Colleges Symposium 2022

Speakers

Mark G. Borg is Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Malta’s Department of Educational Studies. He holds a B.A. (Ed.) (Hons) from the University of Malta, an M.Ed. (Educational Psychology specialised) and a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham. Professor Borg is an Associate Fellow of, and a Chartered Psychologist with, the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also a Chartered Scientist with the British Science Council. Mark Borg has served as Head of the Department of Psychology from 1996 to 2000, as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education from 1997 to 1999, and as Dean of the same faculty from 1999 to 2003. He has been actively engaged in teacher education and researching educational psychology for almost three decades.

James Callus is a Head of Department Digital Literacy within the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills and one of his main roles is to promote Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking in Primary State Schools. Together with the school leadership team, he endeavours to empower educators to effectively use digital technologies in the teaching and learning process. He is regularly involved in teacher training sessions, continuing professional development meetings and digital literacy workshops. Throughout the year he is actively involved in Digital Literacy Days, EU Code Week activities, Family Coding activities, Robotics, eTwinning, Digital Citizenship Education, Coding and Computational Thinking workshops.

Joseph Facciol has been working as an LSE for the past ten years. During this time he got his Master in Contemporary Western Philosophy. The intention behind his thesis, ‘Investigating the effect of a table-top role-playing game on primary students’ creativity and motivation’ was to bridge the gap between games and education.

Desirée Falzon is a teacher of over thirty years’ experience. She is the main author of BirdLife’s Dinja Waħda environmental education programme. Her career and interest paths converged when she became a field teacher connected to the Dinja Waħda programme. Today she leads school visits at nature reserves, and trains educators in Learning Through Nature. Desirée holds a Master of Science degree in Education for Sustainability (LSBU) and is studying for a Doctor of Philosophy in Environment Management and Planning (UoM). She has conducted research on outdoor teaching and on school grounds as a research support officer with the University of Malta.

Deo Grech is a Head of school, currently leading one of the largest Primary schools in Malta, Birkirkara Primary School within St Theresa College. He has recently completed a Master of Science Degree in Leadership and Strategic Management with Triagon Academy. Having previously obtained an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Post-Grad Diploma in Educational Leadership from the University of Malta.

Anna Napier has been serving as a Head of School at Senglea Primary since 2017. Prior to taking up this role, she served as Head of School at Birkirkara Primary and Assistant Head at Zabbar Primary A. She has extensive teaching experience, teaching at Kalkara Primary School for twenty-two years. She continued to further her studies in 2012, when she obtained a Master’s Degree from Leicester University in Educational Leadership.

Marisa Pace is a primary school educator at Maria Regina College with fifteen years of experience in teaching and learning, particularly in the junior years. She received a bachelor’s degree with honours in Education from the University of Malta in 2007 and a Higher Diploma in Administration and Management from the same university in 2017. This year, Ms Pace graduated with a master’s degree in Applied Educational Leadership from the Institute of Education. Her main interests are literacy programmes for learners with reading difficulties, intervention programmes for learners with dyslexia, critical and creative pedagogies and sociology of education.

Randolph Peresso, MA (Comparative Euro-Mediterranean Education Studies), is an assistant head at St Ignatius College, Siġġiewi Primary School. He also performs lecturing duties at the Institute for Education (IfE) and the University of Malta (UM). His main academic interest is pedagogy in the primary classroom. He has conducted an empirical study, ‘Pedagogies in Primary Schools’. The aim of this study was to shed light on the pedagogical culture in Maltese primary schools. Various papers and chapters outlining the methodology and findings of this study were published both locally and internationally. Mr Peresso is currently conducting a study to gain insights on the pedagogical talk used between teachers and pupils in Maltese primary classrooms.

Gertrude Tabone is a Head of Department in Assessment for Learning supporting a state college. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Malta and was a classroom teacher for twenty years in the primary sector. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Assessment for Learning Teaching Strategies and a Master’s Degree in Applied Educational Leadership, both from the Institute for Education. Currently, she promotes active learning and motivates educators to implement a learner-centred approach using formative assessment practices. She co-ordinates and provides curricular support while collaborating with other departments to optimise professional learning.