Crowdsourcing Your Genealogy: Rethinking Brick Walls
Summary:
Many beginning genealogists feel like they are working alone. That feeling of isolation comes to the fore when we work on brick wall problems in our research. This presentation looks at using other researchers in a simple and strategic way known as crowdsourcing. Using crowdsourcing can help genealogists to break down their brick walls faster and more cost effectively than other methods. This presentation covers five major websites that genealogists can use to power through brickwalls, as well as the online etiquette needed to maximize effectiveness, and how to use crowdsourcing in local society meetings to increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of those meetings.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how to use various crowdsourcing websites to have others help them break down brick walls.
2. Participants will learn the proper online etiquette to maximize a response to their questions.
3. Participants will learn how to use crowdsourcing in local society meetings to make them more effective for current members and more attractive to potential members.
Presentation Level:
Intermediate
Many beginning genealogists feel like they are working alone. That feeling of isolation comes to the fore when we work on brick wall problems in our research. This presentation looks at using other researchers in a simple and strategic way known as crowdsourcing. Using crowdsourcing can help genealogists to break down their brick walls faster and more cost effectively than other methods. This presentation covers five major websites that genealogists can use to power through brickwalls, as well as the online etiquette needed to maximize effectiveness, and how to use crowdsourcing in local society meetings to increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of those meetings.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how to use various crowdsourcing websites to have others help them break down brick walls.
2. Participants will learn the proper online etiquette to maximize a response to their questions.
3. Participants will learn how to use crowdsourcing in local society meetings to make them more effective for current members and more attractive to potential members.
Presentation Level:
Intermediate
