| Information | Review |
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Alex Donahue
URSP600 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 10/26/2023 |
I enjoyed learning about how planning strategies can be implemented in different areas and situations through a series of site analysis and scenario planning. Professor Donahue created a welcoming and comfortable learning environment where his students could share their thoughts and engage in open discussions. He provided a lot of helpful resources to use not only for the class assignments but also in professional field. Additionally, learning about planning from the professor who has architecture background was very encouraging as a dual-degree (architecture and community planning) student. I was able to understand the course materials in a creative and innovative way, combining architecture and planning design thinking process. I found this approach to be both enjoyable and intellectually rewarding. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH400 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 10/20/2023 |
Prof Donahue was a fantastic studio 400 professor. He allowed his students to design freely within the restraints of the assignment. Every studio session he promoted open minded conversations and positive/constructive criticism to each student, and never managed to harm anyone’s ego. Rather he improved all of our imaginative and iterative processes. Discussing work with him was never stressful because he had an ability that not a lot of professors at UMD have. He was able to view a students work in their eyes and could see why they chose certain design decisions. He promoted this and encouraged us to continue on the path that our hearts and brains wanted us to. He never offered up his perspective or design choices as a replacement for ours. He promoted individual thought, even though it might have been wild or unconventional. I believe he would continue to be a great professor for this course and any architectural design courses. |
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Alex Donahue
Anonymous 10/20/2023 |
Professor Donahue is a well organized professor for studio. He promoted open minded discussions between him and students. He encouraged students designs, rather than providing his own in replacement. He was one of the few professors I had that held us to a high but achievable standard. Not asking too much but always expecting greatness from all of us. There was never a day in studio that I was afraid to showcase my work to him or the class because he made us feel heard and appreciated. He was able to provide constructive criticism to a point that helped our designs, without damaging our egos. I believe he will continue to be a great professor for any studio or architectural design course because he has the ability to see a students perspective, rather than just his own. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH171 Expecting an A+ grizzlybean 05/04/2023 |
professor donahue and the TAs are likeable people, but sometimes the way they prepare you for assignments is lacking. for the final project, we really had little to no instruction on Illustrator, Indesign and Rhino. projects and assignments aren't exactly difficult but they do take time. Marcelino was a great TA. you also have a presentation on a chosen building you have to do at least once in the semester and at least for Fall 2022 every week you need "visual notes" of both the lectures/presentations and the assigned reading. both pdfs can be found online |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH400 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/01/2023 |
I really liked this course overall with Professor Donahue. We usually had rough drafts due every studio which led up to the critiques. This course allowed me to explore my creative skills where we could draw or do digital work in addition to making our models by hand. The rotation between the TA's and professor were helpful, allowing me to further develop ideas for my models. I also had a lot of questions and they were able to answer pretty well. More than not I was guided in the right direction in terms of what to do for projects. Most of the assignments were graded on time which was helpful and if I had questions about something I did not understand they would give me reason and sometimes allow me to make it up after explaining what I could have done better. Overall the course was good, I did have some trouble using some of the software at times since this course doesn't teach students about that, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH171 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/24/2023 |
I don't really have much to say about this class except that it was very unorganized. Due dates, instructions, and other things like this were very rarely provided and when they were they were rarely kept. Sometimes we would have an assignment due that he forgot to give instructions for and he didn't know until someone brought it up in class. If you get the right TA it could help but mine didn't know the answer to many questions and rarely graded assignments. He didn't seem to inform the TA's about what was happening in the class even when he was absent and they were running the class. Overall it's a pretty easy A if you do the work but I would be ready to be a little lost for the majority of the semester. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH171 Expecting an A Anonymous 02/13/2023 |
I had an incredible experience taking ARCH171 with Professor Donahue. He keeps the class engaging and explains the material very clearly. While professor Donahue is often available for office hours - which I found to be very helpful - his team of TA's is also a great resource to use when you have further questions about the class and/or assignments. The class had a few presentations and I found that each student received excellent feedback from all of the TA's, as well as Professor Donahue. By the end of the semester I felt extremely comfortable presenting in front of a large group, as well as receiving constructive criticism. Additionally, Professor Donahue and the TA's created a very welcoming environment so that each student felt comfortable participating and inspired to create unique designs. I would recommend this class to anyone interested in architecture, and I would definitely be interested in taking another class with Professor Donahue. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH171 Expecting an A- Anonymous 02/13/2023 |
I had an incredible experience taking ARCH171 with Professor Donahue. The class was engaging and all the material was clearly explained. While Professor Donahue was often available for office hours - which I found to be greatly helpful when I had questions regarding the class material and/or wanted further assistance on my assignments - his group of TA's were also a great resource to use when I needed more guidance.There were a few presentations in this class and I found that both Professor Donahue and the TA's provided each student with excellent feedback so that they could improve their presentational skills and further succeed. By the end of the semester, I felt much more comfortable standing in front of a large class and receiving constructive criticism. Professor Donahue and the TA's created a very welcoming and inviting environment so that each student felt comfortable participating and inspired to create unique designs. I would recommend this class to any student interested in architecture, and I would definitely be interested in taking another class with Professor Donahue. |
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Alex Donahue
ARCH171 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/07/2022 |
This professor teaches the information and that's it. Most of the work is done by the TAs. He makes it clear when the assignments are due but doesn't always make it clear on how to perform each assignment and how to receive a good grade on each assignment. The TA I had wasn't that great either as he didn't grade assignments in a timely manner or give advice on how to improve. Neither the teacher, Alex Donahue, or TA made it clear what I needed to work on to improve my work for the next assignment. Would not recommend this teacher as he seems very detached from the students and only lectures for and hour and fifteen minutes and doesn't engage with students. He doesn't even want students emailing him he says to email the TA and cc him in the email. |