Wednesday, April 20, 2011

March and April 2011 Classes - National Institute for Genealogical Studies

Last month, I finished up the Analysis and Skills Mentoring Program, Part 1 at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. This class afforded a chance to get personal instruction from several instructors. The class began with a short series of assignments designed to assess your genealogical analysis and problem solving skills after taking the beginning level classes. You are asked to analyze hypothetical situations and form a simple research plan based on that data.

The class includes two individual and at least one group consultation. Any registered student can attend almost any group chat session at any time - this class requires that you attend at least one.

I felt very reassured by my two individual sessions with instructors. The purpose of both is to gauge your genealogy knowledge and experience to this point, and address any major concerns you have after taking the beginner's level genealogy classes. Both instructors thought that I was doing very well, and made helpful suggestions about certification and research in general. It was good to speak with people who could serve as mentors about my progress, as I do most of my work online and haven't taken many opportunities to interact with other researchers yet.

Speaking of which, the group chat session was also helpful. Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to communicate with each other, as only one person besides the instructor had a working microphone (I had to type questions, as I have not figured out how to get this mic to work right on this computer). There were not many people there, as it is difficult to coordinate many people in different time zones coming to a session at the same time.

I was able to chat quite a bit with fellow blogger Julie Cahill Tarr (http://genblogjulie.blogspot.com). It was great to speak to her also, because we share a lot of the same concerns about certification and training. Good luck, Julie!

I'm also taking:

-Methodology Part 3
-US: Religious Records - Part 2
-US: Vital Records, Understanding & Using The Records

More on those to come. Right now, I have some very important hockey to be watching.

Monday, April 18, 2011

New Ways to Follow

Just a short update with some new features. I have created a new Twitter and Facebook page for my genealogy updates, and also updated my personal website. All of these are linked at the side of this page and here.

Follow me:
- On Twitter: @geneapprentice
- On Facebook: Geneaprentice Facebook Page
- On my website for current and potential clients: http://www.sarahboehm.vpweb.com

Thanks!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

One Lovely Blog Award

I have received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Donna at Hanging from the Family Tree. Thanks so much! I am sorry I took so long to respond.

Here are the rules for this award, from Donna's blog:
   "Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.

   Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.

   Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for the award."

Here are the blogs I have chosen:
  1. Angela McGhie, Adventures in Genealogy Education


  2. Tracy Collins, The Family History Researcher

  3. Tami Osmer Glatz, Finding Family Stories

  4. Mary Staub, I'm Related to Whom?!
  5. Joleen Aitchison, Genealogy Your Way

  6. Ancestral Journeys

  7. Danielle, Pid Was Her Name

  8. Resting In Pennsylvania

  9. Sheryl Lazarus, A Hundred Years Ago

  10. Christine, Genealogy Tours of Scotland

  11. Jeri, Lost in the Family Tree

  12. Banai, The Ginger Jewish Genealogist

  13. Deanna Martin-Osuagwu, Totally Related

  14. Jacqueline, My Journey Back

  15. Suzie Grogan, No More Wriggling Out of Writing Woman...
Thanks for reading, everyone!