Genealogy Forum UK

I have finally produced my first video. , you can hear me but not see me though!
you are privilledged to get first veiwing of this as I have a few more things to sort before unleashing it officially on the Sussex OPC Facebook page.

This is not a specific Family History video unfortunately. HOwever it is for the Sussex Online Parish Clerks http://www.sussex-opc.org.
I am a volunteer helping to transcribe the 1841 Census, but have a long long way to Go.

I was corresponding with the person who runs this about number of volunteers. He told me many people who were used to looking at census forms etc, think its a good idea to help, but then grind to a halt with the obstacle of spreadsheet software and data entry and nothing then progresses.

Therefore I am producing a series of videos convince people that spreadsheets are not that scary and how simple it is to really enter the data and what notation and formats are required to enter the data for the project.

Will this be useful for this forum? I guess thats up to the powers that be decided where it should live!

UPDATED VIDEO : 08/10/13
Audio edit and added annotations menu for jumping to different sections.
This video is in full 1080HD

Maybe I should use this as a cure for insomnia instead.

AndrewA wrote:Maybe I should use this as a cure for insomnia instead.

right going to be honest!

come on you lot look at it!!

I had a look .............for awhile but ................I had to do other things.
However..........

-you have a good voice
- I couldnt hear very well........but that might be me
- I liked the way you explained bits .............most of it I knew cos i am dead clever!

- but what is the reason for this are folk being asked to use a computer prog to input
in which case I think there is too much for them to take in.

Do you give an eg later on?

Cant you say ok we need to get to this so we need you to do this and the way you do this is this?

Don't you tell me what to do!! As a matter of fact i had looked at it and i realized ,because i'm quite clever like you,that i already knew how to to work with spreadsheets, i'd skip to the end.
However for someone who has no previous experience of working with spreadsheets this would be very helpful.Well done Andrew.
You're probably sick of people remarking on your lovely tone of speech.Wish i could speak like that.

Rob wrote:Don't you tell me what to do!! As a matter of fact i had looked at it and i realized ,because i'm quite clever like you,that i already knew how to to work with spreadsheets, i'd skip to the end.
However for someone who has no previous experience of working with spreadsheets this would be very helpful.Well done Andrew.
You're probably sick of people remarking on your lovely tone of speech.Wish i could speak like that.

I will never ever get tired of telling you wot to do!

He has got a nice voice hasn't he Rob.

Andy..........may I call you that.............are you happy with it?
Cos if you are then sod wot others think

and Rob..............we all think your voice is lovely dont we Lulu, Antie em....

Thanks, I am open to constructive criticism, yes maybe lengthy, but in reality it is not. I understand that most of you are not the target audience. I don't expect you all to sit through the whole thing. At least its not double maths on warm Friday afternoon with sun streaming through the window. I think I will produce a more quicker version to sit along side this.

Surprised about what people think about my voice, I have always hated hearing it, its only in past year I have lost the Cringe factor when hearing myself. I was told a few weeks ago I would be ideal for telephone based customer service.

Yes seriously your voice is good!

AndrewA wrote:Thanks, I am open to constructive criticism, yes maybe lengthy, but in reality it is not. I understand that most of you are not the target audience. I don't expect you all to sit through the whole thing. At least its not double maths on warm Friday afternoon with sun streaming through the window. I think I will produce a more quicker version to sit along side this.

Surprised about what people think about my voice, I have always hated hearing it, its only in past year I have lost the Cringe factor when hearing myself. I was told a few weeks ago I would be ideal for telephone based customer service.

Loved your voice - don't we all hate hearing ourselves as others do?

I have tried but my internet is so slow I cant hear it! I shall have to wait till Im home.
Jo

snoopysue wrote:

AndrewA wrote:Thanks, I am open to constructive criticism, yes maybe lengthy, but in reality it is not. I understand that most of you are not the target audience. I don't expect you all to sit through the whole thing. At least its not double maths on warm Friday afternoon with sun streaming through the window. I think I will produce a more quicker version to sit along side this.

Surprised about what people think about my voice, I have always hated hearing it, its only in past year I have lost the Cringe factor when hearing myself. I was told a few weeks ago I would be ideal for telephone based customer service.

Loved your voice - don't we all hate hearing ourselves as others do?

No I love the sound of my own voice

and

Hi
I looked at the first 10 minutes and then bits of the rest.
I use Excel myself, and when I have to discuss it in order to get advice (usual with my son) I am reduced to saying things like "You know, that line at the top where you type stuff in", so I think it is good to get the terminology straight at the start.
Since you asked for opinions I assume that is what you want

I think it is too long. I know that it is possible to stop it and start it, but I would have liked it either to be in 3 ten minute bits, or to have clear "chapter headings" so that I would know where to take a break and make a cup of tea. Ten minutes would be good. Fifteen perhaps if you have to. That would also mean that people could skip the first section if they are already familiar with the terms.

Chapter headings would also be helpful as my memory is much better for visual prompts. So a frame saying what the next section is about would help me create a filing spot in my head

Agree with the comments on your voice - lovely to listen to. Sometimes the volume drops off at the end of the sentence. I had both volumes up about maximum so it would be good if you could turn it up a bit.

Good job though. It must have taken you ages so i hope your hard work is being appreciated.

I started watching the video and jotted down my thoughts. Had a break to make a cuppa and saw on the Sussex Online Parish Clerk web site that there are various templates to download for volunteers to work from. You also point this out towards the end of the video.

So, before I give you my thoughts on the video, my question is, do you really need to do a video to show volunteers how to work a spreadsheet?

BC Wench wrote:I started watching the video and jotted down my thoughts. Had a break to make a cuppa and saw on the Sussex Online Parish Clerk web site that there are various templates to download for volunteers to work from. You also point this out towards the end of the video.

So, before I give you my thoughts on the video, my question is, do you really need to do a video to show volunteers how to work a spreadsheet?

Yes most definitely need this kind of video, that is why I have produced this in first place. I was told that on regular basis that experienced researchers expressed an interest in helping out, but then gave up almost immediately as this new fanged technology was just too complicated.

I am also a volunteer IT helper for the local Older persons IT club. there is a definite unseen divide in this country between those people who have no idea about computers and those who can just get on and use one. Even people who know how to use the web and do basic things just give up and dont want to know, just by looking at a "complicated" application screen with hundreds of icons and items.

It is similar to flying a jumbo jet, most of us would sit in the pilots seat and be overwhelmed with the number of dials, buttons and read outs, but all we need to know to keep the plane straight is how to read a couple of dials and take over the wheel.

There are numerous on-line courses and tutorials for learning about spreadsheets, but they are a lot to take in, especially if someone struggles to just remember a few things. Therefore my video is specifically aimed at just learning a few basics to just enter data.

As for the template thing, well I am not too concerned about that, as a volunteers are informed about these when signing up.

Gardener:
Sound wise, sure I will look at the levels and boost the Db levels. I was mulling over chapter slides, but now your feedback has indicated this, I think I will, especially as it will give people more views the slide which I created!

I have said all along I will record a short version, cut out some of the more frivolous parts and become super brief, hopefully this short version will be under 5 mins, which appeals to a different audience.

Deffo the sound needs turning up ............thought it was just me!

And like the idea of Bite size bits....easier to take in.