Mohammadmehdi Danesh, assistant professor of architecture in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, is the recipient of this year’s Award for Innovations in Teaching and Learning.
The award recognizes faculty members who have shown exceptional dedication, innovation, and effectiveness in the classroom through recent and specific achievements in teaching.
Danesh has demonstrated his expertise at leveraging technology to enhance learning in advanced building systems. His approach combines lectures with cutting-edge technology to improve learning outcomes. He has incorporated energy simulation software into the curriculum to provide students with hands-on experiences in analyzing and designing building environmental systems. One of Danesh’s goals is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, and an ancillary goal is to allow students to develop a deep understanding of the design, analysis, and performance characteristics of building environmental systems.
“Professor Danesh, who is in his second year at the University, has already made significant impacts on students, on the curriculum, and even on faculty engagement,” says James E. Fuller, chair and associate professor of architecture. “His collaborative teaching style engages students in the learning process that is inclusive and holistic, integrating his expertise with design studios while also making connections to real-world scenarios. This approach provides students with stronger connections between academic studies and the professional context, which is particularly useful for our Master of Architecture students.”
Danesh has published one book chapter and eight peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings on sustainable design and building science. His written work has been cited by several researchers and scientists who have strongly acknowledged his contributions to the field.