teacher. he can answers all the questions students ask. one of the best teacher i have ever had!! he's class is easy and interesting and very clear. you need to pay attantion to the class and you can get A without reading the text book. he teaches you every thing in class.

He is not the teacher to take if you plan on having your own little discussions during class, or coming and going as you please, he'll rip you a new A-hole for 2 minutes while the class watches you squirm!

Wow, what an amazing guy! Great teacher, great fun. Word to the wise: read the book- because he wrote it...and many test questions come from it whether or not he discusses it in class. Overall- splendid good time!!!

Fraknoi is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He explains extremely complicated subjects in easily understood English without seeming condescending. I also enjoy his jokes; although I have heard that not everyone does.

Professor Fraknoi is a very wonderful teacher. He knows the Universe/Cosmo well. It is a joy to listen to his lectures and even his jokes. To do well, all you need is to come to the class and read the text books.

He makes learning astronomy really interesting, and fun. His class is easy if you listen to his lectures and take notes. He will rip into you if you do something, but most of the people deserve it.

He is a great teacher, way excited about what he is teaching, just dont be late or leave early!!!

I have mixed feelings about him. He is genuinely a good teacher but i don't agree with him publicly embarrassing other students. As long as your not late or leave early and attend classes regularly you should be fine. Just try not to make him mad and pay attention and you will do fine in the class.

Not what he seems at first. Friendly and lively at lecture, strangely distant and mean outside of class. I disrupted class a few times so I think he hated me. Explains things well and in an interesting manner, though easy and would be better if it was more in depth. Honors seminar was dissapointing.

the class is vy enjoyable. go to class, take notes, and u'll get good grade. yes he does humiliate people who have poor manner in class, but you can avoid being one of them.

I learned so much in his class! His lectures were interesting and often funny (in a very silly-humor sort of way). I have always hated the sciences, but his class made me love astronomy. seriously! The class is not difficult because he explains everything very clearly/ with examples.

the best teacher at foothill!

Professor Fraknoi is a perfect example of what an educator can be. He presents the material clearly, concisely, and stimulates curiosity with every lecture. His classes are so much fun to be in that it hardly seems like a classroom at all. (I should know, I've taken 4 classes of his.)

He is great professor, excellent lecturer and really enjoys teaching astronomy.

Good lecturer,very clear on what he wants from students, and enjoys teaching, very passionate about Astro. Don't talk in class or disrupt him in any way, and don't talk to him right before class, he'll get annoyed!

Professor Fraknoi is a passionate teacher who obviously loves astronomy. He is such a fantastic teacher, making astronomy easy and interesting to learn. I highly recommend this class.

I LOVE THIS TEACHER!!! He is funny, thought his humor is dry;) He explains well, and tests are so so, not too bad. He can be quite direct with people, but i think it is ok... It is very annoying when people show up late for class or a phone goes off.

Fraknoi's awesome! I learned a lot in his class. He's a funny guy. What's a red shift? d) An astronomer's eyes after smoking a fat bowl.

By far the best teacher I've ever had.

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This man is funny, passionate, intensely interesting... He's very hard on people who disrupt class, but it makes the environment better for those who don't. Great lectures, very involving delivery. Awesome. Very awesome.

THis is one of the BEST CLASSES AT foothill. He is so passionate about what he does and is a great great teacher. THe material is interesting. Just listen to his lectures and you will want to because hes that good and you will do fine in his class. Final and all that is esay. one of the best CLASSES!!!!

pretty funny. he's easy if you're not stupid

Very funny and interesting lectures; you will learn a lot. No hw, just tests, which aren't too hard. He is clear about what he expects. He truly wants every student to do well, but you will have to try. CAUTION: Do not come in late, leave late, sit in the back row, or talk to other students during class. He will make an example out of you.

What a great professor! I did not expect such from a science professor! He's funny, easy going, does not require much (although requires some reading and quizes), and very clear w/ the subjects! One of the best professors at foothill!

He is soo funny and outgoing!! He loves astronomy so he makes it really interesting. I highly reccomend this class for science requirements. It's easy and he is so entertaining that you dont' notice when class is over.

great teacher, really enthusiastic about teaching.

really good class.He makes Astronomy pretty interesting. Go to class and you'll get a good grade.

What a interesting class and interesting professor! I like his class so much and I have learned a lot about Astronomy from him! Quiz are easy too!

This is one of the most amazing teachers foothill has to offer. This man is a genius and knows how to teach. You can tell he has a true passion for what he does and the material in the class will completely change the way you think about the universe.

I used to be really interested in the stars, but this teacher has made me fall in love with them. This class truly is an eye opener and if you truly understand the class, it will change your life. This is the best teacher foothill has to offer and Fraknoi KNOWS how to teach.

This teacher is hilarious and you learn so much in his class. You can tell that he is extremely intelligent and hes one of the most rational people i've ever met, after all he is a true scientist. TAKE THE CLASS, its very informative and he makes it not hard at the same time. memorable class

I never though I would like this class so much..he is a very entertaining teacher and i learned so much about the universe!!! Take him....i didn't even buy the book and got a B.

A great teacher maybe the best in Foothill. he is very talented smart and funny. this class was so enjoyable i might take it again!

Very intelligent instructor. Probably the best at Foothill. I like the way he ends every lecture.

Best teacher that I have ever had. It is hard to make a long night class interesting, but he has pulled it off the best I have seen. Always knows the answer to questions. One of the writers of the textbook. Damn easy class if you pay any attention.

his class is a lot of fun and you learn sooooo much.

Mr. Fraknoi is awesome!!!! He was the best science teacher I ever had in my life. And he is the cutest old guy ever!

This class was the most amazing class I ever took. It is poetry to my ears. It will forever change they way you see the Universe. Easy to get an A too!

This is the man right here, one of the best teachers I've ever had, strongly recommended

he's so good at teaching its scary, A++

Very enthusiastic about his subject and tells a great story.

AMAZING CLASS! Every time was like watching a show. Can't believe there are ppl saying his class is boring. I hate science or all that sort, but his class was truly interesting and memorable. Snoopy cartoons he always used were cute :) Unfortunately, my English was still poor then, so the class wasn't easy for me at all...

He's an amazing teacher. He really gets you excited to come to class and learn about the stars because he is so passionate and funny. AWesome class! Tests are bit tricky, but if you come to class and pay attention it should be a breeze. I really recommend this class.

Prof. Fraknoi is an awesome teacher - he's very knowledgeable and his class is fascinating. Would definitely recommend!

hands down the BEST teacher I have ever had! he makes the class so fun while teaching you SO much. He REALLY knows his stuff too which I love!!! there are so many incompetent teachers these days that this guy was truly refreshing. I would highly recommend him to anyone, any age. Even if not for credits, this is a great class to take for fun!

His teaching style is very very engaging with examples and jokes, and he has great connections with NASA and knows a lot about what is happening in the outer space!

If you want an easy A, instead of being challenged, Fraknoi is your man. Better not mind being treated like an idiot child though. "Today we're going to talk about the spectrum. Does eeeeveryone know that word, spec-trum?"

He's the best professor I've ever had. Yeah, the random pop quizzes require you to actually attend class.. But if you actually pay attention, they're a breeze. He's got to be one of the most down-to-earth, friendly, funny, helpful people/teachers I've ever met. He's helped me out of class in terms of scholarships/recommendations.

Easy but be careful. He is not always nice. Try to be as respectful as you can or he'll remove his nice-man mask.

dynamic and engaging lecturer. one on one not so good. over reacts to small infractions with humiliating, inappropriate remarks that make him look unstable. This display makes him inapproachable. I would recommend his class, but try to stay out of the line of fire. Honors seminar was interesting, but poorly weighted in terms of grading.

The best professor ever! I'm currently in the middle of the class, it makes me sad its going to end soon. I swear I could attend his classes forever!

He rocks!

Literally the best teacher I have ever had (out of every subject and every school). He has made me want to major in astronomy and make it a big part of my life. He is just plain awesome.

one of the best teachers i have ever had

I've taken three of the four classes he offers, and he is fantastic. Easy to understand, helpful. Attendence is crucial. Do not miss a day if possible, and he will tell you to get a study buddy. Listen to that advice. Talking out the subject even though it seems simple helps. Surprise quizzes. Wonderful professor, really keeps his students engaged.

I've taken both Astronomy 10A and 10B with Fraknoi, and overall I recommend 10B above 10A. THE GOOD: the Professor is VERY passionate about his field of study, he wrote the book (literally!), and he always delivers a clear lecture. THE BAD: Not accommodating of students, classes are simplistic, and he has superiority complex and talks down to ppl

I never have been into Astronomy, since the first day i took Porfessor Fraknoi's class i have been debating whether or not to become an Astronomy major! He is a great teacher and makes me want to do astronomy for a living he rocks literally the man has an asteroid named after him!

Excellent teacher. Want an A+ to boost your GPA? All you need to do is go to every single one of his classes and pay attention and you'll be more than set. My only complaint is that I wish there was more emphasis on understanding the science rather than just nifty factoids.

The only GE course that I actually enjoyed at FH. You don't even have to be an astr. major to enjoy his class. His passion and knowledge behind his lectures are riveting. Other students complain how he can be condescending. You have to understand that he is quite conservative unlike the other professors. Treat him like a professor, not a peer!

Took 1B after I enjoyed 1A so much. Good way to do your lab req too. His lectures are engaging and fun; he's definitely a professional at public speaking. He does take a lot of questions during class, but doesn't appear to be very approachable outside of class (I didn't really try, but that's the vibe I got). Easy A's in 1A, 1B, and the lab.

VERY PASSIONATE TEACHER!!! i loved every single day in his class. He knows how to explain his subject matter with his funny jokes! but he is awesome. Never thought i would enjoy Astronomy this much!!!

I always enjoyed coming to his class! Professor Fraknoi is absolutely hilarious! Yes, he's on the strict side when it comes to attendance, but I actually think that's a GOOD trait! He is definitely approachable, so don't be afraid to stop by his office hours if you have any questions!

Great professor! He teaches with humor. Science is not easy, but he tries to make it easy. Small card 5x7 inches is allowed on exam. I recommend to write down everything he tells in class even if you think this information is just for fun. Everything can be on quizzes and exams! He has some rules, but following them is not hard.

Really great class to take. Great teacher. As long as you show up you'll get an A.

overall, a good instructor. would be perfect if his ego and temper could be controlled. his jokes are terrible, which is ok, but he's passive aggressive and I'm sorry to say a bit of a bully. you can get through if you read and take notes. he's an odd fellow.

Do not get on his bad side. He will hate you for the entire quarter. I have mixed feelings about this man. He is very knowledgeable about astronomy but he is indeed a very passive aggressive bully (as another reviewer said). One thing he does is mock the people who are always absent. Yeah, great way to get them to come back to class again...

Really fantastic teacher with a national reputation. Very clear, fair and welcomes questions in class. All you need to do is show up on time. This is a very large class and he prioritizes the serious student, not the class cutters. I loved it.

great professor, easy class, very interesting lectures

He is a great teacher! The most interesting class I've taken at Foothill. He makes Astronomy interesting and extremely clear. You don't need to read the book at all and you could still get an A. He lets you use a note card with notes for midterm and final. If you go to class everyday and pay attention, this class is really easy. GREAT class to take

Great professor, very intellectual, humorous (he tries), and fun. Very interesting lectures, little work, no math req. or used.

Easiest class ever. Contrary to other comments, I do not feel Fraknoi ridicules students for their questions, in fact he welcomes all sorts of questions. If you feel put on the spot or self conscious asking questions. .ask more so you get comfortable with yourself, opposed to blaming your feeling of inferiority on a man doing a great at his job.

Fraknoi is a pretty cool professor; IMO he speaks in a way that inspires me to wonder more about the stars. Attendance is a must. I would not recommend skipping any classes, if possible, because you might: miss a surprise quiz, miss something that'll be on the quiz, or something of the like. Good professor overall.

Best teacher & really instilled a passion for astronomy! Had NASA come in to teach a few classes. Phenomenal!

Proff. Fraknoi is awesome he is very passionate about astronomy and physics, but I have to warn you he will be hard grading your honors papers. He is also an old school teacher so behave in class : p he does't tolerated texting or conversations in class.

Wonderful Professor! From the first five minutes it is clear how passionate about his subject he is, which make each lecture enjoyable.

Evening classes can be draining but Dr. F tries to keep things light and entertaining. Lectures are so animated, you won't forget them - so go to class. Quizzes and tests make you think a little, but you have plenty of time and everything is notes based. Unless you're in a fog from breaktime joint hits, this class is really easy and interesting.

He is a great professor, but extremely old fashioned and quite unapproachable. He is very passionate about teaching and his classes are informative and interesting. DON'T BE LATE OR OBNOXIOUS IN CLASS HE DOES NOT TOLERATE IT AND WILL CALL YOU OUT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.

Okay it's strange because I really like Fraknoi as a person and a teacher but I also deeply fear him?? He seems really approachable when you first meet him- this more or less turns out to be false. Interesting class although taking lecture+lab is exhausting. Overall extremely passionate/knowledgeable about his subject and that's what matters most.

Never rated a teacher before, but Prof. Fraknoi deserves to be acknowledged. He is very old school, but his teaching is very fun and enthusiastic. You can tell he loves what he does! All you need to do to pass is take good notes, and attend every class. He is always willing to help so don't hesitate to stay after class and during office hours.

I took him for intro to modern physics. He made the class very interesting; he has almost a storytelling-like approach to teaching the class. It was not a hard class, there were two tests, and he gave pop quizzes every once in a while. My only complaint is that he makes you use scantrons for the pop quizzes which are only like 6 questions.

For the students who can pay attention in class and take notes, but don't like doing homework or anything outside of class, then he's the teacher for you! He's able to explain complex ideas very well and definitely enjoys what he teaches. As long as you respect him, he respects you, which makes sense. Great professor! Will be taking his class again

You can tell he is passionate. Best professor you will ever have in college: maybe even best teacher in your life. Clear, concise, funny, memorable. Everything you want in a professor of something you don't know much about. Incredibly clear, enviable organization, sermon-like lectures that keep you engaged and are memorable.

I drove 45 minutes to take this class, often sitting in commuter traffic and it was worth it. I don't like lecture formats, they are boring, however, I eagerly sat through a two and half hour (with break) lecture twice a week most happily. Astronomy should be required for all human beings!

Good teacher!!! Shocked I ended up with a C+.... It was difficult for me. But it's my fault, not his. I didn't try as hard as I should havecould have. He loves astronomy and if you do too you'll love this class !!!! GO TO EVERY CLASS. i think thats why he passed me honestly lol

I would recommend this class to anyone! Fraknoi uses his body language, props and jokes to make everything easier to remember. He even uses jokes at his exams. He is just looking for you to understand the basics and there will be no trivia exams or quizes. ATTEND lectures and you will get an easy A. There will be about 4 popquizes at his lectues.

Fraknoi is the realest professor. He knows how to give an excellent introductory course, and explain high level concepts in a way that's digestible to the layman. Show up to every lecture, and do the weekly HW assignments (which are fairly easy) and you will have a great time.

Professor Fraknoi is amazing! Hilarious, well spoken, very knowledgeable. He could make just about anyone understand anything he teaches. His tests are super easy, even the midterm and final are a piece of cake. If you show up to every lecture you probably won't even need to read the book. Almost no homework given.

All in all okay (also the jokes). But sometimes not really replicable... Chapeau for explaining the whole universe whithin one quarter!

Great teacher and a very interesting class.

Taken his ASTR 10A class. You won't feel bored when you are listening to his lectures because his lectures are hilarious most of the time. There are homeworks but most of them are reading which is great. There are 4 quizzes in total and they are pop quizzes. Exams are not too difficult but you do need to read the textbook. Definitely recommend.

For those liberal arts majors fearful of your required science credits, look no further! This man is remarkable - I found myself actually looking forward to attending a night lecture. Participation isn't required, but showing up and paying attention sure is. He does not take kindly to disruptions, however. Keep a low profile and you've got an A.

He's VERY knowledgable and makes things easy to understand for non-math/science people. He only takes maybe 1/4 of the attendence each day so just be there when he calls your name. Homework is usually just reading. Take good notes and look over them before class each day in case of pop quiz. Index card of notes allowed for exams.

There are 4 pop quizzes in total. Lectures are incredibly long and boring, but everything he says in the lectures are very important because they all end up on the tests. The entire grade is basically tests and quizzes, so if you miss a quiz you're screwed. somehow passed this class with a good grade but it wasn't easy. huge curve too.

Best professor to learn astronomy from. I'm not a STEM person, but Fraknoi's analogies and humor made his lectures/concepts very easy to understand and remember. I took both astro 10 A and 10 B from him. Take his classes before he retires! You won't regret it.

He's simply amazing! He's so passionate about astronomy, and that what makes this class so special and interesting. Quizzes are easy, Midterms as well.

Great professor and very interesting topic. Fraknoi does an amazing job making the complicated simplistic with his funny jokes and analogies. I hear he is retiring soon so I would take his classes before it's too late!

Amazing lecture! He makes complicated concepts easier to understand. Best Professor at this school!

I failed his class due to all quizzes not having assigned dates and no make-ups, however i wish i could retake his class as it was by far the most interesting class and most thought provoking class i have taken. He can be sarcastic and cynical at times at the expense of students, but i really do this he's a knowledgeable fantastic teacher