A conversation with Stu Parkin and Jack Sutherst on the active learning spectrum

Jack Sutherst is a Digital Education specialist in the Digital Education team in LEED, supporting the Faculty of Business and Law. He is passionate about incorporating innovative technology into teaching, learning and assessment practices and has a wealth of experience in designing and developing online and blended Higher Education courses using a range of pedagogic strategies that encourage flexible student learning. Jack completed an Associate Innovation Scholarship working on the Manchester Met Active Learning Spectrum in 2025 and is a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE.
Stu Parkin is a Digital Education specialist in the Digital Education team in LEED, supporting the Faculty of Health and Education. He has a longstanding interest in Active Learning and the multitude of methods that can be used to help engage students as more active participants in their learning. Stu completed an Associate Innovation Scholarship project working on the Manchester Met Active Learning Spectrum in 2025. He was recently appointed co-leader of the Manchester Met Innovation Scholar Scheme and is a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE.
Dr Rod Cullen is Reader in Digital Education based in the Digital Education team, Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE and a Lead Innovation Scholar.

In this video podcast series, Rod talks with colleagues across Manchester Met about how they are implementing the DELTA strategy in their teaching. Each episode features a conversation about flexible active learning in practice, covering what works, what’s challenging, and how digital tools can help students balance their studies with their lives outside university.

In this episode, Rod talks to Jack Sutherst and Stu Parkin about the work they have done to develop a Manchester Met focused Active Learning Spectrum, an interactive web-based tool that showcases a wide range of simple to more complex approaches to active learning. Together, Rod, Jack and Stu explore how the active learning spectrum aligns with and supports the principles and aspirations of the DELTA strategy.