Information Skills

Back in the day when I was a Teacher/Librarian we had a big push to teach Information Skills that could be applied to any task which the students undertook. These are life skills that can be applied to everything from making a peanut butter sandwich to breaking down a brick wall in a family tree. 

The Information Skills Process
Information skills in the school P 8.

Since I started my genealogy journey I have been loosely following this process. 

I was recently asked to present a session on "Beginning Family History" for Family History Month. I wanted to encourage attendees to adopt a structure as they carried out research tasks. With the help of ChatGPT I modified that old diagram to produce something similar but different for family historians. 

• I changed the names of the various stages to more everyday language.
• I moved Assessing to the middle of a circle around which the six stages were placed, as I believe assessment and evaluation should be an on-going action at each stage of  the practice.
• I replaced Assessing with a sixth stage "Pass it on" which emphasised a need for us to Preserve and Futureproof our work.
• As my illustrative skills are basic I asked ChatGPT to create a diagram for me.

I uploaded a long brainstormed document to ChatGPT  and had a very long discussion with he/she/it before I asked for a diagram to be produced. 

 The first draft, in the bold colours I requested, was way too bold. It was otherwise fine for my purposes.

I gave some further instructions about fonts and colour and was pleased with what was produced. I used that second and final draft that in my presentation. 

My Research Process

Since delivering that first presentation I have used the diagram in a couple of subsequent presentations. I think it has been well received. It is also a useful tool to keep me on track.  I am currently using it as the basis for a Conference presentation on Social Media. 

Creating this diagram has been on my "To Do" list for ages but I had put it aside because of my lack of design skills. I am so grateful for the opportunities AI tools have given me to edit my work and produce images with a professional appearance.

My Forest of Family Trees

 I often suggest to fellow Genies that they have a "Forest of Family Trees." Why stop at one? Each of my trees serves a slightly different purose. 

Last week when I was about to host a Friday Hangout with the SAG I created a graphical representation of my forest of family trees in Excel. It was a pedestrian but useful document. I uploaded the diagram to ChatGPT and asked this of  the wizards there :

"For my hosting of the SAG Hangout "Where's your Tree" tomorrow I am wondering if you can create a landscape postcard image of my "Forest of Family Trees". On the attached rough diagram I have listed the places where my family trees live. Below each of these products I have noted how I use them. Through using these avenues I aim to record, preserve, share and futureproof my family's data so that is available for generations to come. It would be great if the image could reflect the design of the attached that you designed for me yesterday."

In about two minutes I was rewarded with an image that suited my purpose perfectly.

Having the diagram kept me on track as I discussed my forest. I hoped it helped those present to reflect on their trees. 

I had also enlisted ChatGPT's help with a graphic to advertise the event. My purpose being to assist those at the Hangout with ideas for discussing their trees. 

On reviewing the diagram I realised that I neglected books as a way to preserve a family tree. Perhaps that demonstrates my focus on 21st century tools. 

All is not lost. In next week's Friday Hangout  with the SAG my focus in "All things Bookish" is on BOOKS.

Late to the Party

 I've noticed several genimates posting caricatures on social media and, as I have a bit of spare time for play this week, decided to hop on the bandwagon. 

I started with a very simple prompt suggested in a ChatGPT advertisement on Facebook. It was suggested to add a photo of me with the following prompt. "Create a caricature of me based on everything you know about me." 

What came back was a creditable caricature of me but with very thick painted on eyebrows. The image focused on my interests in reading and travel but made no reference to family history. It also had a cat plonked on the desk, I'm a dog girl through and through. 

After asking ChatGPT to recognise my involvement with family history, make a few deletions (cat and eyebrows) and to add a dog like my Paddy plus my GeniAus avatar I was rewarded with the following which I think is quite representative. 

Should I ask ChatGPT to add something else to recognise my obsession for taking thousands of snapshots on my smartphone and camera  as I wander around our world?