.
Pat has extensive experience in this field and teaches you those skills.
These classes are very different than any other genealogy class you may have previously taken! Pat's intent for these classes is to teach not just the records, but the process of becoming a good researcher. Once a student understands the research process, they can take the tools offered them in class and knowledgeably proceed on their own. Each class will present numerous tools, the most up-to-date techniques, and progressively more detailed and specialized research methods. If this sounds boring - you would be mistaken. Pat believes a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere is the best way to 'sneak' in some real learning. Is there any reason a person can't be having fun and learning at the same time?
Pat believes her classes have evolved this way because of her personal views, learning experiences, and because of her personality. For the past decade she has made her living as a professional researcher, performing work for clients. To be successful in this field there are certain procedures and methodologies one must use, and use consistently. This is what she teaches her students. When you leave her class you will not only have the tools you need, but you will have been given the expertise to 'think' your way through each problem.
She sees her job in teaching these classes as that of a very thorough researcher; an instructor; a teacher; an orator; a writer ( she writes her own class materials); a decision maker (deciding which material will be the most beneficial and when to present it); a flexible decision maker (constantly adjusting content to fit the needs of the current students); a student ('nobody knows everything about anything, all the time' - so she continues her own education ... she also knows that her students have wisdom to offer - so she listens); and lastly as someone who remains a patient, understanding and inquisitive human being, interested in her students and their quest.
The emphasis on each Past Relations course is to teach
you to 'think like a professional researcher'
.
Pat has extensive experience in this field and teaches you those skills.
You will learn to develop your critical thinking skills and your
analysis skills. By developing these skills you will learn to identify
previously missed details
[sometimes clues and sometimes answers] on
'things' you already have. As you
continue your searches, you will be aware of how to 'look' at the problem and
the results - note
the details that are explicit, implicit and what is
missing that perhaps should have been included.
If this sounds like work, well, it is. But the instructor is very easy-going and has developed lots of games, exercises, quizzes, stories etc. to make learning these skill sets lots of fun - and in a way you will never forget!
After years of teaching genealogy classes Pat continues to follow the
advice of one Benjamin Franklin who said:
Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I may remember
INVOLVE me and I learn.
Each of Pat's classes is specialized and you can anticipate being very involved. You never just sit and listen in her classes. You will always be participating. You will not leave a class thinking "That was interesting, but what do I do now?" You will have a little project to perform that will enforce what you've just learned. Pat believes that we all learn by doing, and if you don't 'use it' - you 'lose it'. You will be involved and you will learn.
Pat also believes you should not have to take copious notes in class as it's hard to listen, learn, choose what's important AND write ... while still listening, learning and choosing. She follows each class with comprehensive, emailed notes to each student ensuring the most important points of the class are included - along with live, clickable links that will take you to the specific web sites discussed. Going this 'extra mile' has been extremely appreciated by students. Here is one example: "It is time I closed off the lights & went to bed, but I'm unable to do so without expressing my appreciation for the time you take to provide written guidance. I have followed each page closely, but have to say I must go over them again a number of times to achieve the potential that is available. I have found more of my family in England. Your emailed notes are an invaluable aid to my learning, and I Thank You very much Pat." The emailed notes also help anyone who was unable to attend a class.
Her classes are not meant for those content to gather only similar names. Her classes are meant for those interested in researching their own family lines. Unless one is knowledgeable and careful, they can easily and quickly make one small error and be following the entire wrong ancestral lines into eternity - in reality, they are following someone else's family. It costs no more time, effort or money to follow your own family, but you need to learn how to do this, and this is exactly what Pat teaches.
Only you can decide what is important to you‼
If you are looking for classes offering quality√
& top value for your dollar√
- classes that are results oriented<√
... teaching the newest sources√,
the newest records√,
the newest methods√
... if you enjoy a fun learning environment√
with like-minded people√,
Congratulations! You have made the right choice.√
See you in class.
  "If you have an apple and I have
an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each
have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we
exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas."-- George Bernard Shaw |
