Web indexing group discussion boards

LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: I would like to suggest adding a discussion board to each web indexing group to allow online interaction between participants. This could help to spur on more indexing, and help users to help members in their ward.

LegacyUser

Brett said: Mark

Such a "Discussion Board" ALREADY exists in "FamilySearch"; and, is extremely active.

It can be found with the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, in one particular 'Group'.

Indexing Chat (which is a 'Public' group)

Become a member of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
https://ident.familysearch.org/cis-we...=



Then, join the 'Group' of "Indexing Chat".
https://community.familysearch.org/s/...



Enjoy, you should be pleasantly surprised.

I hope this helps.

Brett

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LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: Thanks. Although a single indexing forum for everyone is awesome to know about, and definitely fills a need, it's not what I'm suggesting. I'm suggesting a unique forum attached to and accessible from each indexing group, private to each indexing group, allowing interaction between ward members for a ward group, stake members for a stake group, or whatever members for a custom group. So, each group's forum would be on a much smaller scale than the big indexing chat, and be likely to include people you know from church, etc. So, there would be as many forums as there were groups, and you could post in them from the group.

LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: It would be kind of an automatic thing. Are you familiar with web indexing groups? there's one for each ward, one for each stake, and there are others that people just make. They list the group members, and how much they've collectively indexed, mentioning which batches they've collectively indexed from. they may also include some projects that the group is suppised to be working on.

LegacyUser

Brett said: Mark

Each Ward/Stake/District (whatever) CAN, if they so desire, setup up its OWN, "Private" 'Group', for "indexing", in the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

There is NOTHING stopping them; but, is up to each Ward/Stake/District to do so on its OWN accord.

'No', it would NOT be "Automatic".

The REASON that it would NOT be "Automatic" is that Members of that "Indexing" 'Group' would NEED to be 'Admins' for that 'Group'; and, I am sorry to say that you may not get any takers from the Wards/Stakes/Districts, to take on the 'Admin' role for such "Private" 'Group(s)', for "indexing", in the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.

'Yes', I am familiar with (the) "Indexing" (Groups) in the Wards/Stakes/Districts of the Church.

And, there is ALREADY a "Message"/"Messaging" medium/facility for/within the "Indexing" Groups, in "FamilySearch", in the Wards/Stakes/Districts - admittedly, 'No' it is NOT a Forum in the sense of these Forums [ie. the "FamilySearch' ("Get Satisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum; and/or, the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum].

I understand the premise behind you post; but, I cannot see/envisage having such "Private" 'Group' Forums as, "Automatic", almost "Mandatory"/"Compulsory", for ALL (the) "Indexing" (Groups) in the Wards/Stakes/Districts of the Church.

Although, that said, there are MORE, both, Public and Private, "Indexing" 'Groups' in the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, than the one I proffered, which (I think was the FIRST and MAIN one) - there are a number; so, some Wards/Stakes/Districts have taken on the "Challenge" to maintain such "Indexing" Forums.

Whereas, having them as "Automatic", almost "Mandatory"/"Compulsory" - 'Nah'.

I hope this helps.

Brett

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LegacyUser

Juli said: Mark, you're coming at this from what you know, but what you know is only a miniscule part of the whole. In my part of the indexing world, there are no indexing groups. None, nada, zilch, zippo. I don't know which of our experiences is closer to the "norm", but I would guess that mine is much more representative of non-English indexing.

LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: I made a suggestion. Take it or leave it. Don't try to change it. And please don't shout.

LegacyUser

Christine said: I think that would be helpful. In the event it isn't implemented by Family search I wonder if it might work to create your own Facebook group. There is a general Facebook group for indexing help called Share Batch Indexing. We share batches to get help with instructions, questions, and even handwriting deciphering.

LegacyUser

Brett said: Christine

I would suggest that that Users/Patrons 'steer clear' of using "FaceBook" in such a manner.

If a 'Group' is created in the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, at least, it is within "FamilySearch" itself.

Due to "Changes" in "FaceBook", "FamilySearch" NO LONGER uses that medium to transmit information.

If such 'Groups' are already in operations in "FaceBook", just for "Privacy" concerns - alone, I would TRANSFER such 'Groups' to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, much more secure and "Private" than "FaceBook".

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Brett

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LegacyUser

Brett said: Mark

Your suggested enhancement will be, taken; or, left.

I just though you many not have been aware of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, and, the 'Groups' for "Indexing" with that Forum that, in essence, are just "Discussion Boards" (ie. "Questions"; and, "Answers"), which are very active.

Plus some thoughts as to why it would be unlikely to make such 'Groups' for "Indexing"; as, "Automatic", almost "Mandatory"/"Compulsory".

That is all.

Brett

ps: As you suggest, take it or leave it.

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LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: Brett, thanks.

LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: We're not FS Staff. This is a community forum designed for discussion.

LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: What about non-Latter Day Saint indexers? Most of the indexing groups (I'm not talking about the global Indexing Chat) appear to be based around the ward and stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Are there groups we can join, or are we able to join the group of the geographically closest LDS congregration?

LegacyUser

Brett said: A van Helsdingen

That is a good question.

I have not heard of any "Indexing" 'Groups' (NOT related to, 'Forums'; and/or, 'Discussion Boards') that are not Church based units (ie. Wards/Stakes/Districts).

But, just because I have not heard of any, does not mean that there is not.

Whereas, I do believe that it is possible for of non-member "Indexer" to part of the "Indexing" 'Group' of a Church based unit (ie. Wards/Stakes/Districts), if they so desire - I do not think that there are any "Restrictions" to such.

Really, just like non-members being "Staff Members" at "Family History Centres" of the Church; and/or, non-members attending/visiting "Family History Centres" of the Church as Patrons.

Brett

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LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: A van Helsdingen,

I don't suppose you have to be a member of the Church to join any of the existing web indexing groups. I mean, it let me join a group for a stake in another country, instead of only my own stake's. The person running the group just has to approve you. Anyone can create a custom group, too, and invite whoever they want. I have my own group that I mostly just use to keep track of what projects I'm doing and to get more readily available statistics than I get without it, but I could add anyone to it if they wanted to join. these groups don't offer any way to interact with members of the groups. They just give statistics on what group members have collectively indexed, and they offer group members easy access to assigned projects. They're nice for goals and stuff. Groups might be able to set goals, but I don't recall. I was suggesting my idea to add more of a community feel to groups, and make them more useful.

The groups only exist on the web indexing platform (not on the old, downloadable program). They're not separable from the web indexing system. They're a key part of it. When you go to index, you see the groups you belong to. This group feature already exists (my idea was only to allow discussion between members, which is visible to all members of the specific group).

In retrospect, I do see some more issues with my idea, though, such as with regard to privacy. I mean, if anyone can join a ward group, people might not realize that, and they may reveal sensitive data that all group members can see. So, there would need to be some strong vetting from group admins, and there's not a lot of information to help them verify whether someone should or should not be in their group.

LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: I think admins might be able to message members, however.

LegacyUser

Mark Hamilton Dewey said: The people in charge of ward indexing groups seem to be those with indexing and/or family history callings.

LegacyUser

Brett said: Mark

There certainly is provision in "Indexing" in "FamilySearch" to "Send" (and, "Receive") 'Messages' to members of the "Indexing" 'Groups' within "User Messaging" in FamilySearch".



And, 'Yes', you are correct, the 'Admins' of the "Indexing" 'Groups', in "Indexing" in "FamilySearch", are usually those Members of the Church with 'Callings' of "Temple and Family History" Work, in the Wards/Branches/Stakes/Districts.

Brett

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LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: I've requested to join the group of the closest ward to my house. Thanks for informing that anyone can create a group.

LegacyUser

Brett said: A van Helsdingen

FYI

Anyone who would like to collaborate with others while "Indexing" can join 'Groups' to track progress together, share accomplishments, and support each other.

Joining 'Groups' is optional. You can "Index" without belonging to any
Groups'.

Also, I think that the reference to 'Groups' is groups already setup/created for/within the Wards/Branches/Stakes/Districts of the Church.

Here is a "Knowledge Article" in "FamilySearch":

How do I join an indexing group?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/sal...

and, the corresponding article ...

How do I leave an indexing group?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/sal...

And, Members of the Church who do "Indexing" are AUTOMATICALLY added to the "Indexing" Group(s) for their respective, Ward/Branch, and, Stake/District.

Brett

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LegacyUser

Francie Whitfield said: Excellent point, Brett!! I keep trying to minimize my FB reliance to communicate unnecessarily with, too. FB can be a great tool for outreach and "gathering the fold" to introduce them to church sites, join us here, and hopefully stay and keep active.