Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 1)

[panic]

Also I think you have to be wary of relying on other students, what check is there that they are knowledgeable enough to advise more inexperienced students?

Surely, to a certain extent that applies to any forum, even this one? I've seen some dodgy advice and information given here, but there are usually others that point out it is incorrect. I think the same thing will happen on that course once it settles down.

In my mind the difference is that this forum isn't run by a university.

Being run by a university I worry that people may think they are being advised by the university not by people who know, well there is no knowing what they know.

There are educators and mentors who will look at posts, so misconceptions should be picked up, but it is about students sharing experiences with educators giving starter topics.

[maddys52]

The FL Site just crashed:-(

Annoying, -  I had just composed a Post; which I imagine is now lost in the ether...

Romilly

I have done on line courses before and learnt the hard way that it's good to type your post in a word document and then copy /paste into the forum. Doesn't matter so much if it's only a few words, but certainly frustrating to lose something important or well thought out 

[jaywit]

Also I think you have to be wary of relying on other students, what check is there that they are knowledgeable enough to advise more inexperienced students?

Surely, to a certain extent that applies to any forum, even this one? I've seen some dodgy advice and information given here, but there are usually others that point out it is incorrect. I think the same thing will happen on that course once it settles down.

In my mind the difference is that this forum isn't run by a university.

Being run by a university I worry that people may think they are being advised by the university not by people who know, well there is no knowing what they know.

There are educators and mentors who will look at posts, so misconceptions should be picked up, but it is about students sharing experiences with educators giving starter topics.

I do hope the educators pick up on misconceptions, time will tell, and as I have said before I worry that a large proportion of the students don't have enough experiences to be of any use.

[Gillg]

I think one of the problems for this course is the sheer number of participants.  Reading all the comments becomes a chore (even if you are looking for the RC logo)  Some comments may be helpful, some misleading. Stick with the information given by the course material if you are not sure, but on the other hand don't hang back from giving help based on your own experience.

And thanks, Trystan, for the logo and instructions.  It was a bit of a struggle but I finally achieved it.

[trystan]

Gill,

My instructions weren't the best really, so I'm sorry if it was a bit tricky.

Trystan

[jaywit]

I think one of the problems for this course is the sheer number of participants.  Reading all the comments becomes a chore (even if you are looking for the RC logo)  Some comments may be helpful, some misleading. Stick with the information given by the course material if you are not sure, but on the other hand don't hang back from giving help based on your own experience.

And thanks, Trystan, for the logo and instructions.  It was a bit of a struggle but I finally achieved it.

Gillg I agree, I think they are overwhelmed with the number of students, but as people had registered in advance the numbers were there and they should have realised what the possible problems would be.

[groom]

All of the MOOC courses are like that though, with thousands of people taking part. As I said earlier, I think the main difference is that people are relating their own experiences, whereas on some of the courses such as Hadrian's Wall or Richard III you can't do that!

[Spidermonkey]

Isn't it funny how some people with non gender specific names on RC...

Turn out to be the opposite gender to where you had placed them mentally (off here)!! (But perhaps that's just me:-)

Romilly.

Lol, I'm curious to know now whether I appear male or female!

[Ruskie]

Groom, if the lead educators do comment are their comments featured somewhere obvious or just mixed in with all the others?

I'm following them, so any comments they make should show. They are just mixed in with all the others.

Thanks groom. I'm following them too but haven't received any notifications of any comments.