Courses

Course Update – Lecturing Skills

Course Update – Lecturing Skills

Important Course Update – Lecturing Skills Including Preparation Part of your career as a Professional Genealogist may include giving lectures and presentations to various types of audiences. Taking the course, ‘Lecturing Skills Including Preparation’ will equip you with the skills and confidence to plan and present a successful lecture that will engage your audience. What You Will Learn:  The preparation required to become a successful Genealogical Lecturer starts with looking at and developing your genealogy resume and biography. These important components of your professional portfolio are the building blocks of your reputation as a popular and successful speaker. You will learn how to build and present a successful presentation. The topics discussed include creating the lecture description, putting together an interesting slide show, and writing a syllabus or handout for attendees.  The discussion of virtual lectures includes how these lectures work, the equipment required, and the pros and cons of this popular form of presentation. Other course topics include marketing your business on social media, various memberships you may want to consider, and setting your rates for speaking and covering your expenses. This is a hands-on course with time-sensitive coursework and assignments. It works on a weekly system to help students stay on track. At the end of the course, students will present a 30-minute lecture via Zoom. This course is only offered 3 times a year—starting on the first Monday of January, April, or September.  Registration is currently open for our April 7, 2025 start date. Lecturing Skills Including Preparation is an…

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American Cemeteries

Cemeteries: they fascinate us, terrify us, and are often depicted as haunted places in horror movies. But did you know that cemeteries can be full of genealogical information? Quite often you’ll find dates and places of birth, the names of other family members, and clues to the lives of those buried within. Discover the history and stories behind American cemeteries with American: Cemetery Records. We will take you on a journey through the history of burials and funeral customs from the British Isles, British Colonies, and the United States. What You Will Learn: The different types of cemeteries along with the records that are associated with them are discussed in the course. Discovering how and where to find these important records is examined, as is the reasoning behind the lack of records for some early burials. You will explore some of the popular historic gravestone markers and inscriptions. Many of these were influenced by the different ethnic groups that came to America. The course looks at many different styles of headstones as well as explains what details to look for that may give clues to the lives of our ancestors. You’ll look at the different sources to turn to locate a grave. You will learn what to expect from several online resources along with several suggestions of where to find hard copy burial records. The course also includes a list of when death registration was legislated and resource recommendations for each state.  This course is included in the American Records Certificate. It can also be taken as an elective…

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