Excited to Use new FamilySearch?

Now that new FamilySearch is being released in the Salt Lake Valley many questions are coming up about how best to learn to use the program. Most of the temple districts around the U.S. and other parts of the world have been using nFS for up to two years now and users have been creating new lessons and tools to help others learn the process.  These are tools beyond the E-Learning classes that are available within nFS.

I can’t say which of the lessons or tools are the “best” because each individual is different and learns in different ways. So, one method may work better for you than another.  I’d suggest you browse through the different offerings and decide for yourself. You may want to take the E-learning classes first to establish your knowledge of the basics and then, use some of the others for their more detailed solutions to problems. Problems are often complicated and can best be explained through examples.

Here are several of the best places to learn to use nFS.

1.       E-Learning classes on nFS. Log in to nFS, click on HELP CENTER, and then on the Training and Resources tab. On that tab you will find the links to the E-Learning Courses available to you.  www.new.familysearch.org  Remember to check back occasionally because your list of classes will update as needed.

2.       FHC Lesson Manuals from a FHC in Florida written by Miles Meyer.  Scroll down to the applicable new FamilySearch lessons.

3.       New FamilySearch videos prepared by John Willis from a California FHC. The list of classes are available on video to view or to download. The links to specific classes to view are as follows: (allow time for download of each video.)

• Features and benefits of nFS and common errors 
• Maintaining your Family Tree with nFS
• Linking generations in nFS         
• Adding new individuals to nFS  
• How to prepare submission sheets for ordinances 

4.       How to register for nFS

5.       BYU – Religion 261 manual for new FamilySearch and other programs

6.       Introduction to new FamilySearch

7.       A simple overview of nFS 

8.       How to use nFS correctly (74 page manual by George Scott – Lindon, Utah FHC)

9.       A casual overview of new FamilySearch – (48 page manual)

10.      How to teach nFS to members (a basic outline by Laurie Castillo)

If you locate lessons and tools that I have missed, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

Draper Temple District Starts Rollout

Well, our Draper Temple District was announced today for general release of new  FamilySearch. The first 20 stakes in the District go live next Monday, October 26th! The last five stakes in Draper will go live the following Monday on November 2nd. To see the details of which stakes are included go to:  Draper Utah Stakes - Announced Release Dates

Utah Valley PAF Users Group Meeting

Sorry this is so late but I've been away for a few weeks...need to get busy and add some more articles.  :)


UTAH VALLEY PAF USERS GROUP MEETING
The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Users Group will be on Saturday, 10 Oct 2009, from 9 am until noon in the Edgewood/Riverside LDS Chapel, 3511 North 180 East, Provo, Utah. The chapel is in the Provo "River Bottoms" behind the Jamestown shopping plaza on the east side of University Avenue. You get to it by turning east from University Avenue at 3700 North ("Will's Pit Stop") and then south on 180 East. There is a map showing the location on the group's website http://uvpafug.org .

The main presentation for this meeting will be THE GENEALOGY GAME SHOW by Robert Raymond. Think you can read a census record? Properly interpret old documents? Do online records have special pitfalls? Come and quiz yourself. This presentation provides a fun way for beginners to learn, experienced genealogists to review, and advanced genealogists to challenge their knowledge of interpreting records and genealogical skills. Robert Raymond is a genealogical technologist. He's a 40 year veteran of genealogy and a 30+ year veteran of computers. Robert works for FamilySearch International and previously worked for The Generations Network (Ancestry.com). He holds over a dozen patents and received a Masters Degree in Electrical (Computer) Engineering from BYU where he was a Kimball Scholar. Robert is a popular presenter and a shadow writer for one of the most popular genealogical blogs on the web.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes taught concerning technology and family history. As usual, there will be something for everyone at all levels of expertise. The classes currently scheduled for this meeting are the following: (1) How to do FamilySearch Indexing, by Duane Dudley; (2) Getting to Know New FamilySearch (Class 1 of 4), by George Scott; (3) Genealogy on Your MAC, by Venita Parry; (4) Q&A: The Genealogy Game Show, by Robert Raymond; (5) Video of last month's main presentation by Crista Cowan, If You Get Stuck Going Backward, Go Forward: Tracing Descendants of Your Ancestors; (6) Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay; (7) Legacy, by Dean Bennett; and (8) RootsMagic, by Bruce Buzbee.