DAVID R. M. MILLS

Senior Lecturer Director 1st Year studies PhD, solid state physics, University of New England, 1974. BSc(Hons), University of New England, 1968 Australian Institute of Physics Victorian Representative on Physics Education Working Group Member, Victorian Branch Education Sub-committee MAIP, Member IOP, Ch.Phys. Phone +61 (3) 9905 3692 FAX +61 (3) 9905 3637 Email:David.Mills@sci.monash.edu.au

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Students' learning in physics, with particular interest in:

• cooperative learning
• scientific enquiry skills in laboratories (with Susan Feteris and Richard Gunstone)
• effectiveness of computer simulations
• formative assessment, including on-line assessment
• motivation and confidence in learning
• assessment including peer and self-assessment

Collaboration with Alan Van Heuvelen (Ohio State University) and Eugenia Etkina (Rutgers University) on students perceptions on how they know what they know (student epistemology) with a focus on students acquiring an experimental basis for their physics knowledge.

Physics in developing countries David spend 12 years teaching at the University of North Sumatra and Hasanuddin University, in Indonesia, from 1976 1989.

TEACHING DEVELOPMENTS

Interactive learning modules in biomedical context (electrostatic interactions, medical imaging). Monash University Melbourne University Collaborative Teaching Grant, with Dr Michelle Livett, Melbourne University.

Physics Concepts and Simulations a 3-part interactive software package for introductory and first year physics subjects for science and engineering students. Part A Fundamentals, Part B Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves, Part C Electrostatics, Magnetism and Modern Physics.

Conceptual Understanding in Physics - a cooperative learning method using diagrams for effective learning and communication . See publications below.

TEACHING INTERESTS

First year calculus-based mechanics, electrostatics, special relativity
Biomedical and Environmental Physics for first year
Solid state physics
Statistical Physics
Computational Physics, simulations

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Mills, D., McKittrick, B, Mulhall, P. and Feteris, S. CUP: cooperative learning that works, Phys. Educ. 34 (1), 11 16 (1999).

White D, Gunstone R, Eltermann E, Macdonald I, McKittrick B, Mills D and Mulhall P, Students perceptions of teaching and learning in first year university physics Res Sci Educ 25 465 478 (1995).

F.Ninio, D.Mills, Computers in the Physics laboratories at Monash University, Proceedings, Computers in University Physics Education, Sydney (1993), p.29.