Online course at Oxford University

[carmay]

I just got an email message that said, "A topic you are watching has been split into two or more topics by Berlin-Bob."  What does that mean and where did it get split into two? Where do I find the other half?

Carole

[millymcb]

Is there a group in the UK that certifies genealogists?

Thanks,
Carole

I was looking at this site yesterday - but there entry requirements are very high...
http://www.agra.org.uk/

Milly

[carmay]

I was looking at this site yesterday - but there entry requirements are very high...
http://www.agra.org.uk/

Milly

Thanks, Milly! They certainly are! I was surprised to see the two examples they gave of schools. I wasn't sure how highly the IHGS was thought of, but I guess they rank highly in the profession. I have been leaning more towards doing an MLitt at the University of Dundee in Scotland. I found Strathclyde University to be a lot more expensive, especially for those of us who are non/EU.

I think perhaps I will just stick to taking the local history diploma at Oxford and then taking a few courses here and there on subjects that interest me. I'd like to put together a couple of courses to teach at the local community college in the evening.

Carole

[millymcb]

Well good luck with whichever you do...

And keep us posted on how it goes.  I would be very interested in hearing about good courses.

At the moment I am doing a short evening course to prepare to teach adults - and in a few weeks I have to teach a 30 minute session on anything of my choice - so I am going to do beginners family tree research. Never done any teaching before so fingers crossed

Milly

[carmay]

I'm sure you will do fine, Milly.  My BA is in Education. I also have a MA in Religious Studies. I still remember my first day in my own classroom. Of course, I had student teaching as part of my degree requirements, but when you are standing in front of the room on day one of your first class, it's something you never forget. I remember as soon as the bell rang, the students went silent, and I had to start by telling them my name and informing them that I would their teacher for this course. Of course, when it's your own class, you can do a bit of an ice breaker on day one. But you might want to start off by asking them how many of them have ever done any work on their family trees, and then go from there.

I am looking for courses now that will enable me to help others find their families as I have been finding mine. I've been working on mine on and off since 1997. When I lived in NY and was a teacher, I'd go to England for the summer, stay with various relatives, and work on the family tree. Since moving to Washington in 2003, I have only been back to England once and didn't have a lot of time to work on things. So I do it all online now.

I will certainly be happy to report back on any courses I take. Not sure which forum subject that would go under, but I guess if I post it in the wrong place, a moderator will move it

Good luck and let us know how you go on with your course!

Carole

[millymcb]

It's only a half hour session which we teach to a small group of our other class members so should be ok - and I am doing it on family tree research so with my enthusiasm for the subject I should be able to get over some of the basics - just will be hard limiting it to half an hour as I could probably talk all day on it! I know one of the class at least is looking forward to it.

It has been a very interesting course so far. I may do another course afterwards - possibly a history one like you.

Milly

[zannette]

Hi, I noticed that Amazon was mentioned as a source of 2 particular books (history). This is fine, but a site which is always worth a visit for books is betterworldbooks.com. Based in US, many new and used books, if you're lucky you can pick up what you're looking for. PLUS for each book sold they contribute to various world literacy charities.
I studied with the Open University for 7 years and had to buy sometimes quite expensive recommended extra books each year, so was always on the look out for 2nd hand books, damaged copies which were related to my study (history).
The thing about the OU is that all the basic study material for a course is included in the course fee, and the OU say that this is everything needed to pass the course. But the courses stimulate interest, and I found myself reading widely around the subject. I could often make library requests to get particular works sent from elsewhere if not to hand and this saved some money.

[carmay]

It's only a half hour session which we teach to a small group of our other class members so should be ok - and I am doing it on family tree research so with my enthusiasm for the subject I should be able to get over some of the basics - just will be hard limiting it to half an hour as I could probably talk all day on it! I know one of the class at least is looking forward to it.

It has been a very interesting course so far. I may do another course afterwards - possibly a history one like you.

Milly

Where do you take the course, Milly?  Is is somewhere local?

Carole

[carmay]

Hi, I noticed that Amazon was mentioned as a source of 2 particular books (history). This is fine, but a site which is always worth a visit for books is betterworldbooks.com. Based in US, many new and used books, if you're lucky you can pick up what you're looking for. PLUS for each book sold they contribute to various world literacy charities.
I studied with the Open University for 7 years and had to buy sometimes quite expensive recommended extra books each year, so was always on the look out for 2nd hand books, damaged copies which were related to my study (history).
The thing about the OU is that all the basic study material for a course is included in the course fee, and the OU say that this is everything needed to pass the course. But the courses stimulate interest, and I found myself reading widely around the subject. I could often make library requests to get particular works sent from elsewhere if not to hand and this saved some money.

Thank you for that link, Zanette. I did not know about that website. I'll check it out. I always go to Amazon as I never buy new books unless they are cheaper than the used ones. I can't believe that some sellers sell new books for less than other sellers are selling their used ones! But I will check out betterworldbooks. I had to order a few books from Amazon.co.uk as they weren't available in the US, and the shipping is a lot of money.

I wish I could take courses at the Open University but they do not allow non/EU students. I wish they would open up their courses to the entire world. Some are, but many of the ones I wanted to take were not

Carole