RootsTech ~ It Says 'Do'

2/17/2012

Sometimes the Best Stuff is the Stuff You Don't Plan

I had a FAN-tabulous time at RootsTech this year. As I mentioned before, what I did do wasn't what I'd thought I'd be doing.

It was WAY better! Thanks to FamilySearch, I was able to interview a whole slew of genie people. It was an incredible opportunity for me and many, many thanks go to FamilySearch and Paul Nauta for allowing me access to such fascinating people.

Like I mentioned previously, I only attended 1 full session and I attempted 2 others. When I was planning out the sessions to attend prior to RootsTech, I noticed that there weren't many sessions on the User side that interested me due to their level of content. I had picked out some Developer classes to attend, but was lured away from my schedule with interviews, and I gladly went. Hello!?! Interviewed Chris van der Kuyl, the CEO of brightsolid AND Nick Barratt from the Family History Show. Trust me, it was no sacrifice. [And don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same. ;) ]

So, I can't tell you my experiences from sessions because I only went to one, which happened to be about Gamification and Family History ~ a developer session presented by, um, Chris van der Kuyl. I promise I wasn't stalking him. I've a legitimate interest in gamification. Can't you see the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum gamified? I can, but I digress...

Several of my fellow geneabloggers [Linda & Jenna] expressed that they wished that there had been more technology in the exhibit hall. I agree. Jenna mentioned that there was a bunch of software but no gadgets to play with. Totally agree with her on that one. Personally, I can look and play with software and databases online. A majority of them offer free trials online where I can try them out in the comfort of my home, not in a loud exhibit hall with a busy exhibitor. It would have been nice to play with some tech gadgets. Take them on a test run. FlipPal was there and people were playing [and buying] FlipPals.

What I Think Would Be Cool For Next Year

I have a confession to make. I used to teach Children's Church at our old church. And I found it tough to teach my own kids, especially my son. You see, my son is a "doer learner". He doesn't learn well if he's just sitting there doing nothing. His hands need to be busy. He prefers to move around. And he doesn't usually make eye contact. All sure signs that he's not paying attention, right?

It was exasperating as a mother and a teacher. I felt like a failure because I couldn't even control my own kid. Finally, one Sunday he'd been extra busy in the room. So, I decided to ask him a question or two just to make my point that he needed to sit down, be still, and just listen. And when I asked him the first question, he answered my question beautifully, and, in fact, verbatim. Then I asked the second question. This time something that required his opinion. And what came out of his mouth was remarkably insightful for an elementary kid.

That's when I learned that I needed to sit down, be still, and just listen.

I needed to let him move around. To keep his hands busy. To learn on his terms. To just do.

And what does this have to with RootsTech? Well, in my experience with technology and computers, I've found the best way to learn it, is to jump right in and do. That is, to learn by doing.

I know the workshops were a hit this year because they sold out so quickly, which signaled something for me.

So much so that I'd like to propose something, if I may. I'd like to see more workshops than lectures at RootsTech. More hands on stuff in the exhibit hall but also in the sessions. I don't learn much when I'm sitting there in a too hot/too cold overcrowded/standing-room-only classroom-like room with a speaker up front with a carefully laid out Power Point presentation.

Further, I'd like to see workshops on all levels ~ beginner, intermediate, and advanced ~ teaching us all something by doing. To have moderators & teachers guiding us, not lecturing or presenting. It's really not what they know about the subject. Nope. It's what they can show me how to do.

After all, people don't fork over gobs of money and time to to be talked to. They go to learn. And in this case, they go to learn how technology can help them research and share their genealogy.

Let me repeat that. They go to learn how technology can help them research and share their genealogy.

What part of that statement says 'sit down, be still, and just listen'?

None of it.

It says 'do'.

~Caroline

10 Comments

Pam

2/17/2012 12:23:06 pm

The type of workshops you're describing require lots of equipment. Renting that equipment will drive up the cost of RootsTech dramatically.

I've taught MS Word along with lots of other software for years. What you've described is one learning style. I happen to thrive in the format that RootsTech was in; that is, the show and tell model. The "doing" model you describe would turn me off big time and I'd walk away with nothing.

b.t.w. I didn't register for one workshop.

When people have equipment in front of them, they get distracted, do other stuff, miss key points, and fall behind. It's been my experience that when all you can do is sit and listen, you absorb more and walk away with more.

Caroline Pointer

2/17/2012 01:30:46 pm

Thanks for your viewpoint. Those of us who learn by doing could probably learn at home and leave the presentations as they are for those who learn better in a classroom setting. It was just a thought based on the feedback of some intermediate to advanced conference goers.

Thanks for reading and commenting! I appreciate it.

~C

Jenna Mills link

2/18/2012 02:57:09 am

The workshops could be a sponsored event, which would help in keeping the cost manageable. Another option is the workshops could require an additional fee of $10-$15. I attend conferences professionally that hold the workshops the day before the conference opens and they require an additional fee.

Banai Lynn Feldstein link

2/17/2012 02:00:12 pm

Some of the sessions said "bring your computer". The only issue there is lugging around your computer (tablets are far lighter), but at least it was an attempt to be more hands-on.

I agree with Pam that having the computer can be distracting. If someone is more advanced (or not), they may go off and do other things, distracting the beginners around them. One workshop I monitored last year had a 45 minute PowerPoint and left only 15 minutes hands-on, so how good is that? I wouldn't have been happy with it.

It also depends on the topic. In the developer sessions I went to, they mostly explained the process of creating the database or app, instead of teaching how to use it, so that wouldn't work as a workshop. Another one went through so many concepts, a workshop wouldn't have covered a quarter of what he taught, if he'd had to slow down for people to do try some of it themselves.

On the user side, I think more workshops might be more helpful for people who need direct instruction. But I'm like you and just need to jump in to try an app, so I wouldn't want to sit through a class teaching me how to use a program anyhow; I just want to use it.

So now that I've rambled in your comments... I think you're right about more workshops being needed, but it's more for people who are beginners or just bad with technology and need to be told exactly what to do. The rest of us just need to be set loose with a program to figure it out, and then have an advanced level class the next year to teach us the really fancy stuff.

It's a fine line. RootsTech seems to want to cater to every level of user and developer, but they still have many gaps that need to be addressed better. Kind of like my response, which seems to be all over the place.

Caroline Pointer

2/17/2012 02:09:26 pm

Thanks, Banai! I just think that the conferences - all of them - are gonna need to come up with something outside the box to make it worth people's while and money. And I'm talking for the advanced hobbyist.

But? I dunno what that is. Maybe it's the internet. There are definitely more tools to use in non-formalized education online.

~C

Jenna Mills link

2/18/2012 03:07:30 am

I think it's very reasonable to request the workshop participants bring their own laptop. The session could have a fixed number of work stations available just in case someone doesn't own a laptop.

The main problem I have with workshops is people over-estimating their level of skill. If the course is labeled as intermediate or advanced you need to be at that level. If I attend an intermediate session on Google Earth (just a random example) I want the entire presentation to be on Google Earth. I do NOT want to have to go over downloading the application, finding the back button, how to right-click...you get my point.

It is the presenters responsibility to stick to the level of presentation that they have submitted and advertised. Too many times workshops and presentations get derailed when the presenter stops to teach basic steps. I have nothing against beginners I used to be one, but please attend the beginner workshops and sessions.

Jen Kindrick link

2/17/2012 03:13:55 pm

Caroline, I really appreciated this. I saw all the ads about this conference, and thought it'd be really nice to go, but I want hands on opportunities, like you mentioned. And in a group setting, it's a great opportunity to learn from others' experiences and hot finds.

Perhaps some kind of hands-on networking opportunity conference? Perhaps RootsTech wouldn't be it, but a conference geared toward helping people of all levels get going, and finding new sources. I know the basics of research, but am just started in adding upon what's been given to my by those that went before me. I'd really love to find a way to meet with others like me - a little novice as to what's there today (not 10 years ago - so much has changed!), but not so novice that I don't know how to interpret a census.

Anyways, I appreciate your post. Ditto on the hands on. For those of us who are tactile learners, a computer+wifi in hand is a must!

Caroline Pointer

2/18/2012 12:16:22 am

Thanks, Jen!

There just seems to be something missing for the in-betweeners at the conferences. I know I go for business reasons, but if I didn't have that reason, I wouldn't go. I love seeing people, but it ends up being an expensive trip. And my family has NO interest in genealogy whatsoever, nor the places they're held at. And if a conference is during school, then I can't take out the kids.

It's a real problem that the conferences are going to have to address at some point if they wish to grow. IMHO.

~C

Jenna Mills link

2/18/2012 04:08:57 am

And my final comment...maybe...are the speakers submitting advanced level presentations? I think it's possible the presentations they are submitting are beginner to intermediate level in order to appeal to a wider audience. I mean what presenter doesn't want to say their session was standing room only??

My main complaints with the presentations was they were to broad or just a high level overview. Also, some presenters wasted 10-15 minutes on intro. Be realistic at what you can cover or break your presentation into 2 sessions.

My dream session would be a 30 minute presentation and 30 minutes of Q & A. I want to learn a specific topic, technique or application. To me that is an advanced level class.

Better yet, have your session topic published as a webinar before the conference and we have 1 whole hour to discuss it with you!!! State in the syllabus Prerequisite: watch the webinar!

Or how about this...have part 1 of your presentation at the conference and part 2 as a paid webinar? Drive traffic to your site, make a little more money and have happy attendees! Win-win!

Opinions and ideas...yeah I've got em! :) Anyone interested in doing a mind-mapping session with me on conferences, just give me a call!

Caroline Pointer

2/18/2012 04:24:40 am

I think those are wonderful ideas, Jenna! Definitely thinking outside the box.

I think the genealogy industry [And it is an industry.] has a huge conflict within it. The idea of 'free'. Records need to be free. Information needs to be free. Technology needs to be free.

Why? My house isn't free. My utilities aren't free. My car isn't free. The gas I put into my car is definitely not free. [Neither is the maintenance.] My groceries aren't free. My internet access isn't free. [Not even at the library. My taxes pay for that.]

Nothing is completely and totally free.

There's nothing wrong with charging money for genealogy-related products and services. And the 2-parter 'presentation at the conference and paid webinar later' is brilliant, as long as the content is in line for an advanced researcher and there's handouts. I'll pay for that like I'd pay for a book. In fact, nowadays webinar information is much more timely than information found in a published book.

And I think that's my beef with the conferences [and with a lot of webinars]. If I wasn't going for business reasons, the level of content of most of the presentations is not at the level I need it to be in order for me to fork over money to go.

If I'm just going for the in-person networking, then why pay for the conference? Why not just have meet-ups and tweet-ups and hangouts?

~Caroline

Find your family story.

RootsTech ~ It Says 'Do'

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