Okay, have you had a chance to visit The Family History Guide www.thefhguide.com yet?? If you haven't you really need to take the time. It is such a worthwhile tool for us as a consultant but it is also great for members that we are working with. You can even give the members 'homework' with these lessons. They explain well for you. It helps you by saving a ton of time. Before you meet with a member, have them go through one of the lessons before hand. That way the information isn't so brand new. Terminology will be more familiar when you teach.

Are you ready??

Visit The Family History Guide, hover over the FamilySearch Tab, a drop down menu will come down. Click on Project 1: Family Tree.

You will see all the lessons that are available.

Go through them before showing to members. You don't need to know everything but you do need to know where to find the answers. This is a perfect place to find those answers. My opinion, it is better than FamilySearch help section. I personally have been waiting for a web site like this for years.

One last item to cover. Tracking Sheets. They have a tracking sheet system that you keep an eye on your training for yourself or for your student. This is a great way to see progress or to see areas of improvement that would be needed.

On the home page of The Family History Guide, go to the upper right hand corner....

This is where you can track your progress. For the Online Tracker, you just need to create a FREE account and then you can take notes, mark progress and save the information. If you feel better keeping track with paper copies, you can download the Tracker (Word) version. You will download what you need. (Remember where you downloaded it.) You can either keep track of it on your computer, it would just be 'offline' vs 'online'. Or you can print and keep them in a binder for quick reference. They think of everything.

I hope this helps a bit and we will dive into more of The Family History Guide later on.

Enjoy,
Jill

The Family History Guide Overview Part 1

The more I use The Family History Guide, the more I love it. You know when you are self-taught in just about anything, you realize there are somethings you miss. If you don't know what you don't know, you don't know it. :) Case in point. If you haven't visited this site, it is a must for your calling. Why would I say that? Because it gives you step by step on how to learn the material (FamilySearch) and step by step on how to teach members and train yourself as a consultant and it is all FREE!! Not bad, right?

This is going to a 10-part series, but it could be more or less. Not sure yet. But I want to have some blog posts that go through some of the training that is involved for yourself and others on this site. And show some screen shots, so you know what I am talking about.

Disclaimer: I should have shared this before. I am not an English major, I love to write, but I know I lack the knowledge of perfect grammar. :) So bare with me. I will get the point across. :)

Here we go. Type in your address bar in your browser http://www.thefhguide.com

At the top you will see a menu bar that goes across the top of the home page. Each one of those topics has a drop down menu when you hover over it. Let's take the first one, Intro. You will see all the topics that are covered under Intro....

I love how it takes into consideration that there are many who just may not be well versed in the computer or even how to start family history, they got this covered. With the Computer Basics, it will teach everything from how to use a mouse to figuring out your email. And it covers both PC and Mac. This is a great resource for our older members too. Have your senior members go over this material even before attempting to show them FamilySearch. It may not be such a bumpy ride when they get started with you.

I mentioned in my last blog the 'Quick Start' video. A great place to start. Then just go down the menu items and get familiar with what is available. You don't need to know everything, just know where to find it.

Review this material to start the foundation for your own personal study so you will be able to direct those that you teach.

"This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions. Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way." Elder Richard G. Scott.