---Note: This course code has changed from FHGEN 111 to FHGEN 241. You may occasionally see references to the old course code or title.

Course Description

FHGEN 241 is part of the BYU-Idaho Family History Research Program, which will prepare you to be a professional genealogist. This introductory course provides a solid academic foundation and will help you develop practical research skills, which are critical for a professional genealogist across many research settings.

This course focuses on basic genealogical research principles and record groups used to solve simple United States research problems. You will also learn how to record genealogical information, use key genealogical sources, and organize family history information. While this course focuses on United States research, the principles and approaches can apply to worldwide family history research. Later courses in the Family History and Genealogy program focuses on international research.

This course, in conjunction with the other courses in this program, will help prepare you to apply for a professional genealogical credential through ICAPGen or BCG. (Note that earning the BYU-Idaho Certificate in Family History Research is not equivalent to being a Certified Genealogist through BCG.

Course Outcomes

As a result of completing this course, you will be able to do the following:

1. Identify professional genealogical skills and potential career paths.
2. Describe the research process.
3. Define research problems through pedigree analysis and client-provided information.
4. Identify, find, and analyze known information in order to save time and focus a research plan.
5. Develop an effective research plan using knowledge of the typical contents of basic US record types.
6. Gather, analyze, and use information from genealogical records to solve problems.

Prerequisites

Take the following:

Learning Model Architecture

The course activities follow a weekly cycle of Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder & Prove.

Prepare: You will prepare by completing readings and coursework activities. You will learn where to look for information, gather information, interpret records, and conduct family history research.

Teach One Another: You will share your knowledge and experience in discussion board interactions where you share insights, challenge ideas, or propose solutions and other ideas

Ponder & Prove: You will demonstrate your skills by completing activities, assignments, research problems, and assessments (quizzes).

Schedule

Week	Topic
Week 01	Introduction & The Research Process
Week 02	Skills & Career Path
Week 03	Define the Problem
Week 04	Compiled Sources
Week 05	Repositories and Websites
Week 06	Research Plans & Research Logs
Week 07	Basic Evidence Analysis
Week 08	Vital Records
Week 09	Census Records, Part I
Week 10	Census Records, Part II
Week 11	Church & Cemetery Records
Week 12	Probate Records
Week 13	Solve a Problem
Week 14	Final Exam and Project

Course Expectations

• This is a university-level course designed to help you become a professional genealogist; therefore, university-level work will be expected.
• Course work has both midweek and end-of-week due dates. You are expected to complete your assignments on time; late work is not accepted. Please contact your instructor with any questions or concerns.
• The course is not an independent study course. You will learn the material at the same time and at the same pace as your classmates so that you can deepen your learning through peer-to-peer interactions.

Writing Requirements

In this course, you are required to write papers as part of certain assignments. You will need to follow the instructions carefully to write professional, college-level papers. Focus your papers on the topic given by your instructor, and be concise and clear. Rambling is not accepted for full credit. Do not attempt to pad your responses by being wordy. Your papers should be well-organized, using paragraphs with correct spelling and punctuation.

To learn more about writing standards, visit the BYU-Idaho Writing Center website for tutorials and handouts. Personalized help is also available to students through the Writing Center. Visit the Help for Online Students page for more details on Writing Center resources for online students.

Remember, it is your responsibility to understand and follow the instructions completely! If you have a question regarding an assignment, ask your instructor early for clarification. Last minute questions cannot be expected to be answered immediately.

Course Texts and Materials

• Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogical Proof, first edition. National Genealogical Society, 2013.
  • The course materials are available in the Course Materials List.
• Greenwood, Val. The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, third edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. This text is provided free through the BYU-I library.
• A free FamilySearch.org account.
  • If you do not already have an account at FamilySearch.org, you will create one during Week 04 of the course.
• An Ancestry.com account.
  • Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may create a free Ancestry.com account. (Instructions are provided in Week 04.)
  • If you cannot create a free Ancestry.com account, you may visit a Family History Center or public library near you.
• A Findmypast.com account
  • Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may create a free Findmypast.com account. (Instructions are provided in Week 04.)
  • If you cannot create a free Findmypast.com account, you may visit a Family History Center or public library near you.
• You are also required to have a microphone and webcam for this class.

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to this help guide article (Links to an external site.).

Technological Skills

You need basic computer skills to be successful in the course. Please note that this course does not teach you basic computer skills; rather, it is assumed that you are already quite familiar with using a computer.

To help ensure that you possess the necessary technical skills for this course, you will complete a technical skills inventory in Week 01 then take a quiz. The inventory is simple; it includes Yes/No questions about each basic skill. If you answer “No” to any question, you are encouraged to watch videos or read up on the topic.

Once you finish the inventory, take the short quiz. You must pass the quiz with 85% to gain access to the next week. If you don’t pass the quiz the first time, review the materials, strengthen your technological skills, and re-take the quiz. You may take the quiz as many times as needed. I-Learn will record your highest score.

If you encounter technical difficulties, check your browser. This course uses numerous document images, many of which will not display correctly in some browsers. If you encounter technical difficulties, contact the Online Support Center and ask for assistance.

Weekly Time Commitment

The online class policy is that for every credit hour, you should expect to spend three to four hours of work per week. For this class, you should plan on spending approximately 9–12 hours per week.

Grading Policies

Your grade is determined by dividing the number of points you earn by the total number of points possible. To maximize your earned points, put forth a conscientious effort.

Activities

Most activities are quizzes and give you the opportunity to practice and perfect the targeted skill. Activities often contain questions regarding the examination and analysis of documents. Activities are open book and you can attempt activities three times to help you master the material and improve your score.

• Overall percentage of grade: 26%

Discussions

Discussion boards provide weekly opportunities to teach one another. They usually begin with individual tasks or assignments, and then you share your experiences and findings with the class or a small group. These discussions are meant to benefit you and your classmates.

• Points for each: 30
• Overall percentage of grade: 24%

Assignments and Assessments

Assignments and assessments allow you to ponder concepts and prove that you understand them. Assignments generally consist of short essays, reports, and research documents submitted to your instructor for grading. Assessments are graded quizzes where you have one attempt to prove your mastery of the topic.

• Overall percentage of grade: 35%

Bi-Weekly Surveys or Reflections

The surveys and reflections allow you to provide feedback and report on your individual family history efforts. You receive credit for simply completing each short survey; however, your thorough and honest answers are appreciated.

• Points for each: 1.5
• Overall percentage of grade: 1%

Exams and Final Project

This course has two exams, a midterm and a comprehensive final. Both exams include essay questions. They require you to demonstrate that you understand the skills and processes from the weeks. Exams are open book; however, to succeed you must review and prepare before starting because they are timed.

In Weeks 07–12, you will record information about the most commonly used record types and where they are found. You will submit this Table of Record Types along with a Research Plan for the Final Project during Week 14.

During Week 14 you will also submit a final project.

• Points for Midterm: 80
• Points for Final: 80
• Points for Final Project: 50
• Overall percentage of grade: 14%

Optional Document Portfolio

Some weeks—starting with Week 08—contain an optional Document Portfolio activity. These activities—in the few weeks where they exist—are located in the Optional section of the weekly introduction page.

This is specifically intended to prepare students for the Document Recognition test, which is part of the accreditation process for ICAPGen (a professional genealogical credentialing organization). If you think you may seek this credential at some point, it is strongly recommended that you complete these assignments.

• Points for each: 0
• Overall percentage of grade: 0%

Resources

If you need assistance, visit the I-learn help tab located on the left hand side of your screen to contact the appropriate support center.

Copyright

Materials in this BYU-Idaho online course and related sites may be protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). These materials are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be further disseminated.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.