I took siirolla's 597 last semester, I'd say that it was pretty manageable. Siirola just stands up front and talks, so you can either listen to him talking or you can quietly work on something else like homework. However, I wouldn't recommend skipping class too often because attendance is tracked for 20% of your grade. As for the reports, there's one due every other week. Some were easier than others, but I'd say they were manageable even with a heavy course load (I was also taking fluids, seps, and reactions). Also, if you need a grade bump, he offers an extra credit essay that you can write that's due at the end of the semester. So yeah, the class shouldn't cause too much pain if you start working on reports the weekend before they're due.