Teaching Standards for Instructors

One of my favorite genealogy instructors was Dr. Thomas Warren who taught an extra-sessional course at the University of British Columbia called “Library Research for Genealogists and Family Historians” or something like that. Tom was a great teacher. Here’s why:Dr. Warren’s courses were well organized, comprehensive and sequentrial in mature. They included student activities and a major project related to the course.

His courses were well designed, enabling us to develop knowledge and skills in the following:

• awareness of genealogical sources in the university library
• respect for these resources and the librarians and archivists who were custodians of them.
• an ability to do credible genealogical research
• practice in citing accuratelky the resources we used

Tom’s lessons had practical assignments to assess our learning. His instructional materials were current and accurate. His bibliographies were vey useful and in a standard style.

I liked his ability to do make effective classroom presentations . He team taught with his wife Grethe Warren and her style was different than his. They complemented each other. And they definitely encouraged student participation.

When you check in the BCG Genealogical Standards Manual (Orem UT: Ancestry, 2000) page 22 you will see just how important these standards for instructors are. Your comments are welcome.