Let's Meet... Jonathan Jackson

Please tell me a bit about yourself and your role in Queen Mary?

I grew up as the Internet was taking off, and I began building (really bad) websites in my teens. A typical bedroom coder. I loved the process of making something and being able to put it online for the world to see and I’ve never lost that love of creation and learning as I go. I even built a website for my own GCSE revision notes which became very popular back in its day. The BBC Bitesize website even linked to it! I suppose it’s no surprise then that I ended up back in education.

I spent most of my twenties freelancing as a web developer and then running my own web design company, but one thing led to another, and I had the opportunity to teach a module at my local university back in 2015 and I never looked back. In 2018, I took on a part-time lecturer and programme leadership role for a new degree apprenticeship programme and I have been working in degree apprenticeships ever since.  

I moved to QMUL at the beginning of 2025, and I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering and Management and programme director for the Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship programme.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I love being able to work closely with apprentices as part of my teaching. It’s the best feeling when they report back that something they learned in the classroom helped them in their workplace.

Are there any interesting projects you are currently working on? 

I’m really interested in the potential applications of Generative AI (GenAI) in Education, and how its risks can be mitigated, so I particularly enjoy the research and scholarship work I’m involved with as part of the Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Education. One particularly interesting project relates to how GenAI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot might be able to support students in reflection. Watch this space!

Another long-term, slow-burning project is MediLingo which I co-founded with two colleagues from my previous institution and we hope it will become the DuoLingo for medical terminology! We have run a few institutional pilots, but we aim to release the app publicly soon.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I read a lot. I mean… a lot! Fiction mostly. I also have three children, so they’re obviously a huge part of my life and have been a great excuse to get back into Lego and watch more SpongeBob SquarePants (a personal hero of mine).

Quick fire questions:

• Tea or coffee? Coffee! Please give me coffee.
• Sweet or Savoury? Can I say both? Both.
• Hot or cold weather? cold but sunny
• Favourite holiday destination? South of France by the sea would do me nicely but I haven’t been for a very long time!
• Favourite app on your phone? Mini Metro (a game I’m somewhat addicted to)
• Favourite type of cuisine? Anything spicy