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http://alegacythatmatters.blogspot.com/2014/12/family-search-updates-for-december-fs.html
They present a lecture and then one-on-one practice time at the computer going over what you have just been taught with a person that knows it well. They limit their classes to about 30 people because each student has a mentor/guide for those moments when you just cannot remember the next step. Then you go back to the classroom, study and learn and then back to the computer lab several times each day.
The method is perfect for implementing my favorite way to learn just about anything. You have to Put Your Hands On It. The method is called Linked Learning. It's not a new method of learning for sure. Then you can add one more step from Stephen Covey's favorite teaching techniques; teach it to someone else and you will own it.
On Friday we were talking about duplicate entries in Family Tree. It is one of the main reasons that Family Tree was created in the first place. We want only one space on the tree for every individual, not numerous ones for the same person. I told the class I would get them more information on that and the descendancy view of the tree and more about how to use it.
I always talk about James Tanner and his blogs and this is why. That very morning he had this on his blog, Rejoice And Be Exceeding Glad!
"Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are urged to provide accurate information when submitting names for Temple ordinances. Part of the process of being accurate with the FamilySearch.org Family Tree program is resolving any duplicate records. Referring to the Help Center about providing accurate information I find the following statement:
Assuring the accuracy of the information involves documenting and presenting the information used when submitting a name for ordinances. In many cases the FamilySearch software assists in this process. However, some additional steps may be required and should not be skipped - such as evaluating possible duplicate records.
How easy is the process of finding duplicate records in the Family Tree and what are the consequences of ignoring this requirement?
It is important to understand several facts about the FamilySearch.org Family Tree:
The program inherited its data set from new.FamilySearch.org. The original data added to new.FamilySearch.org consisted of several large databases which already contained duplicate entries. Those databases included the Ancestral File (AF), the Pedigree Resource File (PRF) and the International Genealogical Index (IGI). The new.familysearch.org program did not resolve the issue of duplicate entries.
Information from the New.FamilySearch.org program is still being imported into the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. This process is ongoing and will not be completed until sometime in 2016. The FamilySearch.org Family Tree program is full of duplicates. Some of the entries have dozens, perhaps hundreds of duplicate records.
If you know what to look for, you will see that finding duplicate entries is quite simple and easy. Usually, the program marks the potential duplicates for you by Green Arrows or Green Temple icons."
You can read the rest of the article here:
People complain and ruminate about duplicates all the time. I think there are a lot of things to remember. Family Search is a tool we can use to clean up 150 years and 5 data bases filled with duplications. It inherited most of those duplicates. It is the only program that even comes close to having the prospects of a world wide accurate tree within its vision and scope.
It is not unreasonable to assume that more duplicates will occur in the foreseeable future if people do not know how to use the program and its safeguards. It is safe to say that beginners and even seasoned users will make mistakes. We're human and humans make mistakes. But they will subside when the final stages of the merging with new.familysearch.org is completed in 2016.
There is a steep learning cure but it does get easier with practice. We should not resent people that are doing their best and feeling comfortable to try. That is how we all learn. There is almost nothing that cannot be fixed on the tree if something goes awry.
Now is the time to fix the problems and prevent them from occurring in the future. Family Tree has been up and running not even two years at this point. It is naive to think everything is now taken care of and the tree should be perfect. It is important to understand that the program is still evolving and new safe guards are being put in place all the time. There is no end in sight with that evolution either. The quickest way for us to end duplicate entries and false information is to source and cite our records. That means to find a record and cite its location so someone else can find it without researching all over again. Again that will help us work together toward a common goal.
It is also important to remember that Family Tree is like a big playing field. Everyone gets to throw their stuff in and then we begin the sorting and sourcing and organizing our own things as individuals. We should expect to share with others and learn from them and they us. Collaboration should not be feared, but embraced. They may give us one clue that could lead to a whole new branch of our tree.
Keeping your own data base on your home computer backed up in several places should put your mind at ease. No one is trying to wreck your tree or steal your ancestors. We should all be trying to work together to make it the best. It will take time. Lots of time. Let's face it. We are the pioneers of Family Tree which is very exciting, but we are also the clean-up committee. It is getting better all the time at an incredible pace. Enjoy the ride. Don't worry about the whole neighborhood...just take care of your own stewardship. And do it systematically from what you know to what you don't know. Jumping all over the place just isn't efficient and it doesn't produce accurate records either. Always remember to check for duplicates routinely as you work through your portion of The Tree.
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