Prof Lombard eloquently delivered his lecture to colleagues, peers, family and friends after being ceremoniously robed by Prof Lloyd Conley, executive dean of the Faculty of Education and Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for strategic planning and campus operations in Vanderbijlpark.
Prof Kobus Lombard, Prof Linda du Plessis and Prof Lloyd Conley.
To respond to the question, Prof Lombard delivered extensive theoretical background in which assessment was defined. The role of assessment in shaping learning, contemporary views on assessment, SDL and assessment that is fit for the purpose of supporting SDL were also considered.
He then explained an operational exposition of possible actions the NWU could consider to align assessment to support SDL. These actions include embarking on an organisational assessment audit; initiating dedicated staff induction sessions; designating faculties as change agents; promoting the establishment of communities of practice within faculties; encouraging assessment reform through the scholarship of assessment; considering incentives for assessment reform; cultivating a culture of assessment connoisseurship and taking students on board.
Prof Lombard concluded his lecture by highlighting possible challenges that the NWU could face towards the alignment of assessment to support self-directed learning.
Prof Lombard has 30 years’ experience in higher education and is currently a professor in the Faculty of Education at the campus in Vanderbijlpark. His field of specialisation centres on assessment, with a particular interest in assessment for learning. He has published widely in national and international accredited journals, has delivered several papers at conferences, written chapters in various books and has presented a large number of workshops on the topic. A number of MEd and PhD students have successfully completed their studies under his supervision.
