Contact details +6449793133

Dr Keith Comer PhD

Senior Lecturer in Academic Writing/Writing Studies

Doctoral Mentor Supervisor
School of Humanities Media and Creative Comm

I coordinate and teach a range of face-to-face, flexible, and distance/online courses at Massey, including The Publishing Project (139.340), the academic writing course Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry (230.111), Prize-Winning Fiction (139.109), American Literature (139.253), and Writing for the Public (139.244). Other courses at Massey have included Science Communications (247.155), Writing for the Public (139.244), and Gothic Literature (139.275). At other institutions, I have led an academic development/teaching and learning centre at a NZ university, served as a faculty coordinator of instructional technology at a university in the USA, and headed a humanities programme at a Swedish university.

Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: Massey extension 63133; in NZ call 04 979 3133; from abroad call +64 4 979 3133.
    Campus: Wellington

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of Oregon (1992)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Mentor Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

academic development; scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL); academic writing; composition (writing); writing assessment; war literature; war poetry; nonfiction writing; American literature; Walt Whitman; Wilfred Owen; W.S. Merwin; Jim Harrison; professional writing; computer-assisted language learning (CALL); higher education; student engagement; postgraduate supervision

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
British and Irish Literature (200503):
Education (130000): Education Systems (130100): Higher Education (130103):
Journalism and Professional Writing (190300):
Languages, Communication And Culture (200000): Literary Studies (200500): North American Literature (200506):
Professional Writing (190302): Studies In Creative Arts And Writing (190000): Technical Writing (190303)

Keywords

academic writing; composition (writing); war literature; American literature; writing assessment; war poetry; nonfiction writing;  Walt Whitman; Wilfred Owen; W.S. Merwin; Jim Harrison; professional writing; computer-assisted language learning (CALL); flexible learning; higher education; student engagement; postgraduate supervision

Research Outputs

Journal

Sampson, KA., Johnston, L., Comer, K., & Brogt, E. (2016). Developing evidence for action on the postgraduate experience: an effective local instrument to move beyond benchmarking. Higher Education Research and Development. 35(2), 337-351
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Online: DOI icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
7
Sampson, KA., Johnston, L., Comer, K., & Brogt, E. (2016). Using doctoral experience survey data to support developments in postgraduate supervision and support. International Journal of Doctoral Studies. 11, 185-203
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
15
Milke, MW., Upton, C., Koorey, GF., O'Sullivan, AD., & Comer, K. (2013). Improving the writing of engineering students through portfolios. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings.
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
13
Brogt, E., & Comer, K. (2013). Interpreting differences between the United States and New Zealand university students' engagement scores as measured by the NSSE and AUSSE. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 38(6), 713-736
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Online: DOI icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
6
Comer, KV., Clement, J., Brogt, E., & Obel, C. (2013). Postgraduate writing for publication workshops: Preparation for the past or for the future?. TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Programs. (Special Issue 21), 1-16 Retrieved from http://www.textjournal.com.au/
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon

view more...

Sampson, K., & Comer, KV. (2011). Engineering Research Teams: The Role of Social Networks in the Formation of Research Skills for Postgraduate Students. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 5(1),
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Read Online: DOI icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Mulvey, B., Winskowski, C., & Comer, K. (2011). University accreditation developments in Japan: Matching or moving beyond the US process. Higher Education Policy. 24(4), 535-553
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Online: DOI icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
4
Brogt, E., Sampson, K., Comer, KV., Turnbull, MH., & McIntosh, AR. (2011). Using Institutional Research Data on Tertiary Performance to Inform Departmental Advice to Secondary Students. Journal of Institutional Research. 16(2), 26-41
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Comer, KV., Brogt, E., & Sampson, K. (2011). Marked for Success – Secondary School Performance and University Achievement in Biology. Journal of Institutional Research. 16(2), 42-53
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Comer, KV. (2010). Review of Lisa Nakamura’s Digitizing Race: Visual Cultures of the Internet. American Studies in Scandinavia. 42(1), 117-119Retreived from http://ej.lib.cbs.dk/index.php/assc/issue/view/553
[Book Review]Authored by: Comer, K.
Sampson, KA., & Comer, K. (2010). When the governmental tail wags the disciplinary dog: Some consequences of national funding policy on doctoral research in New Zealand. Higher Education Research and Development. 29(3), 275-289
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Online: DOI icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
21
Comer, KV. (2010). Moving Past the Bridges of Silence: W. S. Merwin’s The Second Four Books of Poems. Tohoku Studies in American Literature. 34, 5-16 Retrieved from http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000000030508-00?locale=en&ar=4e1f
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.
Comer, KV. (2004). Venice: ‘We who are fluent find life is a foreign language". Rendezvous. 27(2), 123-131
[Journal article]Authored by: Comer, K.

view less...

Book

van der Meer, J., & Comer, KV. (2011). International students’ experiences of engagement: Opportunities for enhancement. In A. Radloff, & H. Coates (Eds.) Student Engagement in New Zealand's Universities. Australia/New Zealand: Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
[Chapter]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Comer, KV., & Brogt, E. (2011). Student engagement in relation to their field of study. In A. Radloff, & H. Coates (Eds.) Student Engagement in New Zealand's Universities. (pp. 11 - 21). Australia/New Zealand: Australian Council for Educational Research
[Chapter]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Comer, KV.(1996). Strange Meetings: Walt Whitman, Wilfred Owen and Poetry of War. : Chartwell-Bratt Ltd., Kent, UK, and Lund University Press, Sweden
[Authored Book]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon

Report

Comer, KV. (2009). Developing Valid and Reliable Rubrics for Writing Assessment: Research and Practice. Ako Aotearoa.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon

Conference

Comer, KV. (2017, March). Writers’ interactions with grammar and style checking applications: Not drowning but waving. Presented at 68th Annual Conference on College Composition and Communication (4Cs). Portland, Oregon, USA.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Milke, M., Comer, KV., Koorey, G., & Carpenter, L. (2014). Meeting the Communication Skill Needs of Employers with Professional Portfolios. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the Australasian Association for engineering education (AAEE 2014). (pp. 1054 - 1064). Wellington, New Zealand: 25th annual conference of the Australasian Association for engineering education
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
Bergman, B., & Comer, KV. (2013, January). Developing the Chalmers Writing Guide: Challenges in creating a guide relevant to the needs of master thesis students. Presented at KUL2013: Conference on Teaching and Learning. Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Comer, K.
Milke, MW., Upton, C., Koorey, GF., O'Sullivan, AD., & Comer, K. (2013). Improving the writing of engineering students through portfolios. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings.
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Read Abstract: abstract icon
8
Suddaby, GT.(2011, March). Blending in: exploring blended approaches to student engagement. .
[Conference]Authored by: Comer, K.
Read Abstract: abstract icon

Consultancy and Languages

Consultancy

  • August 2015 – June 2016 - Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA)
    Better Business Writing seminars and workshops for a range of staff (from administrators to engineers) with this government agency.
  • January – April 2012 - Tectra Ltd
    Consultant on the development of blended learning options for Christchurch-based Tectra Ltd.
  • November 2011 - Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon, USA
    Consultant on blended and distance learning initiatives with Eastern Oregon University.