RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: groom on Monday 18 April 16 08:03 BST (UK)
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Final week, doesnt really seem 6 weeks ago we started does it? It's a pity that for a lot of us it wasn't exactly what we expected, but hopefully if we've learnt a couple of things it has been useful. I think most of us have stuck it out perhaps in the hope that it would improve.
WEEK 6
Documenting and Communicating your Research Results and Sources
Week 6 introduces the main types of tools used by genealogists to store, track and analyse data along with an overview as to why such tools are useful. Paper based resources, genealogical software of various types and online tools will all be explored. We will explore what types of reports and charts are commonly used, different approaches to writing a family history and some specialist tools. Ways to protect your physical records and digital data will also be explored. Genealogists need to provide evidence that the statements and assertions they make are based on documents and other types of resources. We will explain the use of referencing in genealogical reports and charts and discuss various systems of referencing in use in the genealogical world.
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Wizzed through week 6 (reading the transcriptions as i couldn't cope with the videos) as 'presenting your findings' was one of the main reasons i signed up for the course. Wasn't sure it would let me as i'd only done week 1. Nothing very exciting.
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I suppose if nothing else, we've flagged up RootsChat! I've noticed a couple of newcomers to here that are on the course, and I'm sure that there are more.
Is there a chance for feed back at the end of week 6 Deirdre, if not FutureLearn often ask for it later? I hope people state their views and that they are listened to.
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Yes, at the end. Only did it on my phone - while having breakfast - so didn't bother adding any though. I'm sure anything i might have said will be said by many others.
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Yes there is place for feedback at the end of week six. ;)
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Yes there is place for feedback at the end of week six. ;)
In that case, I hope that negative comments aren't removed, as people say they have been previously.
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My comment from 6/15 hasn't been removed yet - not negative but giving RC a wrap . . . And backed up by someone else from RC!
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My (slightly) negative comments are still there, as are others .... all Rootschatters I think? ;)
Week 6 sounds good, and getting organised is also one of the reasons I signed up. I'm really looking for some simple tips. Some people have such complex systems, but I know I would never keep anything complicated updated. I have already been given a tip or two earlier in the course from our lovely Jen. ;) ;D
I don't have much confidence that there will be any groundbreaking tips revealed.
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The comment I made about Educators and moderators not joining in is still there.
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I've been following the course as well and it's been a bit up and down. A lot of it has been really quite basic and boring, the videos especially. Haven't watched the hangouts after the first one! I made some comments early on but realised there were so many participants that realistically very few people would read everything. I certainly couldn't! The last couple of weeks I have just read through the items very quickly. This week could be more interesting - I do need to become more organised!
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Have done the first few of week six. Pretty basic still, but will see as we go along. There are not so many folk in the discussions anymore. Wonder if they have dropped out or just not bothering to post...
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I've just had an email inviting me to join this week's Google Hangout, which is obviously going to be a plug for the Genealogy course which the University is running. No other course I've participated in has done this, they have just given links for anyone wanting to take it further.
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I've just had an email inviting me to join this week's Google Hangout, which is obviously going to be a plug for the Genealogy course which the University is running. No other course I've participated in has done this, they have just given links for anyone wanting to take it further.
Yes, I've had this as well now. I've done lots of previous FL Courses, but have never had one before either.
Romilly.
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Also had that one, for the Masters, but it's not a free one, so I wonder how many will take it on.
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Also had that one, for the Masters, but it's not a free one, so I wonder how many will take it on.
I wonder what it costs? Does it say on there anywhere?
Romilly.
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Also had that one, for the Masters, but it's not a free one, so I wonder how many will take it on.
I wonder what it costs? Does it say on there anywhere?
Romilly.
Its not cheap!
http://www.strath.ac.uk/cll/cpd/genealogicalstudies/postgraduatecoursesingenealogy/
If you scroll down the page, there's a section on FAQs, Fees & Timetables.
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The comment I made about Educators and moderators not joining in is still there.
Behold the wondrous power of RootsChat! Our Glorious Leader has come amongst us and commented thrice upon the fifth week of our labours. (Too sarcastic?)
Carol :)
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Also had that one, for the Masters, but it's not a free one, so I wonder how many will take it on.
I wonder what it costs? Does it say on there anywhere?
Romilly.
Its not cheap!
http://www.strath.ac.uk/cll/cpd/genealogicalstudies/postgraduatecoursesingenealogy/
If you scroll down the page, there's a section on FAQs, Fees & Timetables.
Gosh!! That seems a bit steep!
I'll put that on the back burner then :) Mind you... I suppose that if I took out a Student Loan for it... I'd probably be long gone by the time they tried to recoup it! ;D ;D ;D
Romilly
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The comment I made about Educators and moderators not joining in is still there.
Behold the wondrous power of RootsChat! Our Glorious Leader has come amongst us and commented thrice upon the fifth week of our labours. (Too sarcastic?)
Carol :)
And well worth the wait, I presume? :P
STG
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Where abouts is it? I find trying to find comments by people difficult, even those that I'm following. It isn't the easiest of message boards to follow.
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I just went back to look for comments - can see the everyone comments, but when I click following, I can't see any comments at all - and I know I clicked lots of people to follow! ;D
I worked my way through the whole of week six but no-one appearing on the 'following' though they are there on the 'everyone' page.
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If you click on your profile and scroll down you can see your activity on the course but there is another button there for those you are following. I am following Groom and if I then click on her name I can see all her comments. Groom I also chose to follow Tahitia and can see all her comments in that way.
William
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Thanks William . . . I too had clicked on Following Tahitia - but hadn't found her replies until now when, after your prompting, I went looking!! :)
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Where abouts is it? I find trying to find comments by people difficult, even those that I'm following. It isn't the easiest of message boards to follow.
I'm glad I'm not alone. I seem to have a lot of numbers beside my profile picture, and to see the replies to the comments I have contributed to I seem to have to read the entire 'thread' again. It's a bit confusing (to me anyway ;)). I'll try William's technique ....
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That's the same with me. I had 8 next to my profile, but could only see 4 plus two likes.
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Ruskie, if you click on notifications beside your profile picture it should just show the replies to your comments and all the likes. Only if you then click on view conversation should you have to read the whole thing again.
William
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Ah, thanks William - that should make life easier. :)
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Blowed if I can find where Tahitia has joined the discussion . . ::) :( Been looking and looking!
Not the easiest site to travel around.
Glad I did the course though . . underlines so much of what I've learnt on here - and showed how much more I need to learn about referencing and citing!
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Have you found her in your list of those you are following, Wiggy and clicked on her name to see her comments? If you then click on the topic where the comment was made you can read the whole conversation.
Totally agree about citing - mine is shameful!
William
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That's the thing - I have ticked the box to say I am following Tahitia , . . . but her posts don't seem to be coming up on my list - possibly I am not looking at the right place.
I will keep searching . . I will not be beaten!!! ;D ;D
Thanks again William!
Finally found her comments . . . bit of a let down after all the looking! ;)
I kept clicking on following but no-one that I am foloowing is showing up as having commented on anything in week 6 - - - I don't think that's right though . . .
Ahhh well! Tough! ;D
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As far as I can see she's only made 18 comment in the whole of the course and one of those was just introducing herself. None really pick up on any discussions they just recommend links. I expect most of us have made more comments than that.
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I have just realised that if you click on activity and then your comments it is only those comments which others have replied to which appear. I can see all the comments I have made only by going to my profile.
William
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I have just realised that if you click on activity and then your comments it is only those comments which others have replied to which appear. I can see all the comments I have made only by going to my profile.
William
Not the easiest of sites to navigate is it?
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Well, I have just finished the last week.
Have to say I was really disappointed by the whole course (just my opinion, of course).
Very little factual content.
And Tahitia really needs to brush up on her presentation and public-speaking skills? ::)
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Have also just completed week six and have to agree that there was some disappointment, didn't really learn anything new other than I need to cite my sources more often. Quite honestly have learned more from this forum. ;)
Perhaps the Rootschatters are too advanced. If you were a raw beginner at genealogy (geneology :-\ sorry couldn't resist ;D) it may be a good place to start...
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Have also just completed week six and have to agree that there was some disappointment, didn't really learn anything new other than I need to cite my sources more often. Quite honestly have learned more from this forum. ;)
Perhaps the Rootschatters are too advanced. If you were a raw beginner at genealogy (geneology :-\ sorry couldn't resist ;D) it may be a good place to start...
Agree. Wiggy
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I agree, i've learned far more on here, and found it much more interesting, than in the 2 weeks of the course i completed (weeks 1 and 6).
Roll on rootschat ;D
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I agree too, I've learnt much more here on rootschat.
(I did start another Future Learn course this week though, and so far it's much better in terms of video presentation and tutor involvement, with it sounds like more practical work to do if you want to. So I'm very glad to have found out about it - thank you to whoever first drew my attention to this course, I think it was Groom or STG?)
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Which one are you doing,Maddy?
I agree, i've learned far more on here, and found it much more interesting, than in the 2 weeks of the course i completed (weeks 1 and 6).
Roll on rootschat ;D
Maybe it s because we are actually doing the research while we learn! I always find that a better way to learn, whatever I am doing/learning! :)
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Very true Wiggy, me too ;D
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I suppose the number of posts we have after our names on here shows we aren't complete beginners. Most of us have probably picked up tips and skills through this site and passed them on. I know I've learnt more by doing look ups on here, as its made me look in areas I probably wouldn't have used and by following the posts I've used different resources - for instance, the marvellous Durham records which, as I don't have relatives there, hadn't heard of.
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I know you've pointed me in the right direction lots of times!
Not sure I've helped many people with lookups, but I can decipher a bit, and repair the easier photos! ;) ;)
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So true, while looking for information for another Chatter I found a whole resource I didn't know about on Google books in the form of parish registers, some genealogies of families, even the names of the Knights of Edward I ;D
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3SD . . . Do you have any need for Cornish OPRs. They are great! :)
But - we digress . . .
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I wholeheartedly agree that doing lookups for others is an excellent way to learn. This is why I was hoping for some practial tasks in the course.
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Which one are you doing,Maddy?
I've started Hans Christian Anderson and Shakespeare and His World. (Video on Shakespeare shows the parish registers for his baptism and burial - lovely to see the actual registers.)
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They sound interesting Maddy, i may have a look at one of them (force myself to have a change from FH !! :o)
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They sound interesting Maddy, i may have a look at one of them (force myself to have a change from FH !! :o)
Only a little bit of a change - spending time exploring the mid 1800s world (HCA) and late 1500s/early 1600s of Shakespeare ;) ;D
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I've signed up for the History of Royal Food and Feasting which starts in June.
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Well I've just posted my thoughts on the course ( you can pick out my name using lateral thinking on my Roots user name ;D ;D ;D)
See if that stays on there.
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They sound interesting Maddy, i may have a look at one of them (force myself to have a change from FH !! :o)
Only a little bit of a change - spending time exploring the mid 1800s world (HCA) and late 1500s/early 1600s of Shakespeare ;) ;D
Shakespeare is actually further back than i've managed!!! ;D
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snap!!! ;D ;D
I also just started the Hans Christian Anderson one ;D
Thought it would make a change for genealogy and it looks interesting.
Then the History of Royal Food and Feasting in June
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They sounds interesting Maddy and 3SD!
I'm going to give it a rest for a while! ;)
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And I've signed up for the Food and Feasting too! (I'll have a look for you on HCA ;D)
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And I've signed up for the Food and Feasting too! (I'll have a look for you on HCA ;D)
same user name as here ;);D ;D
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I really enjoyed the Shakespeare FL Course, - I did it a while back now.
I'm signed up for 'Exercise on Prescription', ;) and 'Introduction to Italian'. (I like a bit of variety:-)
I haven't found the Genealogy one nearly as good as I was hoping for... ???
Romilly.
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I've completed the survey, linked to my email address. I'm hoping they'll take more notice of that.
I'm signed up for Maths Puzzles next month ... it has to be better than this :D
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I could probably do with a course that took me off the computer for a while as i spend all day in front of one in work and all evening (and much of the weekend!) online either working on my own tree, browsing rootschat or teaching myself how to use the new FH software i've just bought :D
But that might be difficult if it's an online course ::)
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Week 6?
I am so far behind :-[
Milly
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Working my way through this week ....
Um ... Nancy and Biff? ::) I might be doing them a disservice but I can't take a couple of Americans stuck in the 80s very seriously. Poor Biff - looks like he's a bit the worse for wear after spending the afternoon at the pub.
(I have no sound on my PC so am relying on the transcript so my impression may be different from others)
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Fin-ished! The last few "activities" were pushing the paid courses.
I found this week more useful until we got to Nancy and Biff, then it went downhill from there. Chris meeting up with her family was a complete non event. She seems a nice lady, and her dog is cute, but all that I got out of it is that she wants to go to Germany.
This course did not go out with a bang, but still everyone claims that they learned so much and they are so grateful to all the staff for their hard work. I have to hold back so as to not say anything ... >:(
;D
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Least said soonest mended eh Ruskie? ;)
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Least said soonest mended eh Ruskie? ;)
Oh yes. (Good expression - I haven't heard that one before.)
I feel I can let it all hang out here a bit more as I think some of us are thinking along similar lines .....
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Seems like my (rather negative) comments have been deleted?!
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Seems like my (rather negative) comments have been deleted?!
Well my post has brought out the Tahitia fan club in force, don't know if it will get deleted.
Unfortunately I think this debacle and I do think it was a car crash, will do Strathclyde University no good among the Family History community.
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They have not been deleted. I have just read them. Suggest you click on your profile.
William
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Seems like my (rather negative) comments have been deleted?!
Well my post has brought out the Tahitia fan club in force, don't know if it will get deleted.
Unfortunately I think this debacle and I do think it was a car crash, will do Strathclyde University no good among the Family History community.
But everyone is so so positive. ::)
People who claim to be experienced researchers are praising the course. :-\
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I noticed that as well. If everyone praises the course, they won't learn from their mistakes and so the next course will go out exactly the same. I noticed a long post pointing out where it could be improved and as Jaywit said the fan club rushed in as if it was a personal attack on them.
Perhaps people are just too polite, or maybe we expected too much.
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They have not been deleted. I have just read them. Suggest you click on your profile.
William
I spent 20-30 minutes looking for that this morning! :-[
Just shows how difficult the site is to navigate?
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My comment to Mr Garrad:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy/1/steps/63833/comments?page=2#comment_12054592
If, as I suspect, about 1000 people complete that means an attrition rate of about 96% if the 26,000 was an accurate number of enrollments. :o
Jen
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It would be nice to know how many actually stuck with it wouldn't it, but they probably can't tell as there is no time limit. If there were that many on the course, it was a very small percentage who commented after each section, as the same names kept appearing.
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I stuck with it but feel that time spent here and taking a few courses/workshops with my local family history society have taught me more useful things.....different websites to check, search techniques, etc.
Fingers crossed that the next one I've signed up for (Food & Feasting) is going to be an improvement. ;)
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[quote author=nanny jan link=topic=746652.msg5940762#msg5940762 date=1461152301
Fingers crossed that the next one I've signed up for (Food & Feasting) is going to be an improvement. ;)
[/quote]
See you on that one NJ.
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With apron and mixing bowl! :D
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With apron and mixing bowl! :D
Most definitely!! Keen to see what type of recipes will be on offer ;D ;D
In the meantime Hans Christian Anderson can keep me distracted for a while from ancestor hunting, well for a little while each day... ::) ;D ;D
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Just finished the course - got through the last part quickly as it was either advertising or repetition. I've also completed the feed back to FL and said it didn't live up to expectations.
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I've been very disenchanted with the course. I'm shortly repeating my own course on family history, and if I used the FutureLearn course as an outline syllabus, I doubt I'd have any students left by the start of the second class.
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I really think that the genealogy course was aimed at folk just starting out who don't really know where to start or what you need to look for. Looking at the comments are we the only ones who were disappointed??
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I really think that the genealogy course was aimed at folk just starting out who don't really know where to start or what you need to look for. Looking at the comments are we the only ones who were disappointed??
The problem is all these gushing posts from people who say they have been researching for a lifetime and the information they have found out from this course has been a revelation. ??? ???
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I really think that the genealogy course was aimed at folk just starting out who don't really know where to start or what you need to look for. Looking at the comments are we the only ones who were disappointed??
The problem is all these gushing posts from people who say they have been researching for a lifetime and the information they have found out from this course has been a revelation. ??? ???
One wonders where they have been looking if they found nothing until the signed up for the course :-\
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I would just like to, erm, thank you all for, erm, being with me via this, erm, board, to help me through the, erm, course.
I can't say that I've, erm, got very much out of it, except some DNA stuff that wasn't, erm, on the course itself, but from a link provided by a fellow, erm, participant.
Erm, see you around on other, erm, topics ;)
STG
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;D ;D
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Erm Erm ;D ;D ;D
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It wasn't the hum, Humming that irritated me..
It was the hum, what do they call it, the script over the video's that covered up parts of the screen, so you couldn't see what was being talked about...
I think the course is probably best suited to the very beginner or I might be interested in researching my family.... So you get a brief detail what is involved and help to avoid a lot of the pitfalls we found ourselves in, such as failing to note down where a particular document/information had come from ::)
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It was the hum, what do they call it, the script over the video's that covered up parts of the screen, so you couldn't see what was being talked about...
That annoyed me until someone on here told me how to turn it off. ;D ;D You just click on the symbol on the right next to where it says HD, just above the "download video" and then turn off the subtitles. I can see why they were included as there may have been some people with hearing difficulties or whose first language wasn't English.
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Now you tell me :'(
I did wonder if you could turn them off, but for such a short course and a few video's I couldn't be asked to faff around to find out..
But if I ever do another futurelearn, then I will know
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I've been very disenchanted with the course. I'm shortly repeating my own course on family history, and if I used the FutureLearn course as an outline syllabus, I doubt I'd have any students left by the start of the second class.
I'm sure your course is a LOT more interesting and informative. :)
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My comment to Mr Garrad:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy/1/steps/63833/comments?page=2#comment_12054592
If, as I suspect, about 1000 people complete that means an attrition rate of about 96% if the 26,000 was an accurate number of enrollments. :o
Jen
Looks like KG and Jen's comments have been removed now. ::)
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No, they are still there and KG has 9 likes. ;D
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Ahhh...it's not like on here where a thread/comment stays put. It's now at the link below...comment number looks to remain the same but the page numbers change! That is so unhelpful as you can't really direct anyone to a comment.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy/1/steps/63833/comments?page=5#comment_12054592
I think if you post about wanting course info a tutor appears ;)
Jen
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Interesting, I scrolled through the posts but must have missed it.
Mind you I can't be bothered to complete the course so have "left" it. Personally, it shouldn't have been advertised as for all levels of researcher, as we all know. :-X
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I hope people fill in the Post Course Survey 6:18 as this is from Future Learn rather than the University. This gives an opportunity to give your opinion about the course.
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I suspect you have to complete the course to see the Post Course Survey, as I've clicked leave in a bit of disgust at it, wasn't given the option. :-\
Edit - aah, its letter me rejoin where I got to on Wk3, I suppose I should run through and then give them some post course feedback, although I suspect they'll not take much note of it since they won't accept any even slightly negative comments during the course.
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I finished the final week yesterday, but haven't found the post course survey, perhaps I clicked a "No thank you" without realising it.
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It's in section 6:18 How was it for you?
We would be very grateful if you can take the time to complete our post-course survey, which asks you some questions about your experience on the course in order to help us keep improving FutureLearn, our courses, and our own teaching. We also hope you’ll find it useful to reflect on your experience on the course in a bit more detail.
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Thanks, I see the link now, buried in the text and not even underlined. I just thought the discussion at the end of the page was the feedback they were looking for.
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Filled mine in already.
I must say though that I have just started the Hans Christian Anderson and find it far better than the genealogy one. There is much more content, you won't just be able to zip through the week in a day or two. I have done some each day and am not finished yet..... ;) :)
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I've just enrolled for the Shakespeare course, following a recommendation earlier on this thread. Looks a lot more to it, I think I'm going to struggle to keep up. Off to see the Hamlet production that's been round the world at the Globe on Saturday.
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Although I was not impressed by this course I would like to thank those on rootschat who let us know it was running. Having read previous comments on the Richard III & Hadrians Wall courses we are aware that this FH course was far from what anyone was expecting. ::)
It does make you realise just how much information we can pick up and share here on rootschat without the need of a FH course.
Rosie
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Finished the course now and posted my rather luke warm response. I have rediscovered and posted on RootsChat so there has been a positive outcome! Perhaps I was expecting too much from the course after taking some excellent FutureLearn courses. I soon became bored with the presenters and the course content, though there some sections that I've taken note about.
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Hello, welcome to RootsChat. It's a pity the course wasn't what we expected. It does seem a bit strange to me that so many people are brimming over with praise for it.
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Hi groom. There were some good points about the course but I do find it strange that some are over the top in their praise. Perhaps they are the only ones who can be bothered to reply.
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I'm also amazed at the huge praise for this course. I am by no means an expert but I found very little to get excited about. I filled in the form and gave them both barrels!
Linda
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I have to agree, it was somewhat disappointing especially if I compare it to the Hans Christian Andersen one that I just started. There is so much more to the course and it's only the first week.
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Have still to finish week 6 as I have been concentrating on practising for a concert I'm singing in tonight (Friday), but I will certainly be expressing my disappointment at the end. The course organisers have tried to please all comers and have ended up dipping in and out of topics with a great deal of repetition, especially at first. Presentation (apart from the Scottish librarian) was poor - presenters either reading from a script or talking to a hidden audience in front of them, quite apart from the umms and aahs in one particular case. There was not enough participation in the form of tasks - let's not mention the quizzes! A series of courses structured in graded experience would have been better, but probably too expensive to organise.
It's noticeable that we RootsChatters have almost to a man made our disappointment very clear, but a mass of other participants obviously thought the course was 'amazing', 'wonderful', 'fantastic', etc., so I expect those are the comments that Strathclyde will concentrate on. However, the script seems to suggest that comments will go to FutureLearn, so our rather negative comments may get through to them as overall organisers.
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At our 'Writing you Life Story' session at U3A today, there was quite an interest n Genealogy, so I was spruiking RootsChat to all and sundry - lots of interest shown!
Think we may get some new members on this site!
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It's noticeable that we RootsChatters have almost to a man made our disappointment very clear, but a mass of other participants obviously thought the course was 'amazing', 'wonderful', 'fantastic', etc.,
It has just occurred to me, I wonder if majority of those who praised the course had been working alone up until then and if it was the first time they had the chance to interact with others? Whereas, Rootschatters are used to discussing things, recommending resources, doing look ups, being told they are on the wrong track etc? So we were probably expecting more.
I think if you look back at the thread where the course was first mentioned, you will see that we were all looking forward to the course and were very positive about it. Even in the first couple of weeks we were still expecting it to improve, it was only when we realised that wasn't going to happen that we became disillusioned . Most of us seem to have given it a chance, and stuck with it, so I hope that FutureLearn do take our comments into consideration - perhaps one of them might even read our Rootschat threads!
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perhaps one of them might even read our Rootschat threads!
Maybe we should have given a link to them when we did the survey :-\
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Perhaps someone who hasn't yet completed the survey could do that? Once you've done it, it won't let you add to it.
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Think you could be correct, Jan!
It sure is better having someone to chat to, get hints from and ask for advice.
Bad luck, already done the survey!
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Perhaps someone who hasn't yet completed the survey could do that? Once you've done it, it won't let you add to it.
I could do that ;D
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What groom is saying is true, we all started out looking forward to it, but it didn't live up to our expectations. Perhaps we expected too much as none of us (well I know I don't) think of ourselves as expert genealogists no matter how long we have been researching our trees, and were looking forward to learning something new.
What I have learned I either found out the hard way from making mistakes early on and from the years spent here on Rootschat.
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Completed week 1 of the Hans Christian Anderson course I signed up for and have had an email with feed back from one of the course hosts. It is clear in the email that comments that were made have been read by them and some are mentioned and discussed.
Will see how it progresses, definitely more involvement from their side, but then there aren't as many comments to deal with, to be fair.
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Perhaps they underestimated just how popular the course was going to be, but when they realised how many people had enrolled they should have brought more people onto the moderating team. On other courses that I've done, there have been several postgraduates from the University who have acted as moderators and contributed to the discussion.
Luckily, from what I saw, everyone on this course was friendly and polite, but that doesn't always happen. On another course, discussions did get quite heated between two groups and the moderators had to step in. They also stepped in to correct wrong information and to answer questions. Obviously in this course, where, as far as could see, the only people involved were Tahita and Graham, there were too many comments for them to cope with. The only time I noticed anything from them was to direct people to courses run by the university.
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I think you're right and they were overwhelmed by the response to the course. There were often so many replies it was difficult to follow any discussion at all. Perhaps the next time they offer it they will be better prepared.
But as you say they could perhaps have called in undergrads to help out.
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Completed week 1 of the Hans Christian Anderson course I signed up for and have had an email with feed back from one of the course hosts. It is clear in the email that comments that were made have been read by them and some are mentioned and discussed.
Will see how it progresses, definitely more involvement from their side, but then there aren't as many comments to deal with, to be fair.
I'm much more impressed with the Hans Christian Anderson course, and the Shakespeare one too. Not only more involvement from the course hosts and the end of week feedback, but also the thinking that had to go into joining in some of the discussion topics, rather than just giving anecdotes about our previous genealogical research. Perhaps getting more out of it because I knew less about it to start with? And as you say, fewer to comments on the discussion are probably easier for the moderators to deal with - around 300 as compared to 1000 or so in the genealogy course.
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I agree with all the comments re FutureLearn genealogy. The feedback from staff was disappointing and everyone was anecdotal. I gave up making comments after the first couple of weeks. Perhaps the organisers have learnt from their own course, but more likely happy with the sycophants! I've taken other FutureLearn courses so will look to see if any others on family history.
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I finished the course and completed the survey, but found it difficult to say what I wanted to say when faced with their optional replies. On one of the very few chances to give my own view I did manage to mention some of our reservations, but still felt it quite restricting.
Wonder what the exciting thing was that was going to happen to the "replies" page? ???
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I really dislike surveys where you are given four options and none of them say what you wish.
I did complete this one but felt hamstrung by the options!
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I finished the course and completed the survey, but found it difficult to say what I wanted to say when faced with their optional replies. On one of the very few chances to give my own view I did manage to mention some of our reservations, but still felt it quite restricting.
Wonder what the exciting thing was that was going to happen to the "replies" page? ???
:-\ Perhaps it was just that they gave coloured initials for those without profiles.
I skipped past the survey, quite late with the steps week 6 and just finished yesterday, plus the Shakespeare one I signed up with started last week also and have barely started that and week 2 has started. I did flick through as much of the survey as possible, just to get idea of questions and options, until I got to a compulsory field but took easy option in end and ignored it :)
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Just had an email from Tahitia saying what a wonderful course it had been, how much had been learned, how great (and positive) all the comments and discussions had been and how well the 'what's in a name' story had been received. ;D
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I got that email, too!
Should I reply?! ;D :-X
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Just had an email from Tahitia saying what a wonderful course it had been, how much had been learned, how great (and positive) all the comments and discussions had been and how well the 'what's in a name' story had been received. ;D
I got the E mail as well. It does make you wonder if we are on a different planet to everyone else connected with the course. ??? ???
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I got the email as well and a survey......they probably won't like my answers. ;)
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No email yet, perhaps they send them out in bunches rather than all at once.
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I've received the email and survey - but I've already done the survey . . . . :-\
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Yes, I've got it too. Perhaps it just went to everyone who did the Course, - but they don't all come on here, - so we don't know!
Romilly ;D ;D
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I've got it too!
Linda
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As I said... I bet everyone gets the same message.
Romilly ;D
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My email said that they had 122,000 comments posted during the course! Did they read them all?
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My email said that they had 122,000 comments posted during the course! Did they read them all?
I doubt it.
Added: Just got the email. The survey is the same one as I did at the end of the course, so it won't let me do it again.
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Yep. Same message. ::)
They obviously didn't read my comments as they told me how much I liked the "what's in a name story". I thought it was particularly average. I read more interesting stories than that every day here on rootschat.
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Certainly have, especially some of those where we've managed to find living relatives, although obviously they couldn't be told. There are also ones where people have traced ancestors who were transported to Australia, a story like that would have been good, as they could then have introduced how to look up those records and how to follow them in their new country.
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Certainly have, especially some of those where we've managed to find living relatives, although obviously they couldn't be told. There are also ones where people have traced ancestors who were transported to Australia, a story like that would have been good, as they could then have introduced how to look up those records and how to follow them in their new country.
I just wondered how many Scots were transported, a quick Google showed 8000, a small proportion of the total. Plus how many Americans were transported? my guess is 0.
So again my guess not a subject that receives much attention at Strathclyde.
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My email said that they had 122,000 comments posted during the course! Did they read them all?
Got the same email yesterday. It reads as if they judge the popularity of the course by the number of comments - just as some people judge their popularity by the number of "friends" they have on social media sites.
But, if you remove the "I'm really looking forward to this week" comments at beginning of each week, "That was really amazing/ stupendous/ mind blowing, thank you everyone" at the end of each week and the "Oh dear, I am soooo behind!" comments from Week 2 onwards, how many really constructive comments or questions are you really left with?
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They would have noticed that we all (well, most of us) had the RootsChat logo beside our names. I wonder if they may have just dismissed any comments as coming from a bunch of weirdos, or troublemakers, or knows-it-alls who were not really interested in the course.
There again, maybe they just didn't notice the constructive or negative bits amongst all the glowing testimonials.
p.s. There were too many comments to read them all, at every stage, so perhaps there were others who gave not so enthusiastic views, but I didn't notice any
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If you go to section 6.18 'How was it for you' and click on 'most liked' you'll find a comment by Josie you may feel she is worth a 'like' ;) (well it was the most liked as I was writing this).
Jen
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If you divide the number of comments by the number of participants, it works out at 4 each. As a lot of names appeared several times in each section, that leads me to believe there was a large number of people on the course who didn't comment at all.
As Lizzie said, I wonder how many comments were actually useful ones and not just gushing, or relating anecdotes from their own family? I don't think the number of comments is really relevant to how well the course went when it covers a subject like genealogy, we all know how we ramble on here with stories. ;D I didn't notice any real in depth discussions as there have been on other courses.
I hope they didn't dismiss Rootschatters just because we all used the same avatar. As a group I thought we conducted ourselves very well and gave lots of advice and I know we encouraged quite a few people to join. On another course I was on, a group of people obviously knew each other from previous courses, had formed a closed "club" and had given themselves a name, which they referred to frequently. They used the comments section to make digs about other students and almost ganged up to "shout" others down if they dared disagree with them.
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I've only really become aware of RootsChat since I finished the FutureLearn course. I'm still getting used to how it works! Your ideas about the course have agreed with mine. I will look back at the course as there were some things that I found useful and they will help me in my research. You say that you had a common avatar when you made your comments. What did it look like, so that when I see it as I read comments I can then relate it to this forum?
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Hi
The avatar was the one with the green leaf on reply 3 - I go on rootschat.com
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=743943
or
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=743943.msg5908366#msg5908366
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Welcome to RC. DWF, and I do hope you find it as helpful and friendly as most of us have! :)
Wiggy.
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Welcome, DWF.
I'm sure you'll get the hang of it fast enough.
The folk on here are friendly and helpful and there are some very clever "super sleuths" for those brickwalls... ;) :D
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Welcome DWF, glad that you found us and it's interesting that you felt the same way about the course.
I wonder if a lot of people simple gave up and didn't bother to comment either way, or whether others, who were studying independently, saw so many positive comments that they thought it must be just them who were disappointed with the course?
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Hi, thanks for those welcome comments :) Perhaps one of the problems was a lack of a true outline for the course, so I was expecting too much from it. For the last 2 or 3 (or 3 or 4!) weeks I was just reading through the information and gave up making comments. The comments I read didn't progress the lessons in any way, so became rather boring. The articles didn't really further my knowledge that I've gained through experience. I doubt if the four years that I've been researching makes me an expert but most of it was very much general common sense. I have taken other FutureLearn courses and they have been truly excellent. Does anyone know of any other online courses similar to FutureLearn?
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I am busy doing Hans Christian Andersen at the moment on Future Learn and the courses are like chalk and cheese. Granted I don't think there are as many doing it, but even the content is of a high level. Really enjoying it and the challenges...
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I got the email too, and the survey, which I filled in, and tried wherever possible to say what I really thought of the course! I haven't finished week 6 yet, so haven't done the survey at the end, but from comments here it seems that it's the same one as the email, and you can't do it twice?
I posted a few comments, mainly during the early part of the course, and got really fed-up of reading everyone else's anecdotes etc., so I tried to make my comments a bit more 'discussion-like' and informative, and, interestingly, I did get a few 'likes' for those! Overall, disappointed though, I've learned far, far more here on RootsChat, that's for sure! ;D
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Does anyone know of any other online courses similar to FutureLearn?
Hi DWF and welcome from me too. There are a number of mooc providers, I know of edX, however just look on the wikipedia page for massive open online course and there is a list of providers and which universities they are associated with. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course
3sillydogs, I'm really enjoying the Hans Christian Anderson too (although I've been a bit busy this week so haven't progressed very far with this week's content), much more stimulating and challenging. ;D
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Thanks Maddy, I shall have a look. Unfortunately moocs are addictive and they take time away from researching my tree! I found a lot of good info from RootsChat boards last night. Now need to work on it!
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Maddy, haven't progressed very far this week either, been battling a dose of flu, :-\ (haven't had so much as a cold for about 4 years) but will give it a go today now that the head is clearer. ;D ;D
Am really enjoying is so far and I think it is going to get quite challenging. ;)
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Hi All,
I've also just finished the course and I'm quite surprised by some of the vehement comments on this thread.
I enjoyed the course, there were parts that my own research had already covered but there was also quite a bit which was useful. I am already organised, etc but the course made me think again about why I'm interested in family research and that I need to brush up on some of my methods. I did read the posts and plugged Rootschat as an excellent source of help.
So I make the following comments:
1. The course is free.
2. It is open to anybody in the world.
3. The instructions how to use the site, whilst not as good as Rootschat, were there.
I'd agree that perhaps the course was designed to cover too many skill levels but overall I enjoyed the course. But then I don't have as many stars as most others on this post.
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I have just received another email from FutureLearn:
Win a special framed design of your family tree
Of course, first you have to buy the Statement of Participation ::)
I think I'll pass ;D
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Snap! ;D
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Ditto ;D ;D ;D
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Me four...
(not that i finished 50% of the course, but i had the email) 😄
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I have just received another email from FutureLearn:
Win a special framed design of your family tree
Of course, first you have to buy the Statement of Participation ::)
I think I'll pass ;D
LOL, - I don't need any more diplomas, etc... to hang in the downstairs loo!!
Romilly ;)
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Sounds as if they are desperate to get people to buy the certificate doesn't it, never had any offers like that before? As I said in a previous post, I wouldn't buy a certificate, as I don't think they prove anything at all. All you have to do is complete 50% of the course, and you could do that by just clicking completed after each section without even reading it. If there were tests (as on some courses) and you had to gain a certain mark, the certificates would be of more value, as it is they are just a piece of paper. I have said this when I was asked what might make me purchase one.
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Sounds as if they are desperate to get people to buy the certificate doesn't it, never had any offers like that before? As I said in a previous post, I wouldn't buy a certificate, as I don't think they prove anything at all. All you have to do is complete 50% of the course, and you could do that by just clicking completed after each section without even reading it. If there were tests (as on some courses) and you had to gain a certain mark, the certificates would be of more value, as it is they are just a piece of paper. I have said this when I was asked what might make me purchase one.
My thoughts exactly! :)
I think the uptake on certificate purchases must be way below expectations. They were probably pleased at the huge numbers who signed up for this course - they'd have made a pretty penny if everyone had purchased a "certificate". I would love to know how many they sold. ;)
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I've done several FutureLearn courses before, but I've never done one with such a "hard sell" attitude concerning the Statement of Participation and now the family tree offer.
And the framed family tree offer is actually only a prize offered to one lucky person who enters the prize draw after buying their S. o. P.! :o
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Now I see that Tahitia has invited me to extend my interest in genealogy by taking an MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! >:(
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Now I see that Tahitia has invited me to extend my interest in genealogy by taking an MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! >:(
I've been sent this several times now...
I guess that it's in their interests to do the 'hard sell', - but it merely suceeds in putting me off!
Romilly.
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Now I see that Tahitia has invited me to extend my interest in genealogy by taking an MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! >:(
I've been sent this several times now...
I guess that it's in their interests to do the 'hard sell', - but it merely suceeds in putting me off!
Romilly.
Where's the "Like" button when you need one!
And the email starts along the lines of "we hope you enjoyed the course .... " so as they've obviously not read my comments I returned the favour and didn't read any more of their email.
STG
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Now I see that Tahitia has invited me to extend my interest in genealogy by taking an MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! >:(
And me, and I didn't complete the course!
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Bit of a leap from the course to studying for an MSc. Not for me.
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Bit of a leap from the course to studying for an MSc. Not for me.
Bit of a stretch pricewise too!!
Romilly ;D
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Now I see that Tahitia has invited me to extend my interest in genealogy by taking an MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! >:(
I've been sent this several times now...
I guess that it's in their interests to do the 'hard sell', - but it merely suceeds in putting me off!
Romilly.
It's a bit like the constant phone calls I get from the well known firms asking for my custom. I start to wonder what the problem is, if they are so desperate for business that they have to keep calling even though I've told them several times that there is nothing I need. Obviously people are not rushing to sign up for the MSc in Genealogical Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies! ;D ;D
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Just looking at a 2 week course entitled WW1 Heroism: Through Art and Film, aimed mainly at future University students, but I can see several older folk have enrolled. It's slickly presented, full of information and requires some effort in participation, making students think and respond.
It would be a excellent model for Strathclyde to follow (though it does slip in an advert for studying at Leeds Uni).
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This is interesting re the certificates. It looks as if a lot of people didn't think they actually showed much.
https://about.futurelearn.com/blog/introducing-certificates-of-achievement/
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I was getting so many emails from FL that I have now unsubscribed!
Those certificates are really expensive aren't they. around $60 Aus + the statement for another lot of money.
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I think that if you're 18... and putting together a CV for a Uni Application or whatever, then it's probably worth getting one.
However, that sort of scenario is long in the past for me! ;D ;D ;D
Romilly ;)
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I agree Romilly, it is probably worth it if you are still working, as it shows you are still keen on studying and improving yourself. That is as long as the person who reads your CV doesn't know that you can get the certificate of participation without really doing anything. ;D
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I agree Romilly, it is probably worth it if you are still working, as it shows you are still keen on studying and improving yourself. That is as long as the person who reads your CV doesn't know that you can get the certificate of participation without really doing anything. ;D
Oh how I agree with you Groom.
As far as I can see all the certificate proves is that you are gullible enough to fall for the hype.
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On the 2-week course I mentioned above ( WW1 Heroism: Through Art and Film) I simply read and watched the information given out online, but was too busy to do any of the suggested exercises. At the end of the first week I received an email telling me that I qualified for a Statement of Participation. At the end of the second week there was a quiz, in which I managed to get 95% of the answers correct first time. I wonder what that's worth!
I think these certificates and statements are just a money-gathering exercise. After all, the courses have to be paid for somehow.
Did we ever find out what the exciting changes to be made to the "Replies" button were?
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I'm doing 'Food as Medicine' with FL at the moment, - very interesting.
When you click on the 'Replies' button, - this message popps up:
'We’ll be removing the Replies tab soon and replacing it with something very exciting. You can still find your comments and replies on your Activity tab or Notifications page'.
Romilly ;D
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As far as I can see all the certificate proves is that you are gullible enough to fall for the hype.
I totally agree, jaywit!
It would appear that modern HR people (as opposed to old-fashioned Personnel?!) are seduced by diplomas and certificates. ::)
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Also had all the followup emails, perhaps a little excessive but not bothered and had no intention of getting certs or aiming for a framed tree etc.
It has, if anything, been an introduction to FutureLearn as well and like others, now able to compare. As 3SD said about Hans Christian Anderson being like chalk and cheese, I'm finding the same with William Shakespeare. It's the 3rd year in a row they've repeated WS and still many are obviously enjoying course, as am I, participation pretty good too including some with the educator and mentor. As we're invited to follow those at the beginning of the courses, it did seem a little odd that this Geneaology course had 2 tutors and only one did a few posts over the 6 weeks.
Still happy to have been part of the exercise though :)
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That about sums it up, Mare. The success of the course does depend on the content and the amount of participation of the tutors and moderators. I think that the Genealogy course tried to appeal to too many people, it might have been better if they had run several courses, aimed at different levels of knowledge.
I also felt at times as if it had been prepared weeks in advance and that during the actual course no tutor was even looking at it. On others that I've done, it is very obvious that the tutors are about all the time, as they pick up on comments and answer them and join in the discussions.
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I also felt at times as if it had been prepared weeks in advance and that during the actual course no tutor was even looking at it. On others that I've done, it is very obvious that the tutors are about all the time, as they pick up on comments and answer them and join in the discussions.
Yes, - this has been my experience too. Lots of imput, (in real time) and replies to comments, from the Course Tutors. However, the Genealogy Course attracted much higher numbers of participants than any of the other FL Courses that I have taken.
Romilly.
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This is interesting re the certificates. It looks as if a lot of people didn't think they actually showed much.
https://about.futurelearn.com/blog/introducing-certificates-of-achievement/
Definitely an improvement on the participation one. I would consider buying a certificate if it actually meant something. I just did a job application and put some online courses on it - but without a certificate it doesn't look as good. I won't get one for this course though...as I am still stuck on week three!
Milyl
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If it's that important to have a diploma/certificate, then why not make one?!
It will be about as useful as the real thing! ::)
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After reading all the comments with great interest I'm so glad I didn't do this course.
I've only completed the Hadrian's Wall course which was outstanding, the certificate certainly wasn't pushed and it was nice to get an email recently from 'The Prof' giving updates on the digs and some insight into what people had gone on to do after the FL course to follow up their interest.
I started 'China' last autumn but family demands got in the way. Hoping to return to it this year.
I've just started 'Anxiety, depression and CBT' (yesterday) - so far it looks very professional and quite challenging but also very interesting and accessible.
So I hope no one is put off Futurelearn courses by that one bad experience.
Pat
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I just did a job application and put some online courses on it - but without a certificate it doesn't look as good.
I don't really agree with that, as certificates aren't necessarily asked for on an application form. When I was on the interviewing panel for prospective staff we might have asked them about some of the courses they had done, but unless it was really relevant for the job didn't ask to see proof. We were more interested in the fact that they were still keen on widening their knowledge. Apart from when I went to Uni, I don't think I've ever been asked for proof that I had the number of GCSEs and A levels that I said I had!
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Well I am delighted to be able to report a success story. I have today received a will which "confirms " the identity of my gg grandfather's father. And I have to say it was all down to reading the article attached to Google Hangout 1 on how to tackle the problem of illegitimacy- approaching the matter in a completely different way has paid off in spades.
William
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That's brilliant, William. How did you find him?
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Good one William...
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I was fortunate enough to know his name, Thomas Bell as he was named on the baptism record but because the baptism was in the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Haltwhistle that was all I had. In that area Thomas Bell is a very common name and so there were lots of potential candidates . The article in question basically made me ask the right questions regarding, for example, first names and so I looked for a Thomas Bell with a father William (my gg grandfather was called William Dent) of the right sort of age. I then also noticed that the first names of his siblings were also the first names of my great,great grandfather's many children. I also discovered that Thomas was the son of a Weaving Factory Owner and ,given that the mother of my gg grandfather was the daughter of a weaver, it all started to make sense, if only in my head! Having located Thomas in the 1841, 51 and 61 censuses I identified a possible entry in the probate calendar and felt it was worth a go. The e mail arrived this morning and lo and behold he actually names my gg grandfather, left him £100 and also, given that the will had been written in 1830, made provision for his education and upbringing until he came of age. As you can imagine I am very happy indeed.
William
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William, thanks for sharing that fabulous outcome! You must be chuffed to bits :)
Jen
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I just did a job application and put some online courses on it - but without a certificate it doesn't look as good.
I don't really agree with that, as certificates aren't necessarily asked for on an application form. When I was on the interviewing panel for prospective staff we might have asked them about some of the courses they had done, but unless it was really relevant for the job didn't ask to see proof. We were more interested in the fact that they were still keen on widening their knowledge. Apart from when I went to Uni, I don't think I've ever been asked for proof that I had the number of GCSEs and A levels that I said I had!
Well I am hoping they will feel the same and be inspired by my obvious enthusiasm for continued learning ;D I am applying to work at my old Uni. If they want to see my GCSE and A Levels (no idea where those certificates are) I wonder if I can just say you had all that 35 years ago!!
Milly
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Best of luck, hope you get the job.
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Good luck Milly! ;)
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I am applying to work at my old Uni. If they want to see my GCSE and A Levels (no idea where those certificates are) I wonder if I can just say you had all that 35 years ago!!
Milly
I expect your old Uni would still have your details in their files, so would know you had GCSE's and A levels to get onto the original course. I went to Uni in the early 70's and needed confirmation of my degree for a job application about 8 years ago because I couldn't find the Certificate. London University were able to send me a copy within a few days. As you say GCSE's not O levels, you must have been at Uni much more recently than me!
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GCSEs started either 1987 or 1988. I suspect Milly's is a typo and she meant GCEs. ;)
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or CSE's which I did for some subjects as I wasn't clever enough to do the o'level equivalent (1974-1978)
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Or for that matter there was the 16+ exam syllabus which gave you an O'level or CSE depending on what grade you got. And I think from memory you got two certificates too if you got an O'level Grade C/CSE Grade 1. ;)
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Surely after all those years those results would no longer be a consideration, and would be superseded by any post school qualifications and experience? :-\
The tertiary course I took no longer exists, the institution no longer exists, and the whole school system has changed - no one would have a clue what my results meant. :)
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A couple of years ago, my wife applied for a job in Government, in IT.
She was turned down at the first hurdle, because she didn't have 5 GCSE's?!
Never mind 20 years IT experience, or the Microsoft exams she had passed! ::)
It would appear that, to some people, the exams/certificates/diplomas you acheived at age 16 (or thereabouts) are far more importat than anything else in your life.
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Well spotted.... they said GCSE on the form and it was in my head... I most definitely meant the ancient O Levels.
I think for some jobs they do still insist you have maths and English (because it is on the job description) even if it was 30 or 40 years ago.
Milly