Author Topic: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)  (Read 20169 times)

Offline Gillg

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #81 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 11:40 GMT (UK) »
So far I feel that I could just have read a book to get the information provided.  The presentation is not very exciting compared with the other MOOC courses I have done, and I do wish the presenter would not pronounce genealogy as geneology.

Incidentally, I haven't seen many Rootschatters among the comments, but I'm not ploughing my way through all of these by any means. ;)

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

FAIREY/FAIRY/FAREY/FEARY, LAWSON, CHURCH, BENSON, HALSTEAD from Easton, Ellington, Eynesbury, Gt Catworth, Huntingdon, Spaldwick, Hunts;  Burnley, Lancs;  New Zealand, Australia & US.

HURST, BOLTON,  BUTTERWORTH, ADAMSON, WILD, MCIVOR from Milnrow, Newhey, Oldham & Rochdale, Lancs., Scotland.

Offline groom

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #82 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 11:46 GMT (UK) »
Perhaps we're commenting on here! 

The problem with the course is that after some sections there are so many comments it is difficult to read them all, I just look at those I'm following and perhaps the most liked. On the other hand, some sections have less than 100 comment, so, given the number of people on the course, that means an awful lot are a silent majority.  ;D ;D
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Offline Gillg

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #83 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 12:07 GMT (UK) »
It seems to be a problem for this course that people in the main are simply commenting on their own experiences, which may very occasionally resonate with another participant and be helpful, but too often make boring reading (there, I've said it, but I'm guilty of it myself, too  :o).  Weeding out the replies relevant to oneself is hard work and maybe there needs to be some other system for searching for them.

I have, however found some participants giving useful tips about sites to visit (including RootsChat!). 


Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

FAIREY/FAIRY/FAREY/FEARY, LAWSON, CHURCH, BENSON, HALSTEAD from Easton, Ellington, Eynesbury, Gt Catworth, Huntingdon, Spaldwick, Hunts;  Burnley, Lancs;  New Zealand, Australia & US.

HURST, BOLTON,  BUTTERWORTH, ADAMSON, WILD, MCIVOR from Milnrow, Newhey, Oldham & Rochdale, Lancs., Scotland.

Offline hsfam

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #84 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 12:27 GMT (UK) »
Perhaps we're commenting on here! 

The problem with the course is that after some sections there are so many comments it is difficult to read them all, I just look at those I'm following and perhaps the most liked. On the other hand, some sections have less than 100 comment, so, given the number of people on the course, that means an awful lot are a silent majority.  ;D ;D


A few of the students also created a Facebook page and a number of people are commenting on there instead. There are about 740 members at the moment. The group can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/understandinggenealogy/
I wouldn't be surprised if there are other groups around the place as well. This may have the effect of watering down the number of comments on the Futurelearn site.


Offline groom

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #85 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 13:05 GMT (UK) »
I joined the FB group but had to switch off notifications and hide the group, as my email box was getting full up and my FB page flooded with posts.  ;D ;D
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Offline Ruskie

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #86 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 14:03 GMT (UK) »
It seems to be a problem for this course that people in the main are simply commenting on their own experiences, which may very occasionally resonate with another participant and be helpful, but too often make boring reading (there, I've said it, but I'm guilty of it myself, too  :o).  Weeding out the replies relevant to oneself is hard work and maybe there needs to be some other system for searching for them.

I have, however found some participants giving useful tips about sites to visit (including RootsChat!). 


That is true. I am not bothering to read all the personal reflections, but the lessons have asked us to do this (though I have not done so).

Offline Isabel H

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #87 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 14:35 GMT (UK) »
I've (mostly) been following my grandfather's maxim that if you have nothing to say, you should say nothing.  So far, I have learned more from some of the links, including ones posted by other students, than from the course itself. That is fair enough, since it has to cover the whole range of research experience from the beginning.  It does seem less professional than I expected though, and I am surprised that there has been no acknowledgement of the Hangouts fiasco.

From the comments being posted before the course had even begun, I felt that a great many people had misunderstood the nature of it, and were expecting advice for their particular problems instead of a general guide to how to go about researching. Now, some seem just to want to chat about their research, some seem less open-minded than one would expect of researchers, and I am astounded at how many have apparently been researching for some time but seem never to have looked beyond a certain well-advertised website, or made any attempt to read up on genealogy.

There's been occasional unintended humour too, perhaps caused by predictive text changing words.  If the poster is reading this, I apologise for laughing, but I really cracked up when, in response to the sections on planning ones research, someone described going off on a tandem and coming up against a brick wall! Ouch! ;D
GRAY - Inveresk; Lanarkshire
LINDSAY - Lanarkshire
PURDIE - Lanarkshire; W. Lothian
POZZI - Elgin; Lancashire
MACKENZIE, MORISON - Stornoway
ARCHIBALD, HAY, HUNTER, SNADDON - Clackmannanshire
COXON, HALL, JACKSON, SHOTTON - Northumberland

Offline california dreamin

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #88 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 14:55 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

No, I've really not felt inclined to contribute to the conversation either.  In fact I'm not even reading the comments now.

Too many on the course , I think to have thoughtful contributions. I really joined to see what the course was all about.  I'm always open to learning new methods of research or interested to hear about websites etc.

Not crazy about their v. boring videos.  Considering they have the whole of the University of Strathclyde to tap into - you think they could grab a couple of Media undergrads to help them with their communication techniques!  I'm also now focused on Tahitha's "um's" and the other lady who kept glancing at her notes... :-X

Offline groom

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Re: Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 2)
« Reply #89 on: Wednesday 23 March 16 15:06 GMT (UK) »
Quote
I apologise for laughing, but I really cracked up when, in response to the sections on planning ones research, someone described going off on a tandem and coming up against a brick wall! Ouch!

That's a brilliant one.  ;D ;D

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