Teach to Learn

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Courtesy of Brett Jordan, via Flikr



WiredAlexandria, CC BY-SA 4.0

Have you ever heard that "if you really want to learn something, teach it to someone else"? I have, and have found it true. Mothering taught me that, for sure! 

I was lucky enough to attend the University of Washington for a year, and while there the most valuable concept I adopted was joining some study groups. This has lots of advantages, the biggest being that all participants want to be there, are pushing themselves to learn difficult concepts, ideas or skills, and are willing to both study and help others. 

I've found our special interest groups and study groups inspirational for the same reason. People attend because they want to learn more about how to use DNA in their family history research, or how to use new website features or applications, how to write useful citations, how to research like the professionals do, and more!

But most valuable of all, I see participants stepping up to demonstrate both how they successfully do something, or even better, the problem they are having, so that others can help them. This requires being secure enough to admit to needing help, which can be a skill in itself, and also provides others in the group the opportunity to help out. It always feels great to help - and to be helped, too.

Join TUG: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG

Years ago, SKCGS started a group for the newest tech - computers! Back then, genealogists did their research in archives, libraries or by letter. Computers, even before the "World Wide Web" as it was called, could be used for communication, if it had a modem and a phone line, and some data retrieval and storage. Now our Computer User Group has morphed into the Technology User Group, TUG for short, and we have a great time exploring all aspects of tech that can further our research. Join at https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG. Some of our other groups below, at https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society/subgroups


Our Family History Writing group is email-only, so far, and all the groups can be used that way if you can't attend the Zoom meetings. Please feel free to ask the "dumb" questions everyone else is too shy to ask! Remember, you will be giving someone else a chance to learn by teaching. And one of these days, you will know the answer to a beginner question, and get your own chance to learn by teaching too.


When you teach, you learn.


Editor's note: Another excellent opportunity for learning is manning a "Genealogy Help Desk" at a local library. Pre-Covid, we presented monthly help desks at Burien and Covington branches of King County Library System as well as the Auburn branch where our reference collection is located.

Help desk work is fun and rewarding; you meet very interesting people with research questions different from your own.  If you are new to genealogy, consider partnering with a more experienced member.

We have been able to re-establish a monthly desk at Auburn and have recently received requests for beginning genealogy at other south county libraries.  Watch for more announcements in the near future!


Valorie Zimmerman



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