Mike Prasad
Bio
Mike Prasad holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and has over 30 years of experience in software engineering. Over the course of his career, he has taken on various roles, including developer, designer and chief architect. His professional journey has spanned diverse industries such as space, defense, energy, finance, pay TV and government. Mike specializes in constructing large-scale and distributed systems, grounded in solid software engineering principles.
In addition to his extensive industry experience, Mike has served as an affiliate faculty member at several institutions for two decades. His research interests revolve around current and emerging technologies, leading him to engage actively in collaborations with researchers from other scientific and engineering disciplines.
Helping Students be Successful
Mike prioritizes student success by actively facilitating discussions and promptly attending to their needs. Recognizing the online nature of many courses, he emphasizes daily engagement by readily answering questions and providing a range of supplemental learning materials.
His commitment to student learning extends beyond answering inquiries. He regularly posts learning-enhancing tips, scholarly and industry papers and video demonstrations to further support understanding and engagement.
With considerable time dedicated to research and development in his professional domain, Mike leverages this expertise to enrich his students’ learning experience. His approach to teaching extends beyond simply imparting knowledge of a specific subject. By incorporating best practices and practical applications, he equips students with not only the core technical skills but also the ability to translate that knowledge into real-world solutions with immediate value. This comprehensive approach fosters profound learning, equipping students for future professional accomplishments. The connection between theoretical concepts and real-world applications enhances their enthusiasm and motivates them to achieve proficiency.
Believing that critical thinking is crucial for effective problem-solving, Mike tailors their teaching methods to foster students’ ability to reason logically through challenges. They achieve this by presenting real-world software problems on forums, where multiple solution paths exist. Students are then encouraged to discuss and collaborate, proposing their approaches and ultimately working towards a shared solution. This approach, honed through years of experience, has been observed to have a significant impact on students’ critical thinking skills, both within the academic environment and in their professional pursuits.