Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)

[Romilly]

My impression is that this sort of DNA Test is more widely used in the US than the UK. But this FL Course seems to be very US tilted...!!

Romilly.

[jennywren001]

Romilly,
Someone on the course has recently posted this in relation to DNA testing "...confirmed great-great-great grandparents (born c1780) where we had a choice of couples with the same names born about the same time in Ayrshire." I've replied asking exactly how this worked...am awaiting an answer.
Jen

[Romilly]

Romilly,
Someone on the course has recently posted this in relation to DNA testing "...confirmed great-great-great grandparents (born c1780) where we had a choice of couples with the same names born about the same time in Ayrshire." I've replied asking exactly how this worked...am awaiting an answer.
Jen

Hi Jen,

That does sound very precise! It'll be interesting to see what answer you get.
Romilly.

[Ruskie]

I haven't started on week 2 yet, but am reading this thread so I don't have to start at the beginning to catch up.

I had a Familyfinder autosomal test with FTDNA. Results were interesting and as I expected. Yes, it is more popular in the USA so you will get more matches from there. FTDNA are supposed to be the best/most popular and they have special offers - mine cost $99 which includes postage. Some other companies I believe do not include postage so you need to do your sums.

I contacted one person who (via a google search) I knew to be deceased, though I thought a family member may have taken over their test results and emails. No reply.
I contacted two more. No reply from one. The other one looked through my surnames but did not recognize any of them.
I will eventually get round to contacting more people on my list of matches, but these were the closest matches (2nd to 4th cousins I think) so in theory we should have been able to find a paper trail.

So, although interesting, no matches.    I think you tend to hear about the success stories because people are so excited to have found a match ....

[Ruskie]

So what do we think about the mind map idea? (I did make a comment but had to reign it in a bit.)

The example they showed bewildered me. Couldn't make head nor tail of it. Con-fus-ing .....  It is probably just me though ....

Might be different if you had created it for yourself so you knew what you were trying to show. 

Not convinced. I am going to go back and have a closer look at it though.

I have noticed that most comments about what is being taught are so positive - I feel a bit bad for always looking noticing the negative. I suppose we are just being taught techniques and we each take something different from it.

[jennywren001]

Hi Romilly,
His answer is below - if you're signed into the course it will link straight through.
Jen

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy/1/steps/63605/comments?page=3#comment_11416414

[Romilly]

Many thanks for the Link Jen. I've replied; which should keep me in the loop for further replies.
As I thought, - DNA tests appear to have a much higher take up in North America and Canada than in the UK. As far as I know... my ancestors are entirely English and Welsh, and so fewer results I would think?

I have, (hopefully) persuaded a male cousin on the paternal side to have a DNA test, and will wait and see what that turns up before going ahead.

Romilly.

[mare]

Is it just me or is any one else annoyed by the fact she is looking off to the side most of the time?

I've noticed it but it hasn't really bothered me too much, I think we got a glimpse of her talking to a group at one point early on and I've just assumed that perhaps she's not directly recording just to camera but I could be wrong about that.

I found the recordings of names in 2.9 and 2.10 quite interesting.

[groom]

I'm only up to 2:6 so far, as I decided to space it out a bit more this week. Like Ruskie, I found the mind map confusing and don't think I'll be using that, however, for people who see things in that way, it is probably helpful.