Rate My Professor Pauline Brook

Pauline Brook is a Teaching Fellow in the Student Academic Skills Team at the Centre for Educational Design and Innovation (CEDI), University of Otago, on the Dunedin campus. She works as a Learning Adviser at 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE), supporting academic and support staff involved in tertiary teaching, student learning research, and peer learning programmes. Brook holds a BA (Hons) in French and a BA (Hons) in German. Her professional contact details are email pauline.brook@otago.ac.nz and telephone +64 3 479 5788. Previously associated with the Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC) and Student Learning Centre, Brook has a sustained involvement in academic development for students at the University of Otago.

Pauline Brook has contributed key resources to enhance student academic skills. With Carol Hunter, she authored 'Guidelines for Writing and Editing,' a study guide from the Student Learning Centre providing practical advice on writing and editing for university students. Their original booklet underpins 'What can I do to become a more successful student? Effective Study Techniques,' revised in 2016 to outline strategies for first-year success and beyond. In research, Brook co-authored the 2015 article 'Fix, build, diagnose or guide? Evaluating the metaphors for learning advisers’ work' in ATLAANZ Journal (Volume 1, Issue 1), alongside Clinton Golding, Lee Adam, Carole Scott, Karen Johnson, Angela McLean, Neil Smith, Margaret Kumar, Carol Hunter, and Vijay Kumar. Drawing on Lakoff and Johnson’s metaphor theory and philosophical evaluation, the paper assesses metaphors for learning advising practice. It deems doctor-mentor, builder-mentor, architect, coach, and guide as illuminating, rejects fixer and counsellor as obscuring, and proposes a developmental theory empowering students as independent learners. Brook received recognition in the University of Otago Disability Information & Support Newsletter (Issue 1, 2016) for exceptional support and advice to students and staff.