Student Learning Outcomes: Students will have:

1. Learnt the basics of astronomy and the basics of both or one (with a little of the other too) of:
   1. The Solar System, planetary systems, exoplanets, and the exploration of space (The Solar System = Planetary Systems (PS) = Ast 103).
   2. Stars, galaxies, and cosmology (Stars & Galaxies = Stars, Galaxies, & Cosmology (SC) = Ast 104).
2. Increased understanding of science---which is a key goal of gen-ed science courses for nonscience students.
3. Increased knowledge of scientific reasoning and scientific narratives. In particular, have gained an understanding that scientific theories have a range of validity---that range includes true (except for pure philosophical skepticism), virtually certain, consensus, favored, possible, speculative, probably wrong, almost certainly wrong, discarded---but discarded theories sometimes make comebacks.
4. An increased understanding of the tremendous depth of knowledge in astronomy and, by valid extrapolation, the tremendous depth of knowledge in any field of study. Though you can always learn a lot quickly, there are no shortcuts to expertise---as Euclid supposedly said to King Ptolemy I of ancient Egypt, "There is no royal road to geometry," (Wikipedia: Euclid: Life).
5. Improved/refreshed some elementary math skills.
6. Improved/refreshed learning how to assimilate astronomy images, other images, graphs, tables, and videos.
7. Practiced thinking and talking a subject while doing group learning for in-person instruction courses, but NOT during pandemics, except during lulls in pandemics.
8. Improved study skills for multiple-choice questions.
9. Increased awareness of the importance of self-testing in prepping for exams and for learning generally.
10. Increased skill in seeing the big picture---the whole course at once---which is tested by a cumulative final exam.
11. Appreciation for the joy of astronomy.
12. File: Astint file: ast_learning_outcomes.html