Is Your Genealogy Ready for a “Do-Over”?

With each new year, many consider making changes in their lives such as losing weight, getting more exercise, etc. Even genealogists like to get in on the act and in 2015 there’s a special online educational program that can help you get rid of “bad research habits” and learn some new tricks.

The Genealogy Do-Over™ is the brainstorm of genealogy author and educator Thomas MacEntee and since its announcement in mid-December 2014, has attracted over 1,000 participants from around the world. And the best part? The entire 13-week program which starts on January 2, 2015, is FREE. Visit the Genealogy Do-Over at http://www.genealogydo-over.com to see the announcement and the latest news.

Genealogy Do-Over: A New Journey of Genealogical Discovery

Here is the short summary of Genealogy Do-Over as Thomas sees it:

I set aside everything* related to my genealogy research including notebooks, papers, and even digitized files and my genealogy database files and START OVER. I’m hitting the reset button. I’m allowing myself to have a do-over! (*certain items such as vital records ordered and paid for or research gathered on a long-distance trip will be retained).

Since genealogists started their research 10, 20 or 30 years ago (or more), much has changed in the areas of genealogy research methodology and education. Many now realize the need to collect facts and track them properly, including the use of source citations. Many understand the process of analyzing evidence and proving facts to reach a conclusion. In essence, as Thomas puts it: “I know a lot more about the ‘process’ of genealogical research and I want to put it to use.”

How Does the Genealogy Do-Over Work?

The Genealogy Do-Over journey is constructed of 13 mileposts or journey markers spread out over 13 weeks. Participants can choose any pace they want, and even spread the topics out over the course of a year. Or some may decide to drop some of the less important tasks and add different topics. The goal is to do whatever it takes to ensure that a firm footing to finding ancestors.

A synopsis of the planned route – the Schedule of Topics – can be found at http://www.geneabloggers.com/genealogy-doover-schedule-topics/. As each week progresses, participants will continue researching and add more and more skills and areas of focus including citing sources, tracking searches, building a research toolbox, creating an educational plan, researching offline as well as online, and more.

By the end of the 13 weeks – or 13 journey markers – the group will have covered a firm foundation in genealogy and family history research. For individual participants, some focus areas may differ; participants have the freedom to add or remove content from their own Genealogy Do-Over plan. As Thomas says, “This program has to work for you and not something that you dread each week or that you find you are working against.”

What’s the Cost? What’s the Catch

There is no price. A journey that could very well revolutionize the way you’ve been doing genealogy research is priceless. When you join the Genealogy Do-Over (see below), you’ll receive weekly updates about the current topics, you’ll be part of an active and passionate collaborative group sharing genealogy tips and tricks, and more. Legacy Family Tree is hosting a FREE webinar entitled My Genealogy DO-Over – A Year of Learning from Research Mistakes (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=461) presented by Thomas MacEntee on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.

Here’s How to Be a Part of the Genealogy Do-Over

Visit the following sites to get involved and set out on your own Genealogy Do-Over journey in 2015!

• Website: http://www.genealogydo-over.com
• Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogydoover/
• Email List (weekly updates): http://www.geneabloggers.com/gendo-over-emails

Schedule of Topics – Genealogy Do-Over

Week 1 – January 2-8, 2015

• Clean house
• Prepare to research
• Review the Golden Rules

Week 2 – 9-15 January 2015

• Setting Research Goals
• Conducting Self Interview
• Conducting Family Interviews

Week 3 – 16-22 January 2015

• Tracking Research
• Conducting Research

Week 4 – 23-29 January 2015

• Managing Projects and Tasks
• Tracking Searches

Week 5 – 30 January-5 February 2015

• Building a Research Toolbox
• Citing Sources

Week 6 – 6-12 February 2015

• Evaluating Evidence
• Reviewing Online Education Options

Week 7 – 13-19 February 2015

• Reviewing Genealogy Database Software
• Digitizing Photos and Documents

Week 8 – 20-26 February 2015

• Conducting Collateral Research
• Reviewing Offline Education Options

Week 9 – 27 February-5 March 2015

• Conducting Cluster Research
• Organizing Research Materials – Documents and Photos

Week 10 – 6-12 March 2015

• Reviewing DNA Testing Options
• Organizing Research Materials – Digital

Week 11 – 13-19 March 2015

• Reviewing Social Media Options
• Building a Research Network

Week 12 – 20-26 March 2015

• Sharing Research
• Reviewing Research Travel Options

Week 13 – 27 March-3 April 2015

• Securing Research Data
• Reviewing the Journey

©2015, copyright Thomas MacEntee. All rights reserved.