They call me crazy about education

If you have followed my blog for the last several years you know that I am a student (and blogger) for The National Institute of Genealogical Studies.  Last month was my 2 year anniversary for the start of my work toward a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) - American Records.  If I can keep the pace going, I will finish my certificate program roughly this time next year.  40 classes in 3 years.  Yeah….

Periodically I am asked why I am doing this.  Why didn’t I go straight for a BCG or ICAPGEN certification?  Didn’t you take the BU program? Or, the newest, what do you mean you are doing ProGen and this at the same time?! Are you insane?  You have to admit that they are all good questions!  Which has lead me to this blog post.  Maybe I should answer some of these questions.

Didn’t you take the BU program?Yes I sure did, hardest and most rewarding 15 weeks of my life.  It was an awesome feeling getting an A in that course and I learned so much.  The improvement was noticeable from day one in not only my work but my research.  However, just because I successfully complete one learning program doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t continue my education right?  In the fall of 2013 I was only a few years into my genealogy research adventure.  There was still more to learn!

 

What do you mean you are doing ProGen and this at the same time?! Are you insane?There are days when I ask myself the same question.  However, the programs are vastly different and do not overlap.  ProGen is prepping me to be a professional.  The PLCGS is prepping me to be an excellent researcher.  While they will go together in the end I can easily separate out the time and work load for each.  Then there are months when I want to hide in the corner and cry.

 

Why didn’t I go straight for a BCG or ICAPGEN certification?
I have toyed on and off with this notion for several years.  Mainly, I don’t think I have enough work behind me to justify the time commitment or expense of these certifications.  My client base is growing monthly but I still feel too “new” to the scene to make that leap.  It may be that I am struggling with getting the ball rolling, but I really do have a lot on my plate right now.  Commitments have to be consider you know.
  

Also, I was nowhere near ready to submit 2 years ago when I started the PLCGS program.  I had just started to speak and take clients.  While I felt I “knew my stuff” I did not think I was not to the writing level needed to submit a portfolio.  An honest assessment of myself was that I needed to mature into the craft more.
  

Then there is the inner voice who asks “and why do you need it, what will it do for you?” I think of myself more as an educator.  My passion is in speaking and teaching, how will those little letters after my name help me there?  It is something that I am still pondering and investigating. 

In the end, I see this as a great self-paced way to further my education.  While I do have the luxury of working from home and setting my own hours, I am also a mom with kids at home.  I can’t just up and gallivant off somewhere for a week long lecture/conference/symposium without months of planning (with plan B, C, and D in the wings) whenever I feel like it.  Programs like this (and there are SO many more) are one of the ways I keep my continuing education up to speed.

So… what do you think?

Continuing Education: ProGen Study Group

Last month I started the ProGen 24 study group.  ProGen is one of those items on my list of courses, seminars and other things I thought I should try and complete for my ongoing genealogical education.  So far I am enjoying it immensely.

Of course many people are looking at me like I have grown 3 heads.  It is an 18 month commitment which sounds daunting and a bit terrifying.  I am in ProGen 24 which started last month and goes until April 2016. There is never really a perfect time to jump into a commitment like that since no one knows what the future holds for them.  You just have to jump in, hold on, and do your best.  To me this was as good of a time as any and I honestly think I can make it work.

I do best in small group learning sessions which is why I wanted to give this study group a try.  When I was in the BU program we read sections of Professional Genealogy but not the whole thing.  Over the last year I have looked at the book time and again on my shelf and said “I really need to finish that.”  It’s been a great reference guide though and I use it frequently when I need a template (even if it needs to be updated in some places).

Having interaction with a small group is great.  We come from varied backgrounds and have a wide range of skill sets. This makes the discussions thought provoking and the views varied.  Most importantly, even though we are chatting through the computer, I get that small group interaction which helps me retain and process information better.

To learn more about the ProGen study groups visit their website at http://progenstudy.org/.