After observing participants in online classes and during local genealogical society meetings online, I've noticed how lackluster the mood seems in comparison to what I remembered of in-person events. I had a hunch that, as Marshall McLuhan once put it, the medium is still very much the message. I decided to experiment and find a way to return to teaching genealogy classes in person.
That opportunity hit the start button this week with the first session of a course I team teach with another genealogical society member. With enough students registered to populate a small classroom—yet small enough to allow for interpersonal feedback without breaking the system—those post-Covid hunches turned out to say an enthusiastic "yes!"
Granted, straight-up lectures have lost their luster, no matter whether in person or online. For the type of classes that people attend "just for fun," facing down one hour of sheer listening can dampen the collective enthusiasm. Perhaps that should be no surprise. But I like to attribute the energy emanating from this week's classroom to more than just that. People want to share. They want to be able to contribute their piece to the conversation. They want what they have to offer to matter to others. They want to create "us."
As expected, this week's first class gave each attendee the opportunity to share something they knew that could help others. It allowed them to share where they are in their journey to uncover their family's history—a struggle each of us can relate to. And it gave them permission to try out something new, while gaining confidence to experiment in an environment where others were there at their side to help them through the process. We had each other's back.
Yes, this was the first class. There's much more to come. This may not be an experience for everyone. But it was a chance to test a hunch and bring it through to a workable solution to the isolation of online-only gatherings. We need ways to come back together again meaningfully.
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