If I had know it was this much fun, I would have joined in sooner! Last night I had the opportunity to present my very first webinar, Organize Your Family Archive, for Family Tree University, and I’ve come away learning a lot from the experience and from the attendees.
A special feature of the webinar included working with Family Tree Editor Allison Stacy Dolan to take first steps in organizing her own inherited archive. Allison shared a representative box of family memorabilia and we worked through identifying the contents and deciding on a strategy to get her started. I think it would be fun to check back with Allison in a few months and see how she is doing.
What I Learned
- Students have a lot to teach their teachers. The questions following the webinar were very revealing — attendees tend to feel overwhelmed by their stuff, they want concrete ideas on how to handle the volume, and they are looking for answers.
- Stay in contact with your organizer. Kerry Scott, Family Tree Magazine’s Online Community Editor, (I knew her first at the Clue Wagon blog) was available for the inevitable last-minute questions and encouragement. Kerry coordinated everything from schedule to technology and managed to stay cool even when I nearly flubbed it all with my attempt at Geek status.
- It’s best not to try to get too fancy! I tried a few snappy “improvements” to my home computer setup that could have easily created a disaster. I think I will leave things plain and simple for a while.
One of the things I miss most about teaching high school students is the regular interaction with pupils. I’m sure that’s why comments to blog posts are so very precious; it’s the closest a blogger gets to someone stopping by after class to make a comment or to ask a question. Presenting a webinar is pretty close to being back in the classroom. The atmosphere is exciting, the students inspiring, and the challenge invigorating. I’m already looking forward to “next semester.”
If you missed the live webinar, you can view it and have access to the notes and links through FamilyTree University’s webinar-on-demand. Organize Your Family Archive will be available soon.
Thank you. I'll look at your webinar because I also have "Stuff." I loved teaching HS and miss it too. So, being able to share knowledge with genealogists is very rewarding.
Thank you. I'll check out your webinar. I loved teaching HS also and miss it. So, taking advantage of sharing knowledge with other genealogists is really rewarding.
Congratulations on your new "treasure" Jacqi. I hope you find some good ideas to help you work with the material. Thanks for stopping by!
Just stumbled upon this post, Denise, and am looking forward to heading over and hearing your webinar. Having been gifted with three packets of "stuff" from family–some items dating back 125 years–I'm already having to figure my way through properly sorting, itemizing and storing this family treasure trove (and blogging about it as I go!). Certainly can use all the help I can get in learning the best way to preserve and pass on this bit of family heritage.
Thank you, Michelle. I'm glad it was helpful. Keep us posted on your progress.
Denise, I left a comment over at the Family Tree University page for your webinar. It was fantastic. Your advice was so practical. I really feel like I can get this project done.