Free Online Genealogy Course with FutureLearn (Week 3)

[groom]

Same here, Gill. Sometimes the information about the course sounds good, but it isn't until the actual course starts that you realise it isn't what you thought it was going to be about.

I did two excellent courses about WW1 so thought I'd try the "WW1 in a Hundred Stories" which looked at it from an ANZAC  point of view. The content was interesting, but the way it was presented was so slow - rather than videos it used a sort of Power Point presentation, but obviously aimed at slow readers! After week 3, I became frustrated as there was no way to turn the page when you'd read it, you had to wait. I gave that one up, but what I did learn opened my eyes a bit. I may go back to that when I have some spare time.

[sugarbakers]

I shouldn't really complain, should I ... I'd decided to sign up for the course and along came an email from them asking permission to use my database in the teaching material. Free exposure of my (free) website to thousands of researchers - couldn't really lose.

I've signed up for Maths Puzzles ... that might be very different.

[groom]

I shouldn't really complain, should I ... I'd decided to sign up for the course and along came an email from them asking permission to use my database in the teaching material. Free exposure of my (free) website to thousands of researchers - couldn't really lose.

Gosh, that's fame!  Did they actually know you were on the course, or had they found your database via a websearch?

[groom]

Watching the Google Hangout - they've got the technology sorted out this week.

[CarolA3]

I've signed up for Maths Puzzles ... that might be very different.

I'm just about to sign up for that one, and OH already has.  The air of enthusiasm in the introductory video makes a welcome change

Back to the genealogy course - like others, I'm not interested in wading through thousands of unenlightening comments.  There are a few that stand out and I follow those people, but there's still a lot of 'I can't find my grandad' regardless of the topic under discussion.

The lack of any kind of search facility is ludicrous.  I've tried to clear up a couple of misunderstandings (mistakes?) only to see the same wrong information repeated in later threads on the same page.  I've had to give up the unequal struggle for the sake of my sanity

If RootsChat can be likened to an upmarket department store (organised so that you can find whatever you need with specialist help), then this course is the equivalent of the last half-hour of a jumble sale with everything thrown in a heap - not much hope of finding anything useful.

I shan't be buying their certificate.

Carol

[3sillydogs]

Watching the Google Hangout - they've got the technology sorted out this week.

Me too  a vast improvement on  the last one....

[groom]

I've been shouting at the laptop - "It's not GeneOlogy!"   

I'm starting to wonder if that is what it is called in the US?


Also the question about what to do if you are abroad and can't get to archives, record offices etc in the UK. I was shouting, "Ask someone on Rootschat." 

[sugarbakers]

Did they actually know you were on the course, or had they found your database via a websearch?

The latter, groom, I didn't actually sign up 'til later. Just the request and a thank you, so I've had no idea how it would be used. It's on this week; possibly on Wk5, we'll see.
I'm too old to have expectations about these things, but it's always good to see one's work being recognised, and I always hope that others will see what's possible and begin databases for other occupations.

I've had a lot of encouragement from AGFHS, which actually got a mention on the Hangout today.

[california dreamin]

Watching the Google Hangout - they've got the technology sorted out this week.

Crumbs! I forgot