Great Teacher, but a very high work load is to be expected..too much material is being covered by 3 different teachers

Great teacher! Very clear, and very helpful when you don't understand things. Has a true passion for astronomy which really shows. He's creative in his teaching style and has a great sense of humor. I'm by no means a math whiz, so he took the time to even help me with that! Excellent.

He is obviously very brilliant, just pay close attention to his lectures or you'll miss something, as he moves very quickly! But...you can always ask for clarity after class.

Good teaching skills. Knows the material. Glad I didn't take online.

Ties for 1st with Deb Stafford for the best instructor at SFCC. Very smart, helpful, and I learned more in this class than any other.

greatest damn professor ever, makes me wish we had more astronomy classes!

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Best math teacher i have ever had. Good for non math majors or a warm up class if you have not taken math in awhile. Does not just teach material but explains why we use the math we do and how it applies to real life. A little cocky but hey he's a very good teacher.

badass teacher. he is very helpful. Takes pride in what he does. It reallly helps to study for you tests from the book and make sure you take the tests on mastering atronomy. he takes over half the questions off of there and puts them word for word on the test. never hesitate to ask if you dont understand he will stick with it until you get it.

Really good teacher. If you take astronomy make sure you take the class version and not the online thing. Its worth it.

Amazing teacher. It's obvious that he is extremely passionate about what he does, and you can tell by just listening to him talk that he's an incredibly smart and knowledgeable person. He's more interested in you getting the material and concepts than anything else, and he will always take time to help you if you're stuck. Do MasteringAstronomy!!

John is an awesome teacher. I took him online, and I can only image what a real class would be like with him. Astronomy is sooo interesting and he really gets you into it, I learned some amazing things! I would suggest him to anyone.

I took the telecourse and wish I had taken the actual in class one. He is the best professor I've ever had. Organized, clear, knowledgeable and nice. Very challenging exams but you learn a lot!

Excellent professor!

I had John when I was SFCC. I came back to rate him because now that I am at EWU,I can honestly say he has been my favorite professor by far. He is so passionate about what he does and it shows. He lets us know exactly what is on the exames, and you are never stumped as to what he wants. I wish I could have taken more classes from him! A++

I took his online class, and its definitely easy - you hardly have to open your book to get all of the assignments done, and there are only two assignments a week!

Amazing professor, by far my favorite teacher I've had at the falls. He makes the material easy to understand, and generally gives a damn about teaching the subject - refreshing to take a class from him. Makes a difficult subject engaging and easy to learn. Has reasonable expectations. RECOMMEND!

Really cares about subject and students. Shows cool pics in class, is very helpful when you don't understand assignments, helps review for the test. Some kids had a really hard time with his tests, but if you get the concepts they're fine. Fair amount of reading and online work assigned. Careful of used books. he uses online resources from new ones

Very helpful and enthusiastic professor. There is a lot of studying that goes along with this class, but it's all really fun and interesting.

A passionate, knowledgeable and great instructor! I had fun in this class, the material was interesting, and he taught it very well. Short and sweet - if you take a science course, take this one! You've some work to do, and the tests require you to study.

He's very passionate about the subject. I wasn't sure what to expect prior to the quarter, but by the end I was glad I took it. He helps you to understand the material, and he makes it easy enough that you can understand it. You will spend time reading material in books and studying for tests, but it's worth taking if you need a science credit.

my favorite teacher at the falls, i miss going to this class, it was really interesting, time flew by in this class.couple homework assignments every week, 4 tests, the final is just an ordinary test, and some classwork every now and then

I took Astronomy for non-science majors. I didn't pass, probably because I spent too much time just gazing at him. Oh well. It was well-taught, and he did what he could. Not an astounding teacher, but not bad.

Took his online class. While it was the most difficult class I've ever taken (also, my first online class ever taken) he is very clear about the many weekly assignments. He definitely has a passion for the subject, and I learned more in this class than any other. The quizzes were extremely frustrating and quite difficult at times.

GREAT TEACHER! He knows his stuff and teaches it very well. I hate all science but this class was awesome! I learned a lotand as long as you do the homework the tests are a breeze!

He's a great teacher, but he expects a lot. His lessons are very clear, and he knows what he's talking about. I took his online class, and if you are like me and want a relaxed schedule, this isn't the class you want. Daily work to turn in, works more like an in-class class, which is not good for those of us who work.

John is a great professor, but don't take Mastering Astronomy if you have a field site to attend to. I had to do 133 hours and I almost had no time to meet with a tutor or John. The exams are a little challenging (the short answers are the toughest, but the multiple choices are easy). It depends on what your subject area. I would take John again.

I took the online class. Only objection is that there are assignments due over several days each week. That makes it a little hard to arrange your life around class which is kinda the opposite of the point to taking them.

Excellent-interesting lectures,labs were ok-moderately mind numbing on occasion,fascinating discussions. Crystal clear on expectations, due dates of HW, & Exams. Didn't use the hardcopy of book ever-used the ecopy that came with access to mastering astronomy (req for HW)Dozing Danger; warm room,cozy chairs,lights dimmed,soothing voice.

clear and organized lectures. If you attended class and are attentive you will hear everything you need to know for tests and HW. He was very willing to help and easy to contact. He really cares about his students. Knows and loves what he is teaching.Tests are right off the mastering astronomy study section. Wonderful teacher.

don't need book cuz tests off lectures, so go to class EVERYDAY and do NOT BE LATE!!! or you miss something imporatant, take notes study and you'll be fine, but i have to warn you their is alot to remember and a tuff subject but he does a well job of teaching it. HW have to do, and google is your bestfriend!

GREAT professor, clear, concise, humorous, superb at dry-erase diagrams. He tends to clear his throat when making an important point, or asks for questions after lecturing on a concept likely to be on the exam. The textbook is helpful, Planetarium; awesome, syllabus; comprehensive. High level of nerdy hotness, easy to pay attention to ;)

I loved Mr. Whitmer! I took his online Survey of Astronomy class and learned a lot. He is a complete genius when it comes to Astronomy and is very clear and concise with what he wants from his students. He makes the class fun and you learn something new and exciting every day. Just study and make this class a priority and you will do great.

Mr. Whitmer is an excellent teacher. He is really clear on what he expects from students and is also very helpful. He loves what he teaches, and his enthusiasm makes the class fun. If students are diligent and do their work, they should have no problem in this class; though sometimes the discussions can be a bit mind-boggling!

Took his online course. Not easy at all. It took alot of work, but tutor was available and he was always willing to help if you stopped by his office. Fantastic teacher. Very structured and focused. Has a passion for what he teaches. He made the class interesting. He is probably the best teacher I had in my first year of college.

Awesome teacher, willing to help you understand what he's teaching. Do the reading and you'll ace it!

ONLINE: John is very organized and he makes works very hard to ensure that all of his students that are willing to put forth effort will succeed. He is fantastic with the communication by replying to discussion boards/emails timely. You must read for weekly quizzes.. plus offers lots of xtra credit. I would highly recommend this class.

I took his class and liked it better then passed science glasses. I'm not a good math/science student in general and I didn't do to great in his class but I still really loved it. He's a good teacher and willing to help and the lectures are really interesting, I came into his class with not much thought about space and now i really like it.

I had little interest in this class before taking it. I actually took it thinking it's be a great alternative to a 'real' science. However, this class greatly exceeded my expectations. While the tests are difficult, and the course-work sometimes tedious, I actually found that I learned a LOT from his lectures. I would recommend him!

This is a very interesting class. Study, attend class, and read the book and you will do great. its a science class so of course its a little difficult. overall i really enjoyed this class.

Obviously loves the subject! Do the homework, labs and come to class and you can't go wrong. The tests are hard but if you stay on top of things you'll do just fine. Mr. Whitmer appears to want people to do well. Help is available. I would definitely take the class again - learned a lot - good teacher!

I am a A and B student. I struggled to even get the 2.7. Exams and tests are HARD. The entire class is lecture based with the tests based on online homework. It is a TON of information to cram in tests. He is SUPER nice! Makes learning the subject fun. The planetarium makes this class worth taking but know that you will WORK HARD for your grade.

If you any interest in space whatsoever (and let's be honest here, who doesn't?), take this class!! The material is unbelievably fascinating, and Mr. Whitmer is an absolutely amazing teacher!

Gives you notes to fill out at the beginning of the quarter which are extremely helpful because it doubles as the study guide and it helps you follow along during lectures. He's pretty clear as to what he expects although his test can be vague. Labs are easy enough, attendance is admonitory, planetarium chairs are comfy so you might fall asleep.

Hard test. Very interesting subject manner that is delivered perfectly by a very respectable professor.

Professor Whitman, compared to most science teachers I know, is more to earth (pun intended). He's clear on what he expects us to learn and wants us to pass! His exams were hard for most, but even if you did poorly on most, you can still pass. He's one of my favorite teachers due to ability to make the universe and it's origin understandable.

Professor Whitmer is super-knowledgeable and teaches basic astronomy in a way that was really easy to understand for a complete layman like myself. Some of the concepts are a little hard to grasp, but with a little effort you should be fine. My one problem was I had trouble keeping awake when the lights were off for the planetarium.

Hard class, good teacher, he is ready to help.

Great teacher that loves what he teaches. I love listening to him talk and it's very easy to learn from just listening to his lectures although some concepts can be very hard to grasp. He's always willing to help during labs to improve the learning of his students. Very knowledgeable. Only downside is it can be easy to fall asleep in the dark class

I took his online Astronomy 100 class. It requires a lot of reading, but is interesting. However, it is hard to get much out of this class if it is taken online, so in person is better.

John is a really good Prof. Class is extremely interesting but can be sluggish at times. Resembles Carl Sagan.

Mr. Whitmer is a very engaging ASTR 101 lecturer, teaches very interesting and illuminating concepts, and he wants his students to do well. He recognizes that not everybody is a science major ad makes the concepts accessible to those who may not have much scientific background. Be prepared to have your mind blown multiple times!

I highly enjoyed this class. The professor is very passionate about what he is teaching which makes the class much more interesting. If you study and pay attention in class then you will do well. Also, if you are planning on skipping class beware of random in class assignments. Overall, John is a great professor and this was a very fun class.

John is very passionate about astronomy and wants to share it with his students. He is kind and wants to help bring understanding when you come with questions (don't be afraid to visit him during office hours). Devote time to do the reading, homework, and use the non-mandatory online study material and you should do great in this class.

Professor Whitmer is a fantastic teacher for an online class. He laid out very clear criteria for success and was always available to help students succeed. The final was tough, but if you've done the work and the labs, it was most definitely fair. His audio lectures really made all the difference in explaining a huge, complicated topic.

Very organized and straightforward which I love. I took the online course and you don't have to buy the Starry Night program. Those quizes are nothing you can't handle with Google and it's not worth the extra money. He also answers questions quickly.

This was one of the hardest classes that I have taken. There was a lot of homework and a lab each week that took a lot of time. That being said, Professor Whitmer was very passionate about this subject. He genuinely wanted everyone to do well. He went out of his way to add extra tutoring hours so that we could have access to extra help.

A really caring, and nice guy. He himself is great, and he's great at what he does. But damn if ASTR 101 wasnt the hardest class I've ever taken! Take it with a friend or be ready to befriend someo one quick! You dont want to miss any notes or labs

Absolutely fantastic teacher. He's a textbook example of how a teacher should test his students. Class was hard, but completely fair. He's incredibly helpful, patient, and knowledgeable. ASTR is extremely difficult, but he makes it worthwhile. If you're taking it, I highly recommend him.

Mr Whitmer was one of the coolest teachers I have ever had. His class was something I looked forward to every day. I would highly suggest taking this class. SO GOOD!!!

I loved this professor! Not only did he make astronomy fun, but he really didn't ever make you feel dumb. Astronomy is one of those classes where you can have a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings but John made it very clear and understandable. All around would take again!

Nearing the end of the quarter of astro 101 during this pandemic around March, he told us that the final was optional. He was the only teacher that I had who took it serious enough and cared about our well being. Plus the lectures were awesome because of the planetarium, of course!

Only take this class if you have experience with physics or are very proficient in high level math. I had neither and struggled to maintain a good grade. He is a very knowledgable teacher but the content is very difficult.

Great professor! 101 is held in the planetarium 4/5 classes, and it's very interactive. He clearly enjoys what he does. There are 2 "quizzes" a week, one on the textbook assignment and one using the Starry Night program, which are easy if you pay attention. Midterm and final, both mostly about textbook stuff but class is needed for clarity.

Always ready to help! Especially during our labs. He's very passionate about what he is teaching and the homework assigned wasn't hard.

Usually, I'm afraid to reach out to professors but John makes it so EASY! Such a kind and helpful man who is always happy and ready to help when needed. Don't be fooled, coursework is difficult but he posts multiple lectures that really help digest the material. I don't feel intimated by science any more thanks to this man.

If you show up to class and just listen this class is not hard. Very lenient exams, not worth a huge chunk of your grade. Labs are just computer labs done once a week. Very easy grader. two assignments online.

Astronomy 101 was nothing like I expected, and was very difficult. It involved physics which I had no background in. That being said it was a great and interesting class. It will blow your mind. Just make sure to stay awake during the lectures because SO many people fall asleep! Keep up with homework and labs and you should be great :)

I have good experience with ASTR101, a demanding subject. If you are adept at listening and can remember knowledge for the mid-exam and final exam, John makes the lecture more engaging. If you require it, he will supply study guidelines on canvas. Starry Night may require tutoring, and it may be difficult at times.

Professor Whitmer is one of my favorite professors I've had so far. He made class enjoyable and interesting with his descriptive lectures in the planetarium. If you don't understand something, he will make sure that you understand by the end of it. Do the homework and the labs, and you have nothing to worry about. Make sure to ask questions.

Very good at explaining concepts. A lot of pop quizzes.

took in person and it was just lecture 3 days a week and a lab once week. There's was also two other hw due at the end of the week. I think if you read the book and stay consistent with the hw, study and follow the study guides you can end up with a good grade. The labs were the most difficult but group work is allowed. Overall he is very nice!

Awesome class. Astronomy is hard, but he knows that and clearly took that into consideration when deciding how to set up his grading. There are only two tests, and you could fail both and still pass well. The labs are hard, but fun once you understand it. He'll also check your answers if you ask, and help if you need it. Great guy, awesome class.