Have you been interested in joining a Research Like a Pro Study Group, but worried about the time commitment? Perhaps the dates didn’t work for you or you were nervous about receiving peer feedback on your work. The Research Like a Pro e-Course has proven to be the perfect solution for researchers like you. The e-Course will give you the extra boost you might need in your research efforts. You’ll be able to work at your own pace and still receive valuable assistance along the way.
Content
Nine Video Lessons
The Research Like a Pro e-Course includes access to nine lessons. In each video, we lead you through the key concepts using real life examples. You’ll get in-depth answers to your questions and gain a deeper understanding of the Research Like a Pro process.
1 – Pedigree analysis, objectives, and file organization: Learn how to analyze your family tree for possible research opportunities, then how to focus your research with an objective. Learn to create a file organization protocol.
2 – Reviewing previous research, timelines, and source citations: Gather previous research and create a timeline. Study the elements of a good source citation and learn to create your own.
3 – Analyzing source information: Learn how to analyze the sources you have found and extract all of the possible data from them.
4 – Location research: Study jurisdictions, boundary changes, and discover the importance of understanding “where” an event occurred.
5 – Research planning: Learn to make a focused plan that will guide you to the best sources that will answer your research question.
6 – Logging your research: Discover how to organize your research using a research log and source citations.
7 – Writing up your research: Learn the many ways you can share your research, how to write a simple proof summary, and discover the best option for any research scenario.
8 – Copyright, proofs, and publication: Learn about using copyrighted material in your report, writing proofs, and sharing your work.
9 – Productivity and education: Become more productive in your work and boost your genealogical knowledge with further educational opportunities.
Monthly Office Hours
Your registration includes monthly office hours sessions to ask questions and talk with Diana and Nicole live. Join the video chats live or watch the recording later. All are encouraged to submit their questions beforehand by email. Check the course sidebar for dates. You will also have access to previously recorded office hour sessions along with notes.
Peer Groups
Would you like to meet with a small group of 4-6 people as you work through the Research Like a Pro online course? We have found that meeting together to discuss your project with other researchers adds accountability and helps you finish the course. This option is available to those interested after registration. You can fill out a form with your preferred times and frequency of meeting, then you’ll be assigned to a group that works together to set up their meetings.
How it Works
-After you register, you’ll be able to immediately access all of the materials on FamilyLocket.com
-We will email you with the theme for the month and a reminder about the assignment. These themes correspond with the lessons and chapters in the book.
-Diana and Nicole will answer questions in a live Office Hours session once a month that goes along with the monthly theme. These will be recorded if you can’t participate live.
-Send your questions to Diana at Diana@familylocket.com or Nicole@familylocket.com.
-Complete the assignments on your own time and share with the private Research Like a Pro Facebook group for feedback.
-Fill out a form if you would like to join a peer group for additional feedback and a chance to discuss your project with others in the course.
-After you purchase the course, you will be able to see the “My Courses” tab on the menu to access the e-Course material.
-Watch the videos whenever it fits with your schedule within 12 months. You may renew after 12 months for an additional $50 per year by purchasing the RLP eCourse Renewal.
Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide Book
If you haven’t yet purchased your copy of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide, we encourage you to use the book during the course. Purchase a copy of the eBook or paperback at Amazon.
Getting Help
What if you have questions as you work through your own research project? You’ll have lifetime access to the private Research Like a Pro Facebook group where you can ask the community for help as well as submit your assignments for feedback.
You’ll also have 12 months of access to the monthly office hours sessions. You can join live or watch the recordings at your leisure. Submit your questions ahead of time and receive assistance in solving your tough research problems.
Finally, you’ll receive the new printable Research Like a Pro flowchart. See at a glance the research process with key tips on one convenient page.
Fees and Purchasing
You have access to Diana Elder, AG, and Nicole Dyer, and their one-on-one advice through the Facebook group and through monthly office hours. Even if you just watch the office hours recording each month, you will learn a lot from from the questions and answers. Twelve months of office hours sessions are included with the nine video lessons that you have access to watch on your own time. You will also have access to all the previous office hours recordings! We think you will find that our Research Like a Pro e-Course is a great value. Get updates on sales by joining our Family Locket weekly newsletter.
What is the Difference between the eCourse and Study Group?
The Research Like a Pro study group has the same online learning modules – video lessons, quizzes, etc., but has weekly scheduled group sessions with the other researchers in the group via Zoom. The study group also has deadlines for completing assignments and a feedback schedule for reading each others’ assignments and giving feedback. Participants in the study group work closely together and provide encouragement and motivation to complete assignments. Peer group leaders give personalized feedback on each assignment for study group members. The study group is held twice a year, once in the spring, and once in the fall. The spring group focuses on incorporating DNA evidence.
More information
For more information go to the eCourse main page: Research Like a Pro eCourse.
Shari Brimhall –
I absolutely love the E course! Even though I have not yet broken down my brick wall on this particular ancestor at this time I have learned valuable research techniques and have gained a level of confidence …
I also learned that by going back through the records which I have accumulated over the years and using your approach, I have discovered several things about this ancestor that I did not know and that was right in front of me the whole time! I just needed to look with a fresh perspective that I received by while taking your E course. Now i can honestly say I feel closer to this ancestor and I have gained a deeper respect and appreciation for him! Thank you so much for that!
Shari Brimhall
Connie Zubrod –
The E course is wonderful!! I was feeling like I needed some direction and help with my research; the E course has taken away that stress, given me direction and step by step help through my research goals! I highly recommend the Research Like a Pro E course.
Gregory Egger –
The format provided by the e-course worked very well for me. I was able to learn more about the research process and through that, my organisational skills needed some work. Diana and Nicole have developed a very sound program and are great mentors in the genealogy field. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in genealogy research and the proper way to report their search results.
Monique Riley –
I first purchased the book, “Research Like a Pro” and loved it! The research process and methodology is presented in a simple and effective way to ensure progress and success. I have seen the need for something like this in the genealogical community for a while now and was very excited to find Diana’s book. The book led me to the Family Locket website and to the self-paced e-course, which sounded like a perfect fit for me because I could work on the course according to my own schedule.
I also thought the course would be a great review for me, as I am preparing to renew my credential of Accredited Genealogist (R). I really like the recorded webinars, links to relevant articles and podcasts, homework assignments, and the quizzes at the end of each lesson which provide instant answers. The lifetime access to the “Ask Diana” office hours is a real bonus too!
I have completed the course and highly recommend it not only to those just beginning to research their ancestors, but also to those who have been researching for decades, like myself. The Research Like a Pro e-course truly provides foundational principles that lead to efficient research, making the process even more fun!
Rebecca Walbecq –
The Research Like a Pro e-course is the perfect companion to the book and related facebook group. Using the e-course to lead me through the process and keep me accountable to myself was a great investment. I have successfully completed my first research project and could not have done this without the assistance of Diana and Nicole and the guidance of the e-course lessons. I am just starting on my next research project and plan to continue to reference the e-course. Thank you, Diana and Nicole!
Julie Clark –
I always wanted to follow a professional genealogist around as they did their research. I wanted to know how they did their research so efficiently and effectively. Well, finally Diana and Nicole had made this possible with their Research Like a Pro e-course. They’ve already have helped me become more effective in my research. And their techniques have given me a more solid foundation on which I can continue to build my own research tools and techniques that work best for me. Thank you, Diana and Nicole.
Karin Coppernoll –
Research like a Pro e-course worked well for me. The easy-to-use format keeps you on task. Start with a video and practice the techniques with assignments. To get the most out of the course, post your assignments in the Facebook forum and get feedback. Then take the quiz and see how much you’ve learned. Diana Elder breaks research into bite-sized pieces so you can learn to be a more efficient and productive genealogist.
Debbie Wahlstrom –
I purchased the book first and worked through the steps there. The book along with the podcasts was very helpful and easy to understand, but I kept having questions about the details. By signing up for the e-course I was able to get direct help from Diana and others about my research through the “Ask Diana Office Hours.” This was very helpful to me! Also, listening to questions others have asked during the Office Hours has helped a lot. I also liked the video format of the e-course and the additional work samples to look at. Prior to purchasing the course, I had debated if I really needed it when I had the book, but now I am so glad I chose to take it and would definitely recommend it to others.
Allison Kotter –
I signed up for this class after hearing great things about Diana and Nicole from people who had heard them speak or read their book. At first I was kind of hesitant as they were doing things differently than I had been doing and it seemed like I wasn’t getting any more answers than I was before. But then, at the end it all clicked! I realized that all the background research we had done in the earlier parts of the course lead me exactly to the answers I had been looking for long before this course! I feel much more prepared to take on my genealogy research questions and would recommend it to anyone looking to break down brick walls!
Lianne B. Johnson –
I was always taught that work was enjoyable and rewarding. That to improve you have to stretch. Research Like A Pro was a wonderful growth experience. At times I thought my head would explode with all the new and useful information. I’m amazed at the professionalism and thoroughness of Diana and Nicole. They make a great team. I can’t wait to start a new research project using the well defined steps of RLP. Thanks Diana and Nicole for all your hard work and dedication to help me become a research professional.
Sincerely,
Lianne
Jill Nock –
I have been researching my family tree for many years, but I needed to learn to be disciplined in actively using a research log and creating citations. The e-course showed me how to do that and more. I had never written a research report, so learning how (and equally important why) to create a research project and to correctly cite the sources was a positive outcome of the e-course. I had already purchased and read the “Research Like a Pro” book, but the e-course motivated me to actually get going. One thing that I need to do for my future projects is to write my report as I do the research. It took quite a few hours to write the report since I had to go back and pull details from the sources. I highly recommend the Research Like a Pro e-course!
Judy Schaap –
I highly recommend the e-course to anyone looking to solve a problem in genealogy, save research time and avoid frustrations in repeating work. I learned many new processes including the value of source citations, having a strong objective, research plan and keeping an accurate log. While I feel this is just a beginning for me, having gotten my answer by researching in many places I had avoided before, I feel much more confident and excited about moving forward in my genealogy studies and research. I am excited to begin my next endeavor which is a DNA problem. Thank you Diana and Nicole
Barbara Brann –
I had bought the kindle version of the Research Like a Pro book when it was on sale a while back, but then due to family circumstances never read it. While gardening this spring I came across the podcast, and it just resonated with me. I listened to the first few episodes several times, trying to absorb the concepts. And that motivated me to start reading the book, after which I knew that I had to take the course. When it became apparent that the study group version of the course was not going to be available anytime soon I purchased the e-course. I was leery that I wouldn’t follow through without the accountability part of being in a study group, but I found the methodology so compelling that I was inspired to proceed. I didn’t try to rush through by skipping sections, which of course wouldn’t be easy to do even if I had wanted to. For instance, I can’t keep a good research log without citing sources and when it came to citations, I was at a loss. I hadn’t cited a paper since college, and of course, genealogists use a different (even if similar), style of citing, so my MLA book wasn’t going to help. I found myself dusting off other books from my bookshelf trying to figure out how to cite genealogical sources. I saw this as an even more daunting task than creating a locality guide, which was challenging as well. Tom Jones’ book Mastering Genealogical Proof and Elizabeth Shown Mills book Evidence Explained were consulted, read, and even re-read. Citations are starting to make sense to me now, plus the course provides a couple of different spreadsheets with completed citation templates to copy and modify for the most commonly used sources. So it isn’t necessary to look up how to cite each and every time.
I have to say that this was the best money that I ever spent on genealogy, and that is saying a lot since I usually spend anywhere from $1800 to $3300 a year between memberships, subscriptions, courses, conferences, travel, books, records, etc. This course taught me how to attack a difficult problem. I was able to take one of my most pressing questions that had puzzled me for years and make sense of it. The course helped me to create a timeline of all of the known facts, draw up a research plan, execute the plan complete with a sourced research log and draw a conclusion that unless new evidence arises, has now put my problem to rest. Even better, I have written up a research report that can be consulted at any time by myself or others wondering about the same issue, as I intend to attach the report to my ancestor on the Family Search Family Tree.
Susan Schuler –
As a strong, mostly self taught, intermediate genealogist, I was longing for more formal education. It needed to be something I could do at home and at my own pace. The Research Like a Pro e-course gave me the tools to be a methodical researcher and a more organized genealogist. Through the course assignments I have mastered both creating citations and report writing, two aspects of genealogy research that were very intimidating to me. Diana and Nicole are both supportive and helpful throughout the process via email, facebook messages and office hours, as is the RLAP Facebook community. I am happy and proud that I was able to complete this challenge.
Sheri McInturff –
Several years ago I purchased the “Research Like a Pro” book and read through it, made copies of the templates, etc., but continued to move forward without a real plan. I would follow “hints” down the rabbit hole for hours. This year I decided that I really wanted to be more organized, focused, disciplined and successful in my research and maybe even work towards a certification. Even though the e-course is designed as a “work at your own pace” it also gave me more structure, which I needed. I still get distracted but now have a plan to go back to. I was fairly certain of the answer to my Research Project/Objective but was so pleasantly surprised to find out so much more just by following each assignment. I recommend this course as one of the best ways to get on and stay on track. It’s been fun, educational and difficult at times, but so rewarding.
Rheba Robertson –
This course is the perfect starting point no matter how long you have been researching. I have been researching since I was a teenager, the days of no computers and requests for information were in writing and included a self-addressed, stampled envelope. In July 2020 I made it a personal goal to become BCG certified and immediately began gathering a lot of books and signing up for conferences and anything else I could join to assist with my education. My first book was Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones, a valuable source. Once completed, I was overwhelmed by the choices I had to continue my education. I decided to purchase the Research Like a Pro e-course and supplemented each lesson with webinars or other material I had acquired on the topic. My first research objective turned out to be completely negative, and I decided not to write a report. Encouraged by the RLP Facebook group to write the report anyway, I finished it this morning, and I am so glad I did!
Jeanette H Drake –
It has taken me over two years to complete the RLP e course. I have had some health challenges and I have also taken other genealogy classes at Salt Lake Community College. The college classes were more rigorous. But the e course is very concise and has a lot of the same information. RLP has been very complimentary and has given me new perspectives on the subject of researching like a professional genealogist. I have read and enjoyed both books by Diana and Nicole. Thank you for a valuable learning experience.
Anne Renwick –
This was an excellent course and I highly recommend it. Each module had a variety of content that solidified the topic to memory, particularly in the final research report writing. I found as I wrote that the various lessons came to mind and kept me focused. This has been a complete overview and guidance on how to research like a pro, and I feel I now have the tools to do so. Next step, accredidation?! Thank you Diana and Nicole.
Hope Glidden –
I have been researching on and off for over twenty years. A few months ago I got back into researching and realized that my research has been, for the most part, unfocused and scattered. It is easy to hop on a website and enter names and finds bits of information, but I wanted to do more than that. This course has been an excellent exercise in developing a research question, formulating a plan and following through towards a focused goal. I am already developing guides for the various localities that I research and am ready to tackle another plan. Thank you Diana and Nicole for all of the hard work you put into the course materials. I know I will keep referring to them. And I’m looking forward to taking the DNA course next!
Amy Crysel –
This course has been and continues to be so useful. I needed a course to be able to go at my own pace and this was perfect. I am relatively new to genealogical research. Diana’s teaching style is wonderful–she is organized and clear and also shares examples from her own research process that are so helpful. After going through the entire process, I now feel like I have the skills to complete more projects. I plan to try the RLP with DNA next.
Bonnie Anderson –
I completed the Research Like a Pro eCourse and recommend it to anyone looking to improve their research quality, organizational and time management skills, and professional output. By following the course I was learn how to and did complete a professional quality research report with accompanying research tools. I will continue to use the strategies and tools learned throughout this course.
Beth Anderson –
Beth Anderson – January 2022
Like many other people I have been researching for several years and found myself going down the same rabbit- holes and coming up empty. I purchased the RESEARCH LIKE A PRO hard copy book about a year ago and skipped over a few chapters to what I thought would help with a brick wall I had. Nope seems like you need to do it all. I purchased the course and committed to following the steps and though it did not break down the one wall I was searching I am impressed with the process and the rigor to get it right. I am appreciative of the feedback from Diana on the research report and feel I am improving my skills. I am looking forward to the next search with more enthusiasm than before. I have also purchased the DNA course and cannot wait to start on that. So happy this course was made available to work at your own pace, it works for me.
Alessandra Mencarelli –
This e-course was a wonderful opportunity to broaden my genealogy education and I am so happy to have completed it! I took advantage of a discount during the Christmas time, but I’d say that the course is excellent and worth even more than what it costs.
I’m Italian, I chose an e-course because I feared it would be too difficult to work in a study group with English-speaking people. With an e-course I was able to work at my own pace, it was very effective.
The teachers are real pros, their continual effort to improve and perfect the program is noticeable. Each lesson provides references to the standards of the field. The teaching methods are diversified to reach those who learn best by reading, listening, practicing etc.
I liked the idea of following a method. A professional leaves nothing to chance! What I’ve found most useful (which I never thought I’d do) is the locality guide. It’s so important to study the social, historical and geographical context in which an individual has lived and made choices, and it’s even more important to create lists of repositories in which to look for useful records, in order to leave no stone unturned in any research project.
I highly recommend this course, even to non-English speaking genealogists.
Wendi Funchess –
This was an awesome course! Being a newbie, it has helped me to build a great foundation. Working at my own pace, helped me to absorb the process and take my time to really learn each step. The setup and their teaching styles are wonderful. The layout for each lesson is clear and organized. By following through each step and going through the entire process, I created a quality research report at the end! I feel more confident that I now have the necessary skills to complete more projects and attend other courses to further my education in genealogical studies!
Barbara Coviello –
I learned so much from this course. I loved being able to go at my own pace, go back and listen/watch again, and proceed step-by-step through this fantastic process. I have been “doing genealogy” for many, many years, but this course definitely improved my knowledge and skills and catapulted me to a much greater skill level. I was able to discover so much more about my family history than I ever have before. I especially appreciated the many specific examples provided for each concept; actually seeing how someone else has applied a skill really helps me. As a retired teacher, I admire and respect Diana and Nicole for their organized, clear explanations and pacing. I’m so grateful that I had this experience.
Robert McDonald –
I have been doing serious genealogy research for the past twenty-five years. Mostly self-taught, I am aware of the areas where I needed a more formal education. For the past ten years or so, I have attended genealogical conferences, classes, and webinars, gaining quite a bit of knowledge. My strong suits are data analysis and DNA. However, I felt the two areas I needed to improve on were source citations and report writing. Thus, my goal for 2022 was to focus on getting better with these two areas.
I happened to stop by the Family Locket booth at the NGS conference in Sacramento last year and had an enjoyable conversation with Nicole. When I mentioned I had started reading the RLP book, she gave me an overview of the various classes Family Locket offers. I am a meticulous note taker, so I had good research logs to start with, and felt that a class was doable.
Because I work full-time in a demanding job, I chose the RLP eCourse as I felt I could devote enough time on a weekly basis to complete the course work within a year. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that eCourse members could band together in small groups for biweekly meetings to discuss and encourage each other’s progress. This was helpful as well, as it made us accountable to the group. I received excellent feedback from my peers when it came to the first draft of my research report.
Of course, life gets in the way at times, and it took me a little over a year to complete my research project. I believe the Research Like a Pro e-course gave me the tools to be a methodical researcher and a more focused and organized genealogist.
Through the course assignments I have mastered both creating citations and report writing, the two aspects of genealogy research that were very intimidating to me. Through their podcasts, webinars, blog posts, and office hour sessions, Diana and Nicole provided a helpful and supportive learning environment.
I found the timeline & source citation, and locality & research planning modules extremely valuable. These areas helped to frame the structure of my research report. The hardest thing to get over was worrying about the order of my research discoveries. It did not matter, as when put together in the timeline, the logical order of presentation of the evidence became obvious.
Although I did not take advantage of all aspects of contact via email, Facebook forum, and office hours, my learning style (reading and listening) was effectively satisfied. I can honestly say that my research project was thoroughly exhaustive research, as I left no stone unturned. I am extremely glad I took this course, as it made me more disciplined in making the best use of my time. What a great experience!
Catherine Duncan –
This course has been an amazing experience. It will help you no matter how much or how little experience you have because it applies to any stage of research. I’ve done a lot of family history over the past ten years, attended conferences, and made progress on challenging family lines, but I didn’t know how much I didn’t know. The RLP process makes all the difference in staying focused and getting so much more out of your research. It really does take you to a whole new level. Diana and Nicole have created an amazing environment that is encouraging while inspiring excellence. Their calm, positive demeanors have helped me regain confidence when I’ve gotten discouraged. The ecourse has the advantage of being self paced while still having access to help and feedback through the monthly office hours and Facebook group. I read the book, and it’s a great overview and resource, but the course is what has made all the difference. I can’t recommend it enough.
Stacy Ryan –
Diana and Nicole have a passion for teaching, and it shows. The Research Like a Pro eCourse is wonderful! If you’re new to genealogy, this course will provide you with a solid foundation of genealogical skills and methodologies in a step-by-step, approachable way. Take your time with the lessons, apply them as you go, and take advantage of the office hours. You’ll be amazed at what you learn! After applying the process for a while, go back through the course as a refresher. You will pick up new tips and tricks, and continue making advances in your skills. I cannot recommend this course highly enough!
Carol Hoyt –
I loved the format of the e-course! I could take my time and there was no pressure to have assignments done by a certain date. Writing up my research, analyzing and correlating the evidence helped me to reach conclusions much faster than I have in the past. I learned to break down the research into small manageable segments. I also learned the value of a research log and will definitely be using that tool more effectively in the future. Diana and Nicole are very patient and encouraging. I would highly recommend this course!
Lloya Hall –
I am just finishing up the first RLP e-course. I have renewed and am planning on going through it again with a new research question. There is so much of value in this course that I want to deepen my exposure to the concepts, skills and information. I am also enrolled in the RLP w/ DNA e-course. I am a self-taught genealogist and DNA researcher of about 20 years. I have good innate research instincts but I have known that I needed more guidance and a more systematic and professional approach to my research. I needed help with organization and documentation and guidance on writing reports and presenting my research in a thorough and well-thought out manner. With RLP I have actually learned how to create citations and am not as fearful of them as I used to be. Going through the RLP course has been an absolute gold mine in all these areas. Diana and Nicole are so helpful and responsive to questions and needs. The combination of the course material, the newsletter, the podcast, the office hours meetings and the webinar make the RLP experience accessible to all types of learners. Plus, the value gained compared to the tuition amount is extremely cost effective and worth every cent. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to upgrade their genealogy research skills. RLP is applicable to both professionals and genealogy do-it-yourselfers. Thank you Diana and Nicole for your amazing contributions to the world of family history.
Anita Kemp –
I started using Ancestry.com in 2012 and couldn’t really go any further. I have been listening to the podcast for about 4 years. When I discovered the website and got the book, I knew that I had found high quality genealogy education. This course has been a great way to go from doing Ancestry to doing real research. I have been caring for my elderly parents, so the e-course was a way that I could go at my own pace without holding anyone else back in a class. Every form that they have done has been a big help to me. I love the Airtable research logs that they recently started teaching us to use. I have yet to dive into the world of DNA research, but I know that when I am ready, Diana and Nicole have written a book and an e-course just for me.
Jennifer Powell –
I highly recommend the RLP e-course! The e-course was perfect for me as it allowed me to work at my own pace. I could not commit to the timeframe of the RLP Study Group so I was very excited to be able to do the e-course. The office hours sessions and the Facebook group were wonderful outlets for asking questions and being in touch with others. I had purchased the RLP book well before I took the course and enjoyed it but the course was the impetus to really put what I was learning into practice. I feel like I have gone from being a “searcher” to being a “researcher” by following the RLP process and recommend this course to anyone wanting to improve their skills! I also solved a “several years old” brick wall by following the process. Win-win!
Geni Freedman –
RLP gave me a great foundation for keeping my research focused and on track to reaching my goals. I became much stronger in writing source citations. The e-course was really good for me as I could work on the course at my own pace.