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OBJECTIVES
IN THIS LESSON, YOU'LL
- LEARN how new technologies have revolutionized family history
- EXPLORE online resources
- CREATE a family group record
TEACHER
This lesson includes opportunities for class discussion, a video
presentation and activities. Vocabulary words are included at the
end of the lesson, though not specifically brought into the lesson
in the form of an assignment. Resulting measurable assignments include
a family group record and a summary paragraph. While the lesson's
main ideas logically build on one another, the activities and assignments
suggested can be adapted or omitted according to your needs.
The Technology and Genealogy television episode is designed for
people who have never before used software programs or the Internet.
While the first 10 to 15 minutes will be interesting to all students,
most will probably have spent enough time with computers to understand
an online environment. You are encouraged to show only what you
think will be most helpful to the lesson.
MAIN IDEA NO.1
HOW THE INTERNET AFFECTED FAMILY HISTORY OR DID SOMEONE SAY BOOM?
You've heard of the big bang theory, but have you heard of the boom?
While people have been keeping track of their ancestors for generations,
it wasn't until the Internet that genealogy suddenly became one
of the main hobbies for Americans. Almost overnight, people who
had rarely thought about their ancestors became family history detectives.
New technology has affected the search for ancestors in three
ways:
- The Internet allowed people to access the records housed in
libraries, archives and other family history research centers.
- The Internet also allowed people to share what they'd found
with relatives and friends. Often these relatives have new information
that they share as well.
- Personal home computers have allowed people to organize information
in personal databases. Information that used to take up hundreds
of pages now can be stored on CD ROM or on a disk.
VIEW ANCESTORS EPISODE 204: "Technology & Genealogy"
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Meet Megan Smolenyak. (How many "Smolenyaks" do you know?) See how
computer resources help Megan find cousins she didn't know she had,
both in the United States and in the Slovak village of Osturna.
Experts elaborate on how to use computers and the Internet in seeking
out family connections.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What do you need to get started using a computer to find your family
history? What is the Social Security Death Index? How do people
conduct genealogy online? What changes has new technology made possible
for family history detectives? What are some of the pitfalls of
doing genealogy online?
MAIN IDEA NO.2
FAMILY GROUP RECORDS
Let's pretend that you posted a query in a genealogical chat room
and your query went something like, "I'm looking for information on
my great grandfather, John Lovell, who lived in Allen County, Indiana
at about 1900." A couple of days later, you receive an e-mail from
a kindly gentleman who says, "I'm a descendant of Sarah Lovell who
lived in Allen County at about that time." How do you know you're
related?
As you already know, a pedigree chart lists the ancestors from whom
you are directly descended. But most of your ancestors had brothers
and sisters who also grew up, married and had children. The person
who answered your e-mail may be a descendant of one of these siblings
and therefore a distant cousin. If this is the case, your new friend
may have researched your family back for many generations. His chart
will be helpful in extending your own pedigree. So, how do you prove
he is a cousin?
There is a chart used in genealogy which keeps track of your ancestor's
siblings. It's called a family group record.
WRITING
CREATE A FAMILY GROUP RECORD
chart
1 | chart
2
Using the family group record, fill out the information for your own
immediate family first. You will then make a family group record for
your father and/or your mother that will include their parents and
siblings. Then you create one chart for each grandparent, and so on.
Keep creating these charts until you run out of information or have
created one for two of your four grandparents, whichever comes first.
Key points to follow:
You'll find that your family group records will have some blank spaces
on them, too. That's just fine. As you learn more about each ancestor,
his or her family will come into focus.
There are genealogical software programs that can help you keep track
of all of your charts, as well as research notes and other information.
But for now, a notebook and the charts you can download from this
page should be enough to get you started.
EXPLORE ONLINE RESOURCES
Your pedigree chart and family group records are like the magnifying
glass a detective carries with him. They will help you discover
more clues to your family story. Armed with these tools, you're
ready to further explore the world of records.
Let's take a look at what might be available online to answer your
family history questions.
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
This is the online Social Security Death Index that Megan Smolenyak
used in the television episode. Give it a try to see what kind of
information you might find on one of your ancestors!
http://familysearch.org
This site is full of goodies - from databases to how-to information.
Just take a look.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3959/Generev.htm
This site offers free genealogical software that you can download,
if you think you're ready for the whole enchilada!
http://www.familytreemaker.com/submit.html
Submit your pedigree or see if someone else has already submitted
a pedigree on your family at the world family tree site housed by
Family Tree Maker.
ACTIVITY
Write a brief paragraph about the way computers and the Internet
have affected family history hunting.
INFORMATION
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED AND . . .
Technology has given family history detectives amazing tools to
help their research progress; they can share, store, and obtain
information faster than ever before.
. . . WHAT'S NEXT?
Alright, so online sources can help you know where to look for records,
but do you know which record will best answer your research question?
The following lessons will explore various types of records; why
they were created and how they can help you in your search for the
missing pieces of your family's history.
VOCABULARY
Query: To pose a question. In genealogical terms, this refers
to online and print services that allow you to post questions such
as "Looking for information on Ancestor X of (county, state) during
(year). Can you help?"
Family Group Record: A form used to write information about
parents and children of the same family.
Social Security Death Index: An online database of more than
sixty million people; including their birth and death dates, social
security number and place of death.
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