Daniel K. Gardner - Smith College, Northampton, MA

Professor: Daniel K. Gardner

Department: History

College: Smith College, Northampton, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: No
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I didn't enjoy this class. Gardner clearly just enjoys hearing himself talk. There were not many opportunities for students to participate or engage with the material, and when students did manage to get a word in, he would interrupt before they were finished talking. The syllabus also has almost no information. Very frustrating.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HST212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Incredible professor. Though, throughout the semester tended to play favorites. Very engaging, very energetic, very knowledgeable. Tough grader but fair. If you put in the time and effort you will see positive results.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This man is extremely intelligent. Not an easy grader but he's honest, fair and offers to sit down with you if you're struggling. If you can, take a smaller, discussion based class with him--you will learn more than you thought possible. My critical reading and analysis skills improved vastly, as did my writing. Primary sources, not dry textbooks

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HST212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Moderately difficult. Rely on the reading materials other than textbook - they are more useful. Require time to digest them however. Go to office hours if you dont understand. I loved this class cos of the historical thinking it required.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class was intense. There's SO much reading, he grades so hard, but if you're into it, I guess take it? Im a history major and I hated the class. Regardless, Daniel is a cutie pie.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: EAS220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A great class and a great professor! Prof. Gardner was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about his subject, made class interesting! Does have a tendency to interrupt student during discussion, though. Often even a single sentence is enough to provoke a (though fascinating, occasionally unrelated) tangent. Still, highly recommended!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FYS142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He taught my section of "Reacting to the Past" (first-year seminar). He definitely knows his history (particularly Chinese history), and he was really good at letting the game progress. Overall, he was a cool "gamemaster" for this particular course, and I think everyone had fun and learned a lot.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He def has a sense of humor and likes participation but he will often interrupt people-kinda annoying. He grades easier on exams than papers. The worst was that he blew me off when I asked him to go over a paper with me at the end of the term-really disappointing and doesn't give me the impression that he really cares about his students-beware

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HST212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His translations of and insights into classical Chinese texts are truly wonderful to read, but his overall presentation is outmoded riddled with holes. Take advantage of the consortium and Prof. Lipman at Mt. Holyoke for world class history teaching.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Loved him! Learned so much i thought my head would explode. He's the reason why I teach history.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is absolutely wonderful! he has a great sense of humor and isn't stuck in an ivory tower. you can go talk to him about anything and he will be more than happy to listen or help. I actually enjoyed getting up in the morning to go to his class. if that's not greatness i don't know what is.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST0
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

he is so hot and funny.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHINESEHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is AWESOME. I highly recommend taking a class from him!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HST211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His class is really engaging and fun. He handles class discussions really well. However, he's a hard grader and expects a lot out of his students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HST211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I really liked this class, it was a nice break from my majors. PRofessor Gardner was smart and entertaining. We covered a lot of material, but it was never tedious.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHINESEHIST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I came into the class going I'm going to just fill my requirement. I loved it. He is such an awesome teacher. I can't wait to take another class!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FYSHIST218
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dan Gardner is a fabulous prof. 2 thumbs way up!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FYS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Explanations not always clear, but very accessible. Wonderful "Gamemaster." Had a dinner at his house, took us out to dinner, and drove us to another dinner at a class member's house.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FYS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's nice and cracks occasional jokes that are hilarious. Took us out for dinner! Always a plus. :)