Professor Gerber adopts the philosophy, “If you’re not laughing you’re not learning”. She uses humour to open students’ minds to new ideas and is skilled at conveying complex concepts in readily understandable ways.
Her innovative teaching approach has seen her earn the respect and admiration of both her students and peers. Whether it is online or in the class room, Paula is a passionate and engaging teacher who ensures that her students not only enjoy learning but come to share her passion for the law.
Paula’s exceptional skills as an educator have been recognised with several teaching awards, including,
- Monash Law Faculty nominee for Vice Chancellors Excellence in Teaching Award (Winner announced on 14 November 2023)
- Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2011)
- Monash University Vice Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Special Commendation (2010)
- LexisNexis/Australasian Law Teachers Association. Highly Commended for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Law Award (2010)
- Monash University, Law Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence (2009)
Paula contributes to expanding the scholarship around legal education through publishing her insights in prestigious international journals, including:
- Paula Gerber and Claerwen O’Hara, ‘Teaching Law Students about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status within Human Rights Law: Seven Principles for Curriculum Design and Pedagogy‘ (2019) 68(2) Journal of Legal Education 416.
- Matthew Bell, Paula Gerber and Phil Evans, ‘Building Bridges in the Classroom: A view from the Academy’ (2014) 30(1) Building and Construction Law Journal 24-34.
- Paula Gerber and Melissa Castan, ‘Practice meets Theory: Using Moots as a Tool to Teach Students about Human Rights Law’ (2012) 62(2) Journal of Legal Education 298-310.
- Paula Gerber, ‘Educating about Human Rights: Strengths and Weaknesses of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training’ (2011) 36(4) Alternative Law Journal 245-249.
- Paula Gerber, ‘The Teaching of Construction Law and the Practice of Construction Law: Never the Twain shall Meet?’ (2010) 20(1 & 2) Legal Education Review 59-84.
- Paula Gerber, ‘How to Stop Engineers from Becoming Bush Lawyers’: The Art of Teaching Law to Engineering and Construction Students’ (2009) 1(4) Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction 1-10.
- Paula Gerber, ‘Black Rights/White Curriculum: Human Rights Education for Indigenous People’ (2004) 9(1) Deakin Law Review 61-89.
Professor Paula Gerber 