Originally published on genealogyatheart.blogspot.com on 10 Apr 2016.<\/p>\n
Just back from a Learning and the Brain Conference in Orlando on imagination, curiosity and creativity.\u00a0 As genealogists we have passion which is the basis for all three, the drive that\u2019s needed for success.\u00a0 After hearing the wonderful speakers from around the world I began to think that the application for genealogy can knock down our brick walls.\u00a0 Here\u2019s how-<\/p>\n
The beginning of imagination is dreaming.\u00a0 Our dream may be to discover who our several times great grandpa married or the reason our family moved to an area.\u00a0 It could be how our grandparents met or why we always have banana birthday cake.\u00a0 These thought provoking questions for people with passion to learn more about their ancestors lead to pursuing and seeking ways to find the answer to the question.<\/p>\n
The posed research question you act upon is how you demonstrate your curiosity.\u00a0 One of the sessions had an interesting photo at the beginning \u2013 it showed square trees.\u00a0 The research question presented was where could you find square trees.\u00a0 I figured it was a trick question and immediately replied Lowes or Home Depot.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 That\u2019s not the answer the presenter was looking for!\u00a0 How I formulated my response was by enlisting my background knowledge.\u00a0 My do-it-yourselfer hubby has had me assist with so many projects involving square wood if I lived in a large city my frame of reference may have been to expect that most trees grew in a square shape because that\u2019s what I would be familiar with in the big box lumber department.\u00a0 I know that the trees in my neighborhood grown in somewhat of a round shape and that what we find in the store is processed lumber.\u00a0 Think how this applies to your research.\u00a0 Do you always rely on your same go to websites \u2013 the big names on the web to answer your research question?\u00a0 That\u2019s not bad or wrong to do but there\u2019s so much more that you\u2019re missing.\u00a0 Those that want to REALLY know the answer would have their curiosity take them to some out of the box, unconventional places.\u00a0 I have found the answer to some of my research questions in odd places \u2013 on a microfilm in Salt Lake City\u00a0\u00a0of a book that exists in no library today, at a research facility in Boston that had a text that isn\u2019t anywhere in the state the record was compiled from, on a CD created by a rural former church historian of the denomination\u2019s newsletters, in a deed moved from the recorder\u2019s office to an archive, in a letter stuck in a book on the shelf in our study.\u00a0 Those are just a few examples that pop into my brain that have happened to me in the last six months.\u00a0 None of those had anything to do with the major genealogical websites.\u00a0 Please do not think that I don\u2019t value the information that\u2019s now available on the web.\u00a0 I DO!\u00a0 I certainly don\u2019t want to go back to those dark ages when information was difficult to obtain.\u00a0 I highly value and appreciate the big box genealogy sites.\u00a0 My point is that we need to remember it\u2019s not the be all and end all.\u00a0 There is more \u2013 lots more \u2013 and your curiosity will propel you to find the more.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re thinking, easy for her to say!\u00a0 I can\u2019t afford, find the time, etc. etc. to go seek this information you\u2019re wrong and doing your research a disservice.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to go to Salt Lake or Boston or even clean your house to find the letter in a book.\u00a0 You can use the technology that\u2019s available to minimize the miles and bring the research to you.\u00a0 Use Worldcat<\/a> if it\u2019s available to have your library cooperative bring the material to you.\u00a0 Same with the microfilm \u2013 search Familysearch<\/a> and order the film to be delivered to a closer site to your home.\u00a0 Yes, there is a fee but it\u2019s minimal compared to cost involved if you don\u2019t live in the Salt Lake City area.\u00a0 Aren\u2019t sure how to find what you need?\u00a0 Call or visit your local library and they will help you.\u00a0 If they don\u2019t, go to another.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give up and don\u2019t let negative people stand in your way.<\/p>\n How interesting is this! I\u2019ve even mentioned big box sites to help you find the information you\u2019re needing.\u00a0 You are bringing the knowledge closer to you.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I believe genealogy is a study in patience.\u00a0 In this info overload world we so often expect the answer to arrive instantly on our phone, tablet or laptop.\u00a0 As the song says, \u201cWaiting is the hardest part\u201d but could also be the most important and relevant piece of your genealogical puzzle.\u00a0 While you\u2019re waiting \u2013 go make yourself a nice cup of tea and dream some more, then act on that dream and the cycle continues.<\/p>\n See, when you\u2019ve acted on your curiosity you\u2019ve become creative.\u00a0 It was quite easy!\u00a0 We all have this ability we just have to practice it.<\/p>\n We did a cute little exercise at one of the breakout sessions you can take part in.\u00a0 Go to\u00a0Answer Garden<\/a>\u00a0and answer the question \u201cWhat is creativity.\u201d\u00a0 Your answer is right because there is no one right answer so don\u2019t be afraid.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to sign in, give your email address, nada!\u00a0 Once you submit your answer you will get an interesting \u201cart\u201d piece.\u00a0 I printed it and have it on my workspace as a reminder to be creative.<\/p>\n Creativity is the quality of human existence that allows us to modify the environment to our needs to make something new and useful.\u00a0 It\u2019s a mix of intuitive and rational factors.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we use the Genealogical Proof Standard.\u00a0 We use our gut and our brain to analyze the findings and reach a conclusion.\u00a0 We may be right and we may be wrong but until a direct or negative piece of evidence is discovered to make us revisit our findings, our analysis stands.<\/p>\n Creativity is a process and like all processes, has several steps.\u00a0 Preparation is primary!\u00a0 If the problem is worth studying you need to have background information and that\u2019s pulling together what you know.\u00a0 Your answer may be right there in front of you but was overlooked the first time you saw it.\u00a0 Here\u2019s one of my \u201cOh, Duh!\u201d moments \u2013 wanted to know where an adult child had moved and found it listed on a death certificate for the parent.\u00a0 Was there all the time but I failed to \u201csee\u201d it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t reinvent the wheel! Collaborate with others who may have already discovered what you\u2019re looking for.\u00a0 Email the person who posted that family tree and ask where they got their info.\u00a0 Sure they might have just copied someone else but they might not have.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t ask you won\u2019t know.\u00a0 Asking is free!<\/p>\n Now you\u2019ve found some tidbit of a record and you don\u2019t know how it fits.\u00a0 No worries, time for another cup of tea.\u00a0 You just need to reflect on the finding.\u00a0 It will allow your brain to storm!\u00a0 Hmm, maybe I should check this resource or that facility or ask that second cousin.\u00a0 Research shows brainstorming is best done alone; we are social creatures for the most part and even if we don\u2019t want to believe it, social inhibitions often prevail in group think.\u00a0 There is a time for collaboration and a time for going solo.\u00a0 When you\u2019ve got some brainstormed ideas it\u2019s time to put it out there to the genealogical community and step back into collaboration.\u00a0 How can technology help you in preparation?!\u00a0 Use Google Docs<\/a> to share your findings with the other researchers that are working on your same line.\u00a0 One of the presenters recommended Padlet<\/a> which I haven\u2019t tried yet but plan to.\u00a0 It looks like a thinking Pinterest and it\u2019s free.\u00a0 I like free!\u00a0 You collaborate with whoever you select to be in your group.\u00a0 Wish I had known about this a few years back when I was working with several distant relatives to beat the clock to find a Revolutionary War participant so an elderly relative could join the DAR before she passed.\u00a0 We made it happen but this would have been so much better.\u00a0 Another awesome idea is to use a Web Whiteboard<\/a>.\u00a0 A whiteboard has taken the place of blackboards in the classroom \u2013 no squeaky chalk and no dust.\u00a0 You don\u2019t even need one in your office, you can draw, write or scribble on a virtual whiteboard to help you sort out the connection between those found documents.\u00a0 Symbaloo<\/a> may be the answer you need to bookmark your favorite go to web sites.\u00a0 It\u2019s a free social bookmarking cloud based service that allows you to surf your favorite website with an easy click AND download an ap so you can keep being productive when you\u2019re waiting in line at the checkout or for an appointment.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve got many ideas to help you with your preparation you\u2019re ready to move to the next stages of creativity:\u00a0 Incubation and Inspiration.\u00a0 I love incubation \u2013 it\u2019s easy but we don\u2019t do it enough.\u00a0 We just need to STOP and let our brain process what we\u2019ve found.\u00a0 Go outside and smell the roses. Take a walk.\u00a0 Swim.\u00a0 Lay on the sofa.\u00a0 Wherever you love to hang, go there!\u00a0 Your brain is still working on solving but it needs to be left to do it without the pressure of hurry.\u00a0 It\u2019ll come.\u00a0 Just wait.\u00a0 Patience\u00a0 again!\u00a0 My brain works in a weird way.\u00a0 My best solutions for my job as an educator comes when I\u2019m stuck in traffic on the interstate after my 2nd<\/sup> cup of coffee and old hard rock is playing on the radio.\u00a0 \u00a0I see my destination off in the distance, Oz beckons me and Voila! The answer is there.\u00a0 So if you\u2019re like me, you may have your incubation moment in an odd location but if it works, who cares because you\u2019ve reached inspiration.\u00a0 The unconscious mind (incubation) has brought the solution to be recognized in your conscious mind (inspiration).<\/p>\n If you\u2019re stuck in incubation here\u2019s some ideas that might help you.\u00a0 Vocaroo<\/a> is an online way to share voice messages over the web.\u00a0 For those of you who are auditory this may really be helpful.\u00a0 Say what you know into Vocaroo and then listen to what you said.\u00a0 That\u2019s it.\u00a0 If you\u2019re a visual learner you may want to Mindmap<\/a>. Unfortunately, most mindmap sites are\u00a0not free but you don\u2019t need to purchase it \u2013 take a look at images on google and you\u2019ll get the idea.\u00a0 Mindmap on paper or on the virtual whiteboard.\u00a0 Poplet<\/a> is a free sight designed for schools that can help you with a downloadable ap so you can take it anywhere.\u00a0 Since you\u2019re reading this blog you might be a blogger yourself.\u00a0 Blogging can also help your inspiration.\u00a0 You can keep your blog to yourself, include just a few or make it public.\u00a0 There are lots of blog sites but I like Google\u2019s Blogger<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you to think you have to spend a lot of time on becoming creative.\u00a0 Use your smart phone clock timer to keep yourself in check.\u00a0 Don\u2019t beat yourself up if the timer goes off and you\u2019re not where you hoped to be.\u00a0 It\u2019s okay, really.<\/p>\n The last parts of creativity are Verification \u2013 Implementation \u2013 Production.\u00a0 Test the ideas that inspired you.\u00a0 You\u2019re that much closer to scaling your brick wall.\u00a0 Happy Hunting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Originally published on genealogyatheart.blogspot.com on 10 Apr 2016. Just back from a Learning and the Brain Conference in Orlando on imagination, curiosity and creativity.\u00a0 As genealogists we have passion which is the basis for all three, the drive that\u2019s needed for success.\u00a0 After hearing the wonderful speakers from around the world I began to think … Continue reading “The Passionate Genealogist – Using Creativity to Climb Your Brickwalls!”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[275,268,273,266,269,274,271,267,272,270],"class_list":["post-292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-brick-walls","tag-blogger","tag-google-docs","tag-mindmap","tag-outside-the-box","tag-padlet","tag-poplet","tag-symbaloo","tag-thinking","tag-vocaroo","tag-web-whiteboard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=292"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":293,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292\/revisions\/293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogyatheart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}