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Jamie Pearson

Senior Lecturer in Education and Training, Darlington College

Research Bio

Jamie Pearson (He/His/They/Them) is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Training at Darlington College, specialising in the relationship between technology and professional practice in Further Education (FE). Jamie holds a BA in History and Politics, an MA in International Relations, a PGCE, QTLS, and the NPQLTD, combining a strong academic background with extensive sector expertise.

Jamie’s current doctoral research, Navigating Professional Knowledge in an age of AI: An Actor-Network Theory Based Ethnography of Further Education, explores how artificial intelligence is shaping teacher professional knowledge within FE colleges. Using actor-network theory and ethnographic methods, the project examines what AI “makes happen” in day-to-day practice and traces the interactions between staff, learners, digital tools and institutional policies to reveal how professional knowledge is produced, shared and transformed.

With research interests spanning FE education, AI, professionalism and professional knowledge, Jamie is particularly focused on how emerging technologies reconfigure traditional understandings of expertise and teaching practice. By viewing AI not simply as a tool but as an influential actor in professional networks, the study highlights new opportunities and challenges for educators and leaders across the sector.

In his role at Darlington College, Jamie embeds these insights into teacher education and professional development programmes, supporting both trainee and experienced practitioners to critically engage with technological change. This direct link between research and practice ensures that findings inform curriculum design, staff training and strategic decision-making.

The anticipated impact of this work is to help FE colleges develop evidence-based approaches to AI adoption, strengthen professional agency, and build sector-wide understanding of how teacher knowledge can evolve in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Jamie Pearson

Call for action

Jamie is currently seeking collaboration with Senior leaders across Further Education who are interested in exploring the role of artificial intelligence in shaping teacher professional knowledge. Participation would involve supporting an actor-network theory based ethnographic study that examines how AI influences professional practices, decision-making, and knowledge creation within FE settings.

By taking part, your college will help contribute to sector-wide insights on how AI is transforming professional knowledge, helping to inform future policy, staff development, and strategic planning. The research is designed to be collaborative, confidential, and sensitive to the operational realities of FE, ensuring that findings are both rigorous and practically relevant.

If you are open to discussing how your institution might participate or would simply like to learn more about the project, please contact me to arrange an initial conversation: jamie.m.pearson@durham.ac.uk

Your engagement will help shape the evidence base that supports FE leaders, teachers, and learners as the sector navigates the opportunities and challenges of AI.