Rate My Professor James Gerrard
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The module would benefit greatly from more structured, focused lectures. Staying tightly aligned with the syllabus and maintaining a consistent energy level would help keep students engaged and ensure all core material is covered clearly. Navigating difficult coursework can be overwhelming. Creating a more supportive, empathetic environment during office hours—where student concerns are met with constructive guidance rather than dismissal—would immensely improve student morale and outcomes. Rather than jumping to conclusions regarding AI usage over minor formatting or referencing discrepancies, it would be much more beneficial to establish clear, upfront referencing rubrics or offer remedial formatting support. A more thorough, collaborative approach to grading essays is needed. Ensuring that student insights are accurately understood, valued, and credited (rather than dismissed or misattributed) would build trust and foster genuine academic growth. Conclusion Until the module undergoes some structural adjustments and adopts a more supportive teaching approach, students may want to carefully consider their workload and stress tolerance before enrolling. With the right updates, however, this module could become a much more rewarding academic experience.
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About James
Professor James Gerrard is Professor of Roman Archaeology in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He holds a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Prehistory from the University of Sheffield awarded in 2000, an MA in Archaeological Research from the University of York awarded in 2001, and a PhD from the University of York awarded in 2005 on the subject of pottery and the end of Roman Britain in Somerset and Dorset. His research and teaching interests centre on the end of the Western Roman Empire in Britain and Europe, with a focus on the relationship between material culture, economics and identity, and the role of artefacts in archaeological interpretation. He has led or contributed to projects including the analysis of late Roman treasure hoards, the re-evaluation of the Knaresborough hoard of bronze vessels, the Lufton Project examining the hinterland of a late Roman villa, studies of Roman period wells, late antique signet rings from Britain, and the publication of sites such as Gillingham in Kent.
Prior to joining Newcastle University, Gerrard worked as a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge from 2009 to 2011 and as a specialist in Roman material culture at Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd in London from 2005 to 2010. At Newcastle he has served as Tutor for Admissions (Archaeology), Academic Appeals Adjudicator, Acting Dean (Education) and Associate Dean (Education) in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Interim Head of History, Classics and Archaeology, Director of Excellence for Learning and Teaching, and Degree Programme Director for Archaeology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, and a member of the Study Group for Roman Pottery and the Roman Finds Group. Gerrard has peer-reviewed for journals including Britannia and The Archaeological Journal, examined postgraduate theses for multiple universities, served as external examiner for archaeology programmes, and acted as a trustee of the Roman Research Trust. He has received research grants from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Roman Research Trust, the British Museum, English Heritage and other bodies, and he supervises postgraduate research on topics relating to late Roman and early medieval archaeology, Roman material culture and economics.
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