Thanks for the reminder Marian. Your letter brings up something I was going to mention. This has been really an an awful week!! Howver my brother is fine so I guess that puts things in perspective. Marthe talked to us about the class the other night. Actually it was during last week's class discussion. I missed this week's discussion and haven't had a chance to read the log as yet. Anyway Marthe brought up the Beginners Online Genealogy Class in the September 25 class session. I sat down the next day to send in a report to the Fianna List and my letter became much too long and tangled up so I didn't send it. I think the easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the relevant portions of the class log. "Marthe> How many people are planning on participating in the repeat Intro to Online Genealogy Class?" (Reactions from class) <Marthe> If you were given the choice of two different study group projects...one which would create a page o'links to a related subject (ie, Irish History) and the other project would be working with a large group creating an online guide to genealogy (concerning both online and offline research), which do you think you'd be more inclined to participate in?" (I am going to just delete the class comments and copy what Marthe said) <Marthe>Lessons will be almost identical. I've not had the time to add significant information to it. <Marthe>The page o' links project would only be for the duration of the class.The guide project would be an ongoing process, made permanent and available to everyone online. <Marthe>The idea is to have the study groups work on a really meaningful project, not reinventing the wheel with another links page, however nice. We have had input that some people would not want to participate in the second project, and would instead prefer just the links project. <Marthe>We're talking about large groups with sub groups. For instance, if you wanted to sign up for the German research group, you'd join the European study group, and a german sub-group. <Marthe>We are also planning several sections on organization, research hints and tips, etc. so the projects are not all ethnic/locality projects. <Marthe>There's one other exciting idea we had... and that was to encourage returning Class 325 students to participate in an advanced level study group. One of the group projects (advanced) we would encourage would be a Q&A forum...where students submit research problems, and the advanced TEAM works to give advice on how to solve the problem. <Marthe>Problems can be basic, or difficult. The advanced study group would work together to brainstorm solutions, but are able to admit they are stumped. Quite honestly I think the Guide project sounds really terrific! As JC says she pretty well maintains the Fianna web site. It's completed and pretty well stands on its own. I don't know whether there was any more discussion in this week's class. I will read the log as soon as I get a chance. Or maybe someone who attended class can give us an update. BBFN &TTYL Gail in MO (Oppossum the Lost)