4.6
Quality2.4
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake90
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
90
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
69
4
18
3
3
2
0
1
0
What Students Say
“Extraordinary teacher”
ANTHRO2 - 5.0 rating“Amazing talking skills and a fare grading system”
ANTHRO1 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.01 avg changeRatings by Course
ANTHRO1
5.0
(12)ANTHRO6
5.0
(1)ANTHRO12
5.0
(4)CULTURALANTHRO
5.0
(1)ANTHRO463
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTHRO1AND2
4.0
ANTH201
4.0
ANTRO1
3.0
ANTHRO6
3.0
ANTH3
3.0
Reviews (90)
Extraordinary teacher. Lectures are fascinating and interactive.
Very good teacher! Amazing talking skills and a fare grading system. Take her if you need the anthro unit! Heck take her anyway!
Good teacher.
She is one of the best story tellers, ever! Her class is completely fascinating and enjoyable.
I took Ben's class years ago and thought he was the best lecturer I'd ever had. Then... I took Dianne and she was just as good if not better. Great class! I always looked forward to getting up on Tu/Th mornings.
Always made class interesting. One of the best teachers at SRJC. A fair (and easy) grader too. I never knew that I would tell my mom we learned about kangaroo (umm, crotch) envy in class!
I feel like we know eachother personally because she relates personal stories with the lectures. She is a facsinating person, and her stories are so interesting.Definitely don't miss out on this class!
she is excited about anthro and that helps you get excited, too.
Great teacher, big lecture class but she makes them real and personal as well as accademic and interesting. She has helped to run the schoo for over 20 years and she cares about what she does.
Dianne is the best teacher i have had at the srjc, her lectures flow so smoothly because she is so smart, she rarely looks at her notes in lecture making it really smooth and easy to follow
Fantastic teacher. Enthusiatic about her subject and makes it interesting. I highly recommend her classes.
very interesting class. No homework class is based off of three exams and some map quizes for extra points. Very nice and easy.
Yeah she was nice but kind of conceited. She had great stories but I didn't take the class to listen to her experiences, she also liked to pick on students which I thought was kind of immature and not amusing. Easy enough class tho. I would only recommend her b/c of that.
I personally enjoy Ms. Smith's side stories, most of them include something of cultural relevance and that is what the class is all about. She creates a comfortable lecture atmosphere, makes me enthusiastic about anthro and traveling, and helped me to realize there's a whole other world out there.
Explains subject well. Fair tests. Interesting.
She is a good teacher. Her class is a piece of cake. I always had a good time. Her lectures on leaving your own foot print are obvious and lengthy, but again...Interesting class...Good teacher...Easy A.
she was an excellent teacher. i was dreading anthropolgy before i took it, but it was actually reasonibly fun for a class. she had good stories that made it not so much like a lecture and it was interesting, make sure you study for the tests though.
Excellent teacher. She's tough, but fair. She presents information clearly and thoroughly, in an organized manner. If you're in class, take good notes and do the reading, you'll be fine. Don't try to cut corners though, you'll be sorry. She's interesting and knows her stuff. Highly recommend her!
She spends a lot of time telling stories and not much discussing what's in the reading. In fact she assigned a book that she never mentioned a word about. But she's an enjoyable person, and the class is interesting. There was just a lot of reading.
very engaging course, keep up with the reading of text on own time because she doesn't spend any class time talking about it. One paper, DO THE PAPER, very easy.
After taking her class i wanted to become an anthropologist.
She is a great teacher. I really enjoyed her class.
EXCELLENT INSTUCTOR!!! Dr. Smith obviously is in love with the material and is excellent in delivering it to the student. Her exams, though kind of long, are a easy IF AND ONLY IF you take good notes in class and read the text. The NOTES are important. DO NOT miss class. And PLEASE DO THE PAPER.
Great lecture based teacher with lots of note writing. Good focus on visual, tactile and audio types of learning methods. Great field stories that tie into material.
Really interesting and fun teacher but her notes aren't all that great.
Dianne Smith is an awesome teacher. Her lectures are engaging and fun. She's a great story teller. This is how she gets her points across, through stories and examples. If you go to class and take good notes you'll do fine. She's great
Awesome teacher!
Ms. Smith is a great teacher - highly recommended if you want to take an anthro class. Tests are a bit difficult, be sure to do all the reading! Her exams are usually based on 60% lecture, 40% reading (for Anthro 2). She also teaches anthro 1, which I am planning to take next semester with her. Her stories are enjoyable to listen to, and she's fun.
Dianne Smith is an amazing teacher. She is very enthusiastic about the subjects. She lectures clear and notifies everyone when things are due. I now am thinking about majoring in anthropology.. take the class!!
Very intelligent and interesting lady. She very, VERY clear about assigments and due dates and test dates- I NEVER had to wonder when things were going to happen in her class... I'm not a fan of large lectures, but she was very engaging and kept me interested.
She was very interesting and clear in her lectures
She is a great story teller which helps with the material. She doesn't get off topic and is very clear with her expectations. Take her for a cultural anthropology class because that is what she loves and she is on fire with it. Read her reader (skim through the textbook) because there are a few questions on her exams from both. Final is make up.
Diane is the best!! she is one of the most interesting teachers i have gotten the chance to take. she makes me want to major in the subject. take this class!!!
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i love her stories! most of the time in lectures i get bored but i could listen to this lady talk for hours. i definately reccomend this class
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Dr. Smith is a great teacher, Im an anthro major, but im not into cultural. She made it very interesting and entertaining. Great professor, challenging class but never discouraging. Even better- Dianne and Mr. Ben Benson (anyone heard of him) are married! simply amazing!
Highly, highly recomended! She made me want to change my major to Anthro! I picked up the book once and still got a B. Would have gotten an A but chose not to do the optional paper, that is the only way you can get an A. Understands/remembers what it's like to be in college and accomodates her class for that.
dianne is a really vehemently enthusastic about teaching anthropology. i loved her class, and learned so much that i decided to minor in anthro. i love her true to life application examples and clear lecture style. i wouldn't say her tests are a breeze, but if you show up to class most of the time and do the readings, you'll do great.
Gives great advice and is very intersting.
she is totally cool and interesting, one of those teachers who genuinely wants you to pass the class. totally fun class to be in
Awesome teacher! Her lectures held my interest and I understood what she taught. She's very open to helping you and doing whatever she can to help you understand. Doesn't take roll on a regular basis (random sign in sheet). The only way to get an A is to do the optional paper at the end of the semester.
She is a great teacher as well as a nice person. She manages to keep your attention for the entire class. She expects everyone to act as adults(remember this is college) No cell phone chats or rude behavior while class is in session.I wish more teacher were like her. I would highly recommend her.
dianna smith is amazing. she is by far one of the very best teachers i have ever had. she makes it interesting and fun and very understandable. her honesty and sometimes sarcasm keeps things light and entertaining.
Best class I have ever taken!! If you like story telling about adventures in other countries, this is your class. I recommend it to everyone I talk to.
This teacher is awesome. She made everything interesting. She's a very nice person, too. She explains things very well and cares about her students.
You will have to work for your grade. However, This has been the most interesting classes I have ever taken. She is a great story teller and you will be better off as a person for taking her class. Be sure and keep up with the reading and do the project!!!!!
Dianne was a wonderful teacher. There is alot of reading, but no homework. She is also makes lectures interesting to listen to. DO THE PAPER, sounds like alot of work, but it is very simple. If you do all the readings and study + do the paper you will recieve a good grade.
Dianne is a great teacher, and HIGHLY recommended if you want to take an anthro class. I suggest doing the paper required for an A, it's not hard, and her exams are pretty easy. She makes the class fun and interesting, I don't think I spaced out once. She's also more than willing to help you understand the material if you are having trouble.
She is an awesome teacher!!! She is extremely clear and uses tons of video material to teach. Plus when she can't teach, her husband does and he is just as cool. She makes anthro really interesting because I loved the class and I no nothing of anthropology. she is really nice and really tries to give everyone good grades!! She's great!!
extremely intelligent! a great story-teller! she's not just an instructor but a true anthropologist who traveled around the world. i never get bored in that class. although i have to take anthro 1 again, as i got my books, noticed some of the books are by her...or someone else with the same name and an anthropologist! but im SURE its her~ great! =)
I absolutely loved this teacher! It's hard to find teachers who are very experienced in their field and have so many great stories to tell. She is very clear and helpful, and helps students keep track of their own grade. She is very fair with grading, and respectful of class time. I really enjoyed the two classes of hers that I took.
Dianne Smith is a wonderful teacher! She's smart, funny, and helpful :)
She is probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever came across. She not only knows anthropology, but has lived it. Her book can help you study for the test. The map quizzes help your grade and are super easy. You have to read articles in addition to the reading, but they are interesting. If you read and take good notes you will do good
She is probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever came across. She not only knows anthropology, but has lived it. Her book can help you study for the test. The map quizzes help your grade and are super easy. You have to read articles in addition to the reading, but they are interesting. If you read and take good notes you will do good
I don't even like Anthropology that much, but this class was interesting. She was very helpful and her lectures were clear. Take thorough notes and you will do fine. She also gives map quizzes that are really easy and definitely help your grade. There's only one paper and it's optional, to be able to get an A, but it was easy.
This class is based on test only. I believe 3 and 4 very east map quizes. there is an opional paper to get an A in the class. Read the chapters and you will do fine on the tests. pretty easy overall
Very compelling teacher. I truly enjoyed her lectures, and felt that she was genuinely interested in the performance of her students. This was not an easy A class, but you will do well if you read the book and take good notes. Lots of lecture material in the tests. I was already interested in the subject, but its generally relevant to everyone
Great teacher...Although I thought I knew a lot for the tests. But the true and false always killed me. Not that straight forward. I loved the class..she has alot of passion for anthropology and it defintely showed through her teaching. Loved her stories too. I learned a lot about Bojaca, Columbia
Everyone should be required to take Cultural Anthro, especially if you have an instructor like Dr. Smith. The class was engaging from start to finish. The map quizzes are easy. If you attend all classes and read the chapt. reviews at the end of each chapt., you should get a good grade. A paper is required in order to get an A. Great Class!
One of the best teachers I've ever had. Take notes and pay attention. Not too much work otherwise... skim-reading and memorizing vocabulary. She's very good at "parking" concepts and terms into your brain with little stories. She's a fountain of fascinating knowledge if you're interested in the subject.
Diane is great! It is b/c of her that I changed my major to Anthropology (from English). She is organized, clear and concise. She is also very down to earth and it is easy to relate to her. For example she always talks about how she worked two jobs while in school and was not the perfect straight-A student - she's very genuine. TAKE HER CLASSE
omg. fabulous, fascinating, incredible. I have never been in a class with a more charismatic, inspiring, and intelligent person. The lectures are genius, and the exams are right out of lecture and textbook.
Amazing class. I wasn't too sure about this subject going into it but in the end this turned out to be the only class that I didn't miss one day of because I didn't WANT to miss a day! I highly recommend this class. Not only do you learn about other fascinating cultures around the world, you learn about yourself. Brilliant class.
Fantastic, extensive knowledge about her subject and experience in the field, and loved what she was teaching about. She was really cool.
She is so interesting to listen to in her lectures, it is not even like being in a class. Very fantastic class!!!!
As if the other comments havent already said it all - ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS CLASS - if not for my stubbornness to become a psychologist, I would've willingly went the anthro route - still tempted to do so, after her class ... very clear and she teaches like she's telling a story - everything is interesting!
Very cool teacher, not like a class, so interesting, you will remember it all. Look forward to class, best part of day. If you are reading this Dianne Smith, thank you for being such a great teacher.
My favorite teacher in my entire college experience. The way she speaks to her class makes it so interesting, you dont even want to get up to go to the bathroom because you will miss too much! If you dont take her, you will definitely miss out on one of the BEST teachers at the JC.
Wow, what a fun class, and learned so much
what a fun class, you learn a lot
This class was fun, the map quizes were hard, and some of the tests were hard, but the lectures were nice to sit through. Some of the movies were gory and they made me sick.
great teacher! I think her husband is ben benson? And He's amazing too. If you have ever taken one of his classes and enjoyed it (everyone loves benson) then take her for anthro2 because she's like the girl version of him. She's also really funny! Tests are easy if you pay attention and it's very easy to since she makes it entertaining.
omg this teacher is soo amaing. you cant leave the jc without taking this amazing woman!! Here class is very intresting because she's very open
this teacher is amazing!
Diane is one of the best teachers I have ever had in my life. The next fall semester is going to be last one she teaches. I am so glad that I took her before she retired. Taking her class totally changed my outlook on many things. She is the best!!!
Dr. Smith is an amazing human being. She's really, really nice. I enjoy the songs she plays before she starts class. Plus her lectures are so intresting that you want her to continue. The material she goes over is pretty intresting. Overall you need to take Dianne before she retires this fall!!!
Really fascinating class. Her lectures are the kind that stick with you. Easy to take notes on. The test are so bad although if you want an A then you must read the book. (for the last bit of questions) The research paper was fun. :) I hope she comes back....
she is a great teacher. im sad she is leaving, hope she comes back. i never missed a class cause her lectures were so interesting.
She is a great teacher, a kind and intelligent person, and I wish you all could experience her anthropological greatness.
She was incredible. One class I will never forget.
Her lectures are fascinating, she has so much experience in the field, and her method of teaching uses a lot of story telling which makes it easy to remember and understand. She is very knowledgeable, very fair, and probably my favorite professor I have experienced.
She's very confident, consistent, and interesting to listen to. The only issue I had with her style was that she was far too easy on slackers. When professors allow students to walk in 40 mins late, turn in work days after it's due, etc, it makes those of us who actually work hard to show up and get things in on time feel like chumps.
Dr. Smith is a very nice and very interesting person. That being said, she is also very disorganized. She came in as a sub for Dr. Slovak, so maybe it's just that she had such a different teaching style, but it didn't suit me well. It's not a hard class, but there's a LOT of new material to memorize. Also, it's not very religion-friendly.
Instructor transition was hard but after it all shifted, i never learned so much in a semester. She was my favorite instructor this semester. Great depth and quality.
She's nice, understanding, and vividly interested in anthropology. She subbed for Nikki Slovak this semester, and I don't believe she teaches anymore.
Amazing teacher
This class was easier than most of my high school classes. I rarely went to class, slept when I was there, never studied, took minimal notes, played hangman, and got an A in the class as well as on exams and papers without cheating. Not to mention she's pretty funny and graces a lot of extra time for assignments. Go Smith! Shame she's leaving.
The best teacher Ive had at SRJC. It makes me so sad that she is no longer teaching. I had her as a sub for most of the semester. She speaks with knowledge and passion and it shows, she made me passionate about it as well.
Class Info
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.01 avg changeRatings by Course
ANTHRO1
5.0
(12)ANTHRO6
5.0
(1)ANTHRO12
5.0
(4)CULTURALANTHRO
5.0
(1)ANTHRO463
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTHRO1AND2
4.0
ANTH201
4.0
ANTRO1
3.0
ANTHRO6
3.0
ANTH3
3.0