Each time I attend a seminar, or a conference, or take a class, I learn something new.\u00a0 Each book I read, I learn something new.\u00a0 Each CD or video I watch, I look for evidence of records that could enable me to solve a hard-to-research ancestor.<\/p>\n
Let me share with you a recent experience:\u00a0 A local seminar handed out a class list at the Family History Center in that city.\u00a0 One class in particular caught my eye:\u00a0 New FamilySearch, an 8 hour class presented totally on one day–a Saturday.\u00a0 And I was available on that Saturday!\u00a0 So I arose early, didn’t even have to set my alarm clock, for I was up and wide-awake a full hour before the alarm went off!<\/p>\n
I\u00a0arrived at 8:00 am sharp, with my laptop computer and my lunch.\u00a0\u00a0As I walked into the computer lab, there were two other people there before me.\u00a0 A man and his wife.\u00a0 We waited a few minutes and the man introduced himself and his wife and informed me that I must be the only student.<\/p>\n
The only student?\u00a0 What a wonderful thing!\u00a0 Me, a computer lab, and two instructors–all to myself.\u00a0 Genealogy dreams are made of this…<\/p>\n
[What an odd character I am, you must realize by now.\u00a0 The only dream sweeter\u00a0 to me than two instructors and hands-on access, is the dream of being accidentally locked into the Family History Library overnight–the whole Library and its collections to myself!]<\/p>\n
When I asked how to log onto the wireless, the man said, “Oh, I don’t think you can follow on the screen because I am going to use my own ancestors\u00a0to show you how.”<\/p>\n
“Oh, NO!” said I.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n The reason I came was to do the class on my own computer.\u00a0 “I have already been through 2 classes of 4 sessions each \u00a0at the Family History Library where the instructors showed a power point on the screen–no computer lab and no computer experience.\u00a0 I came to do what you show on my own computer.”<\/p>\n They helped me log in and\u00a0I spent the next 8 hours learning.\u00a0 They showed me how on the screen and I did it myself on my laptop.\u00a0 Part of the time, I did my own ancestors.\u00a0 Part of the time I did theirs.\u00a0 And I learned how to do it myself.<\/p>\n Why is it so important to me to actually\u00a0click the mouse?\u00a0 Like many genealogists today, I learn better by doing.\u00a0 Up to 95% better–by hearing, seeing, and doing the steps.<\/p>\n In my opinion, new FamilySearch is one of the most complicated research tools we have.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Eliminate duplication.<\/strong><\/p>\n The most beautiful aspect of the whole system is that it does eliminate duplication<\/span> of effort.\u00a0 The computer cannot\u00a0accommodate duplicates.\u00a0 Current testing is to eliminate the many, many duplicates that are in there now,\u00a0merging these duplicates into one unit.\u00a0 And where combining has just created additional errors, they can be re-separated out\u00a0 into former units–to be merged more carefully the next time.<\/p>\n When the databases are merged into a reasonable size, they will be opened to the world at large–so other genealogists can add their knowledge, their photos, their documents to build a world family tree.\u00a0 Communication between submitters is by email or telephone–with instructors suggesting that you stick to email.\u00a0 Less explosive that way!\u00a0 You know how we tend to think our stuff is correct when there is conflict with dates, names, places, relationships, and documents.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is my humble opinion, that a good sense of\u00a0 humor<\/strong> at the ready is your best tool!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Your favorite genealogy evidence guru, Arlene Eakle\u00a0 http:\/\/arleneeakle.com<\/a><\/p>\n PS\u00a0 Did I forget to tell you that before I had much knowledge of this complicated genealogy system, I was asked to teach it?\u00a0 I’m still laughing as I try to learn before I instruct others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Each time I attend a seminar, or a conference, or take a class, I learn something new.\u00a0 Each book I read, I learn something new.\u00a0 Each CD or video I watch, I look for evidence of records that could enable … Continue reading \n