Creative methods for research and evaluation have been gaining increased focus in recent years. They are something that myself and Dr. Samatha Child have had the opportunity to present on several times this year. Often there is a keen desire to be more creative in approaches to evaluation but this can be limited by capacity, knowledge of tools and methodologies or simply not knowing where to start. Furthermore, the current pandemic has meant that many of these methods need to be adapted for online audiences.

The power of creativity to support research and evaluation is not one that should be underestimated. Creative methods have many benefits to the depth of data that can be elicited. One of their greatest benefits is the ability, as Dawn Mannay so eloquently frames it, to help make ‘the familiar strange’. Using creative methods with adults can, however, often faced with challenges. This is especially true of more complex tasks such as drawing.

I have recently reflected elsewhere on my tips to doing a part time-doctorate and my tips for what can help if you are supervising a part-time doctorate. I think there are some real distinct benefits of doing a doctorate part-time, especially when the focus of the study relates to policy or practice.

Online meetings, teaching, staff development webinars and online conferences have quickly become part of academic life. Whilst this happened primarily through necessity, it is unlikely they will go away. They have shown that it is possible to span greater geographic areas, increase accessibility and reduce cost. Therefore, they are likely to play a long-term role in how we present, collaborate and interact.

One challenge though is how do we ensure that online sessions are accessible to the large number of dyslexic participants that are likely to participate. The British Dyslexia Association estimate 1 in 10 people are dyslexic. I do not claim to be an expert on dyslexia but as a dyslexic who has learnt, taught, presented and participated online for many years I will share five things that help me.