CV-Contact
CURRICULUM VITAE
Assistant Professor
Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy
University of British Columbia
2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4
Tel: 1-(604) 822-5422
Fax: 1-(604) 822-4714
e-mail: mmilner@interchange.ubc.ca
Research Experience:
Assistant Professor: Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC:
January 1, 2010 – Current
Research themes:
1. Study how modern technology-based teaching methods [such as: interactive lecture experiments based on the live data collection (Logger Pro-Vernier); electronic feedback systems (clickers); and tablet PCs-based collaborative teaching methods and computer simulations] affect
a) – student academic achievement and interest in science;
b) – classroom environment as expressed in the nature of student-teacher and student-student interactions;
c) – performance of traditionally underrepresented groups in sciences and engineering (i.e. girls, minority students);
d) – science teachers’ content and pedagogical knowledge and their motivation in improving their teaching and their students’ learning.
2. Investigate and compare the effectiveness of different modes of student collaboration during large lectures as well as smaller classes.
3. Investigated the effects of student academic and socio-economic background on their academic achievement and choice of major in the first year introductory science courses.
4. Design, implementation and evaluation of novel project-based physics/science/educational technology courses for physics and for non-physics majors as well as for future science and mathematics teachers:
a) -Physics for Architects (large undergraduate physics course).
b) -Interactive second year course “Modern Physics”. Initiated the design of an instrument (test) for measuring student conceptual understanding of special relativity.
c) Educational Technology graduate course for in-service and pre-service teachers.
5. Study of the effect of the physics projects in an introductory physics course for future elementary school teachers on their ownership, motivation and interest in science (undertaken as the Ph.D. project at the University of TX at Austin 1998-2001).
Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada: July, 1st, 2007 – December 31, 2009
Research:
Was instrumental in establishing a Physics Education Research Group (PERG) at the Department of Physics at Ryerson University. Was a PI on two grants (Hewlett Packard Educational Technology and SSHRC) securing research funding for PERG. The group currently consists of two undergraduate research assistants and three faculty members.
Student supervision at Ryerson University:
In the Fall-Spring 2009-2010 supervised:
- two undergraduate Research Assistants and one undergraduate volunteer assistant;
- three undergraduate Teaching Assistant – who assisted me in teaching PCS107 (Physics for Architects)
In the Fall-Spring 2008-2009 supervised two undergraduate Research Assistants.
Research Associate: Department of Physics & Astronomy, UBC, Vancouver, BC: July, 1st, 2004 – August 2007
Research:
Was instrumental in:
- applying for three successful UBC Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) grants to modernize first year physics labs and implement inquiry-based technology-enhanced labs.
- implementation and evaluation of the MasteringPhysics online homework tutoring system in the Department.
Research themes:
Investigated the effects of interactive lecture experiments based on the live data collection (Logger Pro-Vernier) on student academic achievement, motivation and interest in science.
Led a research team designing and evaluating the effectiveness of environmentally oriented conceptual questions to be used in undergraduate physics and chemistry courses. The research was funded by Shell Canada.
Student supervision:
Supervised two coop students for two terms each (2005-2007).
Supervised two graduate students working on a Shell-Canada funded research project (2006-2007).
Supervised one graduate student working on the Interactive Lecture Experiments project (2006-2007).
Research Associate: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers Univ., NJ: September 1st, 2002 – May 31st, 2004
Research:
Use Formative Assessment to Develop Students’ Scientific Abilities Project.
Research themes:
The NSF-supported project, aimed at developing and implementation of formative assessment in introductory physics courses. Designed and evaluated the effectiveness of laboratory practicals in helping the students develop critical thinking skills.
Graduate Research Assistant: Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Tecas, at Austin: May 1st, 1998 – May 31st, 2001
Research:
Was part of the Discovery Learning Project sponsored by the Center for Teaching Effectiveness at UT and the Educational Advancement Foundation. The project aimed at helping the faculty members to incorporate new instructional methods, developing and evaluating innovative curricula.
Research themes:
Developed discovery-based units on physics teaching, and participated in conducting seminars for faculty interested in implementing discovery-learning techniques in science courses. Created materials for professional development of science & math instructors at the University Level, such as Annotated Bibliography of Inquiry-Based Resources for college science and math instructors.
Teaching & Professional Development Experience:
Full-Time Positions:
Assistant Professor: Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada: January, 1st, 201o – Current
Courses Taught:
Winter 201o:
ETEC 533 – Educational Technology for Mathematics and Science Teachers (Graduate Course in the Masters of Educational Technology Program, a fully online course).
Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada: July, 1st, 2007 – December 2009
Courses Taught:
Fall 2009:
Physics for Architects PCS107 (112 students) – Course coordinator, supervised 5 Teaching Assistants
Modern Physics: PCS300 (28 students) – Supervised 1 Teaching Assistant
Fall 2008:
Physics for Architects PCS107 (149 students) – Course coordinator, supervised 5 Teaching Assistants
Physics for Science Students: PCS120 (139 students) – Supervised 4 Teaching Assistants
Modern Physics: PCS300 (26 students) – Supervised 1 Teaching Assistant
Winter 2008:
Physics for Engineering Students: PCS211 (150 students) – Course Coordinator, supervised 6 Teaching Assistants.
Fall 2007:
Physics for Architects PCS107 (150 students) – Course coordinator, supervised 4 Teaching Assistants
Physics for Science Students: PCS120 (140 students) – Supervised 4 Teaching Assistants.
Research Associate: Department of Physics & Astronomy, UBC, Vancouver, BC: July, 1st, 2004 – August 2007
Physics 100 and Physics 102 – taught every course, including labs and tutorials yearly: 150+ students per class. Supervised graduate teaching assistants.
Research Associate: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, NJ: September, 1st, 2001 – 2004
Developed & implemented inquiry-based integrated physics course for health science majors – Physics 193-194: 150+ students per class. Supervised graduate teaching assistants.
Associate Director of the Mathematics and Science Learning Center: Douglass Campus, Rutgers University, NJ:
September, 1st, 2001 – May 31st, 2004
Developed and led tours in the science museum and professional development workshops for math and science elementary, middle and high school teachers. Developed & conducted programs for gifted and talented children. Developed and conducted instructional technology and learning skills science oriented workshops for undergraduates. Designed and conducted Sunday Science Academy classes for high-school students.
Physics and Mathematics Teacher: School-Plus – Enrichment program: September 1st, 2001 – May 31st, 2003:
Developed and taught mathematics and science classes for gifted and talented children (grades 3-12); prepared students for the State and National Mathematics Competitions; designed and implemented a successful hands-on approach to mathematics and science teaching to young kids.
Assistant Instructor in the Physical Science Class for future elementary and middle school teachers (seven semesters):
July 1998 – May 31st, 2001.
Developed and successfully implemented a project “How Things Work” in a traditional physical science course for future elementary teachers and non-science majors. Evaluated and analyzed this inquiry-based science learning model.
Coordinator of Physics and Math Projects for Gifted and Talented Youths at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Youth Activities Section, Rehovot, Israel: March 1995 –March 1998
Taught math and science for gifted middle school children, developed educational materials & lectures; developed a summer intensive discovery-based course in optics for 8-graders; organized and led Israeli Junior Math Olympiads for Middle school pupils. As a coordinator of math and science extracurricular activities unit, conducted multiple seminars for math and science teachers across the country promoting discovery-based learning.
Research Assistant, at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Science Teaching, Rehovot, Israel: February 1995 – April, 1997
Developed on-line database for advanced physics teaching. Conducted summer professional development workshops for physics teachers on advanced science topics, i.e. “Lasers: what they are and how we use them”.
Physics and Mathematics Teacher, at Israeli middle and high schools (grades 4-College): September 1993 – May 1997
Mathematics and physics/science teacher: Taught mathematics and physics at elementary, middle, high school and college levels.
Education:
Successfully completed the University Teaching Development Program, Ryerson University: September 2007 – May 2009.
Graduate of the Faculty Certificate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada – May 2007.
Ph.D. in Mathematics and Science Education, May 2001: Specialization: Curriculum and Instruction, Physics & Mathematics Education, The University of TX at Austin.
Dissertation Title: The Effects of Topic Choice in Project-Based Instruction on Undergraduate Physical Science Students’ Interest, Ownership, and Motivation
Master of Arts in Science education, May 2000, The University of TX at Austin.
Thesis Title: Rediscovering Project-Based Instruction for Physics Teaching for Non-science Majors
B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics (with honours); Ukrainian National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 1986-1991;
Thesis Title: The Ground State of the Quasi-One Dimensional Conductor with the Charge Density Wave at the Random Field of Impurities.
NSF Chautauqua Short Courses for College Teachers:
- Promoting Active learning in Introductory Physics Courses II (#105) – June 2005 (Eugene, OR)
- Teaching Physics by Replicating the Process of Science (#56) – June 2002 (Memphis, TN)
- Abandoning Dead Ends: Presenting the Heart of Mathematics to All Students (#32) – May 2001 (UT, Austin).
- Creating Course Materials for the World Wide Web (#112) – May 2000 (UT, Austin). ;
- Constructive Process in Learning and Teaching (#4) – May 1999 (UT, Austin).
Teaching Certificate in Physics and Mathematics Education (graduated with honors): Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel, 1992-1994
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, 1993-1997: Professional development courses for mathematics and physics teachers and for graduate science education students.
Volunteering and Service to the Profession:
1) Science Education Review: Member of Editorial Board.
2) Canadian Journal of Physics: Co-Editor of the Physics Education Section, since November 2009.
3) Ontario Association of the American Association of Physics Teachers’ Newsletter, Editor of the Book Review Section – since Spring 2009.
4) Volunteer at the local and National Science Fairs (Judge): New Jersey, British Columbia 2001- current.
5) Outreach activities at the Department of Physics at Ryerson: Science Rendezvous 2009, represented Department of Physics, Ryerson University, PARADE 2007 and PARADE 2008– Physics at Ryerson Architecture Demo Exhibit 2007, 2008. The Physics Exhibit was attended by more than 400 students, faculty and guests. Led multiple events at the Departmental Open House, Led physics teacher professional development activities, represented the Department at multiple events at the Greater Toronto District School Board. Became a member of the Ryerson Organizing Committee of Science Rendezvous (Open House Science Day in Toronto – to be held in May of 2009).
6) Outreach activities at the Department of Physics and Astronomy UBC: Science Olympiads, science fair judging, career day presentation at local schools, teacher professional development workshops, summer camps.
7) Scientists and Innovators in the Schools: presented more than 16 science workshops and science shows for British Columbia elementary, middle and high school students and teachers (more than 1500 students).
Summer science camps: was part of the team designing and teaching science summer camps at the University of British Columbia. For more information see: http://www.physics.ubc.ca/links/outreach.php
9) Established and led three Faraday Christmas Science Shows at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UBC: http://www.phas.ubc.ca/outreach/Faraday/faraday.htm
10) Volunteered to facilitate yearly university-wide TA orientation for new teaching assistants: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ: September 1st, 2001 – May 31st, 2004
11) Student leader in the International AI/TA orientations (six times): January 1999 – May 2001: Conducted sessions dealing with teaching effectiveness of the Assistant Instructors and International Teaching Assistants.
Grants, Awards and Honours:
2009: SSHRC Standard Research Grant Application: PI on one application and a collaborator on the other – applied September 30th, 2009 (Results will be announced in the Spring, 2010).
Recipient of the 2009 Ryerson Faculty of Engineering, Architecture & Science Teaching Excellence Award (September 2009).
Nominated for the Canadian Association of Physicists, Teaching Medal (January 2009).
2008-2009: Hewlett Packard Technology for Higher Education Grant: Mobile Lab for Science and Engineering Students: $77,000 (USD).
2007-2008: Ryerson University start-up fund: $20,000
Ryerson SSHRC Internal Grant: $6,936
Students’ Backgrounds and Attitudes towards Science as Predictors of Conceptual Learning
2006-2007: Faculty of Science, Service Excellence Award, The University of British Columbia: $2,000.
Nominated for UBC Killam Teaching Award (October 2006).
Teaching Scholarship Fund, UBC Faculty Certificate Program, $2,000.
Shell Environmental Grant (principal investigator): Creating online resource of conceptual environmentally oriented questions for science teaching: $5,000.
TLEF Grant (Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund), UBC, Principal Investigator: Improving Student Laboratory Experiences for First Year Large Introductory Physics Courses: $51,547.
ISOTL Research Collaboration Project: Assessing Effectiveness of Peer Response System and Interactive Lecture Experiments in First Year Large Introductory Physics Course (Physics 100); principal investigator: $17,000.
2005-2006: Faculty of Science, Excellence in Science Teaching Award, The University of British Columbia: $2,000.
Dean of Science, UBC, Faraday Science Show funding (project leader): $500.00.
National Science Teachers Association: Vernier Technology Award for 2006 (http://www.nsta.org/vernier) for an innovative technology use in undergraduate science teaching (Physics): $3,000.
Skylight Teaching Grant, UBC: Physics Resource Centre – Building Success in the First Year Physics Courses), University of British Columbia: $7,000.00.
Nominated for the UBC Killam Teaching Award (October 2005).
TLEF Grant (Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund), UBC, Principal Investigator: Enhancing Student Laboratory Experiences for First Year Large Introductory Physics Courses: $42,447.
Skylight Teaching Grant, UBC: New Generation of Science Demonstrations for Improving Undergraduate Teaching in Large Science Courses (1), University of British Columbia: $10,000.00.
Skylight Teaching Grant, UBC: New Generation of Science Demonstrations for Improving Undergraduate Teaching in Large Science Courses (2), University of British Columbia: $8,000.00.
TLEF Grant (Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund), UBC: Creating Online Resources for Large Undergraduate Science Course: $36,886.
2000-2001: Student Travel Grant from the College of Education, UT: $742.
The Texas Alumni Centennial Scholarship Fund for Teachers for the 2000-2001 School Year, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin: $500
The University of TX at Austin Travel Grant: $600
Summer 2000: Educational Advancement Foundation Grant for studying inquiry-based learning, Austin, TX: $4000
Summer 2000: The University of TX, Summer Tuition Fellowship, UT, Austin, TX: $400
Spring 2000: The University of TX, College of Education Travel Grant, UT: $250
Summer 1999: The University of TX Summer Tuition Fellowship, UT, Austin, TX: $400
1999-2000: Education Annual Fund Endowed Scholarship, College of Education, UT: $2000
Mary Lilyerstrom Foreign Scholarship: $650
The University of TX 1999-2000 Tuition Fellowship, Austin, TX: $3000
The University of TX 1999-2000 Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Certificate for the contribution to the International TA Orientation during 1998-2000 school years, Austin, TX
1986-1991: Kharkov State University Excellence Fellowship for an Outstanding Academic Achievement
1988: Was chosen by the student body to represent Kharkov State University in US/Soviet Pairing Program: Kharkov State University and The University of Maine, US.
Languages: (fluent)
English, Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew
Professional Affiliation:
National Association for Research in Science Teaching: since 2009
American Physical Society: since 2009
American Educational Research Association: since 2010
Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP): since 2004
In 2008 I was asked to become a member of the Communications Committee focusing on physics education.
BC Section of the AAPT – member of the Executive Board January 1, 2010 – Current
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT): since 1998
Member of the AAPT Executive Board –since February 2009
Vice-Chair of the Section Representatives – since February 2009
Member of the Nominating Committee – 2007-2008
Member of the Publications Committee – since February 2009
Member of the AAPT Council and a Secretary of the Section Representative Board: 2005-2009
BC Section of the AAPT – member of the Executive Board November 2004 – August 2007
Ontario AAPT Section – Section Representative since October 2007
American Association for Computers in Education (AACE): since 2007
American Educational Research Association (AERA): since 2009
National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST): since 2009
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) member: since 2007
Scientists and Innovators in the Schools of British Columbia (SIS) – active member 2004-2007
International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISOTL): since 2004
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE): since 2006
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA): since 2005
Marina Milner-Bolotin