Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree from FutureLearn

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for anyone with an interest in genealogy. The course will be suitable if you: You can use the hashtag #FLgenealogy to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

A consideration of the differences between primary, derived primary and secondary sources.
An understanding of the importance of knowing who made a document and why and how they were created. *A key challenge of genealogy – finding the right person among a number of possible candidates, with ever-changing spellings of surnames – will be considered.
Lateral ways to approach research including the FAN/cluster technique and mind mapping.
Primary source databases including searching techniques to deal with name change or spelling differences; these include the use of wildcards.
An introduction to main source types including civil, church, census and military records to give a sense of the typical type of data these records contain and how to use them.
Review the content of major international and selected local and specialised databases and consider ways to evaluate databases.
The principles of the Genealogical Proof Standard including how to establish proof and how to evaluate evidence.
The use of DNA testing in genealogical research with a focus on autosomal (‘cousin-matching’) and Y-testing techniques.
An exploration of secondary and primary sources which provide historic and social context, considering their quality and how to find them.
The importance of providing evidence of the sources used in family history research and an exploration of the various systems of referencing in use.
A consideration of tools used to store, track and analyse genealogical data; various types of family trees and reports including paper based resources, software programs and online tools.
What are the best ways to begin writing a family history?
Ways to protect and preserve physical records and digital data.
have no experience with genealogy or family history research;
have some experience with genealogical research but want to develop your skills and knowledge further;
are a more experienced genealogical researcher but want to learn new searching, analytical or communication techniques or
find it difficult to access opportunities for training and development.

Reviews summary

Comprehensive introduction to family history research

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation and a comprehensive overview for anyone interested in genealogy, especially those starting out. Students appreciate the wide range of topics covered, including civil and church records, DNA testing basics, and the Genealogical Proof Standard. Many find the lectures clear and engaging, with the instructor making complex subjects accessible. While it serves as an excellent introduction, some more experienced researchers note it functions primarily as an overview and may not delve deeply enough into advanced techniques or specific record types for those seeking expert-level knowledge. Overall, it is widely considered a highly valuable starting point for tracing your family tree.

Provides breadth, but limited depth on specific areas.

"While the breadth is great for an introduction, I found certain topics like DNA testing needed more in-depth coverage."

"As someone with some prior research experience, this course was a helpful refresher and overview, but didn't teach me many new advanced techniques."

"It's a good survey of methods, but be prepared to seek additional resources for deeper dives into specific record sets or challenging research problems."

Offers useful methods applicable to real research.

"I learned practical strategies, like using wildcards in searches and lateral research techniques, that I can use in my own research."

"The course gives actionable advice on how to approach research problems and evaluate different types of evidence."

"It helped me understand how to organize my research and cite my sources effectively, which is crucial."

Instructor explains complex ideas accessibly.

"The instructor was fantastic; they explained everything clearly and made the potentially dry topics engaging."

"I found the lectures easy to follow, and the presenter's passion for the subject was evident."

"The delivery style made learning enjoyable and helped me grasp concepts I found confusing before."

Explores a wide array of essential genealogy subjects.

"I was impressed by how many different areas of genealogy research were covered, from records to DNA."

"The course introduces key concepts like sources, records (census, church, civil), and proof standards, which is very helpful."

"It gives a good overview of various tools and techniques, including different record types and DNA testing."

Highly recommended for beginners in family history.

"This course was an excellent starting point for me as a complete beginner in genealogy research."

"If you're new to tracing your family tree, this course provides a solid foundation to get you started."

"I had no prior experience, and the course structure and content made it easy to follow and understand the basics."

Career center

Learners who complete Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Genealogy

Researching Your Family Tree

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive introduction to family history research

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