Tracing Your Family History: A Web Based Instructional Training

Robert F. BrownClemson UniversityHRD 860 Stephen Bronack, PhDNovember 4, 2011

Training Insight

Researching your family history can be an intimidating task. Yet it is one of the most important exercises an individual can assume as history creates a foundation for family to understand who they are and how they have come into existence.

Introduction

This web based training is designed to address the opportunity for historical findings, documentation, and stories about ancestors of your family. Census records, death certificates, birth certificates, and primary source information can confirm religion, careers, family connections, and stories of the past; these events of the past are unique and with consequence.

The Key Factors

The key factors that will be addressed in this web based training are:

Genealogical Resource Research Information How to Interview Family Members How to Search for Your Ancestors’ Data Why Create A Family Tree

Training Goal

To successfully enhance the knowledge and insight for individuals interested in initiating historical family research using web based educational technologies

Pros and Cons

The Pros and Cons of family history research in a web based educational environment are:

Pros

• Reduced expense and increased convenience since all of this information is accessible via web

• More information is accessible across states and internationally via web access

• Organization and storage options are easy processes via web based genealogy subscriptions as documents that are identified can readily be electronically stored and easily retrieved for fast reference

Cons

• Some documents may not be accessible via web based environment

• Personality traits can not be ascertained through genealogy web sites

• There are fees involved with subscriptions and multiple access sites

Genealogical Resource Research Information

Genealogical research is deemed a viable topic that provokes an effective learning experience in the world of web based training. According to Hull, “Genealogy websites have been established by some of the world’s most well-respected authorities on genealogy.

Genealogical Resource Research Information

This research can also be found in the form of tailored websites with repository search capacity on specified topics, electronic interactive family record sheets, and databases with system integration for custom reports, trend charts, smart stories, facts, sources and notes.

Where To Begin?

According to Hull, You should begin your research documentation with yourself and work backwards in time as you are your best resource of information. Ascertain as many documents in an effort to validate the information that you are recording (even what you are sure of requires reference documentation).

How to Search for Your Ancestors’ Data First choose and open your web based educational

software of choice (i.e. Ancestry.com) to initiate the search for your Ancestors.

Next, key into the system scant facts that you have identified on one of your family members.

Then choose a census year that you believe is relative to this person’s birth, death or lifetime then begin your search.

The educational software will work with you to derive as close a match as possible to the individual in question and thus will allow you to examine and make further inquiry regarding new facts

How to Interview Family Members Interviewing family members is important.

You should review different types of Family Record Sheets in order to understand and decide what type of information is important for your research goals. Choose a record sheet for all of your interviews in order to create a level of consistency.

Sample of a Family Sheet

This is an example of a Family Record Sheet. You should maintain an electronic version of this document on each and every family group and thus family member. As you can see, this sheet will help you adhere to standardization of questions. This is important because you always want to interview family members in a standardized/methodical format by asking the same questions to each family group/member each time and in the same order. This practice will help you to retain organized records and will ensure consistency of information.

Why Create A Family Tree?

This is payoff for all of your hard work and dedication. The family tree is the canvas for all of the research connections that you have identified and it acts as a stakeholder for precisely where each individual falls within the family lineage. It is the visual representation of the genealogy of both your ancestors as well as your descendents.

A Family Tree?

Once you have gathered and stored all your family data in the system, it is now time to see the results. Here, we have an example of one of many different types of Family Tree formats. This format can be easily populated and downloaded from most genealogical research web sites.

Conclusion

Tracing your family roots can be both invigorating and rewarding. It is an extraordinary example of a topic with methodology that aligns with web-based education. It offers multiple benefits for establishing family foundation and life-long records. It is a pivotal tool for identifying your place in history.