Nordic Project - Nordic Trail Guide Instructions
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Introduction to Guiding an Explorer
As a Trail Guide for the Nordic Project's Nordic Trail, you will be working closely with your assigned Explorers. Your "job" is to help them improve their skills, knowledge and understanding of the Nordic Project, research in their country of choice, and WikiTree as a whole.
Our Explorers will most likely be a mix of new members to WikiTree, new members to the Nordic Project, and experienced members. They will each need to complete a minimum of three profiles in the Step One part of the Nordic Trail.
Process for Guiding an Explorer through Step 1
You'll receive an email from the Nordic Trail Project Coordinator asking you to take on a new Explorer. If the timing is bad you can decline, this is the procedure when you accept.
The explorer should work on a currently orphaned profile that fits the time span 1800-1899. You will choose which profile the Explorer will work on, within these restrictions;
- It is an orphan, as in "it does not have a profile manager".
- ALL dates must be within the relevant range (1800-1899).
- ALL locations for birth, marriage, and death must be in the country chosen by the Explorer.
- There are family links (at least one parent and/or spouse; children are a bonus).
- There is currently not more than one source on the profile.
You might also want to do a quick check that there are at least some available sources to find (it would be unfortunate to choose a profile in a parish where the church books have burned for example).
Please choose a profile for Explorer to work on from one of these lists:
- Danish Orphan Profiles (1800-1899)
- Finnish Orphan Profiles (1800-1899)
- Icelandic Orphan Profiles (1800-1899)
- Norwegian Orphan Profiles (1800-1899)
- Swedish Orphan Profiles (1800-1899)
Once chosen a profile, you will prepare it for the Explorer by adopting it, then adding the Nordic Trail image to the top of the profile and saving. You add the image by adding the following code;
{{
|Image
|file=Nordic_Project_Images.jpg
|align=l
|size=m
|caption=Nordic Trail Explorer Image
}}
Should the orphaned profile have anyone on the trusted list, please also add a brief message explaining what is happening with the profile (check the Privacy Tab to see if anyone is on the trusted list).
You should make a note on Nordic Trail - Orphaned Profiles 1800-1899 that the profile has been adopted by you on behalf of the trail, include the date of adoption, the WikiTree ID of the profile and the WT ID and name of the Explorer.
When this is done, it is time to contact the Explorer and present yourself and also to include a link to the profile he/she should be working on (Explorer should only be sent one profile to edit at a time). You can see the email templates for this a bit further down, use the First Contact Template and be sure to CC the Nordic Trail Coordinator to let them know you have started.
Hopefully, you will now have started an ongoing mail (or discord) conversation with the Explorer. If not, you should send them a reminder on the 6th day from your first email, see First Contact Reminder Template and also post the same as a comment on their profile.
If you still do not hear from them in a day or two, you need to contact the Nordic Trail Coordinator and say the Explorer never got started on the trail.
Going back to assuming and hoping your initial contact was a good one, you should now be on the way to guide your explorer. Depending on their current knowledge of WikiTree and Nordic genealogy research it can be more or less intensive.
Once the Explorer feel they are done with the first profile, they should report to you so you can check it out and compare to the checklist. Then your work is to give feedback on the content and prepare a new profile for Explorer to work on until 3 profiles in total has been worked on. See Email template Profile Feedback - Next Profile Template
When three profiles has been completed and you feel the Explorer has learned what is included in Step 1 of the country of choice it is time to send their Graduation Mail, see Step 1 Graduation Template.
What will be covered in Step 1
- Data Fields: How to correctly fill in the profile's data fields.
- Nordic Names and Spelling: Nordic Name customs, person names and place names, using Nordic "special letters"
- Adding categories to profiles and finding categories to use.
- Formatting: The use of headings and lists to make the profile easier to read. Adding templates and stickers.
- Biography writing: Adding structure to biography section, adding links to other profiles
- Finding Sources: What sources are available for each country and where to find them.
- Adding Sources: How to add a source so others can locate it and using inline citations
- Critical analysis: Have I found a fact about the correct person?
What the Explorer should be doing
This is what is listed on the Explorer Instruction page that they should be working on once they have received the profile ID from you;
- With the help of the tools and resources presented for Step 1 of the specific country choosen (links below), what we now want you to do on the profile is;
- Make sure the names are added according to the customs of the country you work in. Also correct spelling for person and place names, using Nordic "special letters"
- Checking that all the data fields for name, location, and date have the correct format and spelling and that the radio buttons are used.
- Using headings and lists to make the profile easier to read.
- Using a "Research Notes" section if there is anything you have not been able to find or where aspects of the biography need further research.
- Optional: using templates and/or stickers
- Locate original sources for birth, marriage, and death and add them to the profile.
- Adding any original sources for household examination/visitation records (and/or censuses) that you can locate. We encourage you to include as much of the person's life in their biography as you can find in primary, original sources. At a minimum, your finished profile must have enough information to make sure it is the same person as in birth, marriage and death records. (Household examination/visitation is the custom where the clergy visited homes in his parish. The clergy noted each person living in a household at a specific place, and usually included the years/dates each person was born.).
- Adding secondary sources, evaluating their reliability and when they can be useful.
- Sources should be added in such a way that others might easily find them, preferably both including a valid source citation as well as a link to original source image. Making inline citations that connect a source to a specific event/part of biography.
- Adding at least location categories to the profile
The Guide's “Extra checklist”
Besides checking the points above, this is a more in-depth list of what you as Guide might want to check:
Checklist - Part1
- Data Section
- Is the data correct? Birth date and place should be the same in the data fields and in the biography. Parents should match sources. Marriage date and place should be the same in the data fields and in the biography. Death date and place should be the same in the data fields and in the biography. Are they marked as: before, after, estimate or exact?
- If no children, check this box: If there are no more known children, is the box checked?
- Certainty and confidence: Are the appropriate buttons selected?
- Biography Section
- Is there a good biography? Are the sentences clear and concise? Are the facts confirmed by sources? Does the biography agree with the sources? If a marriage is mentioned, is it also in the Data section with the spouse attached?
- Children List
- Is there a list of known children? Is it sourced by at least one primary or secondary source? Are the children attached to the profile the same as the ones on the list? Do the facts agree?
- Sources
- Are the sources considered reliable for Nordic Profiles?
- Has secondary sources been evaluated when used?
- Final Product
- Is a Disputed Section needed?
- Is a Research Notes Section needed?
Tools and Resources, Step 1 - Both for Guides and Explorers
These are the pages listing the country specific tools and resources for Nordic Trail, Step 1 (not all countries has been set up yet).
Email Templates
First Contact Template
This is the first email you send to the Explorer once you have prepared the profile to work on. Remember to change the names in the first couple of parenthesis and to include CC or BCC to the NordicTrail Project Coordinator once sending it.
This email advises the Explorer that their place can not be held if they do not respond within 7 days. Please send them a reminder PM on the sixth day, just to say
Hi (Explorers Name),
My name is (Your Name) and I've been assigned as your Nordic Trail Guide. I realise that you may been on a waiting list for the Trail to find an available guide and if you, for any reason, are unable to proceed at this time, please let me know as soon as possible.
This is the profile you will be working on: [Add link to selected profile here]. You have up to 3 weeks in which to complete the profile, please remember to keep in contact on a weekly basis.
You'll notice the image now on the profile that indicates the profile should not be edited while it is in place. That is meant for other WT members. This profile is for you and you alone to work on.
You'll find further information on this page: Nordic Trail - Part 1
Let me know if you get stuck and I will do my best to help.
Please confirm with me that you have received this email so we are sure that we are in contact. If I don't hear from you within seven days, you might need to re-apply to take the trail at a later date.
Sincerely,
(Your Name) Nordic Trail Guide
First Contact Reminder Template
Hi (name here)
I emailed you last week regarding a place on the Nordic Trail.
Unfortunately, if you do not reply within 24 hours, we won't be able to hold your place on the Nordic Trail at this time. You would be welcome to re-apply at a later date.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
Nordic Trail Guide
Profile Feedback - Next Profile Template
Hi (Name Here),
Your profile looks great! Well done!
(Add Positive feedback)
(Add Constructive details for improvement.)
This is the profile you will be working on next: [Add link to selected profile here]. You have up to 3 weeks in which to complete the profile, please remember to keep in contact on a weekly basis.
Sincerely,
(Your name here)
Nordic Trail Guide
Last Profile Feedback - Step 1 Graduation Template
Hi (Name),
Congratulations!
You've now completed Step 1 of our Nordic Trail for Country! Well done!
This is the code for a a graduation sticker you can place on your profile (anywhere below the Biography line): {{Nordic Trail|1}}
Sincerely,
(Name)
Your Nordic Trail Guide
- Login to request to the join the Trusted List so that you can edit and add images.
- Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
- Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)
- Public Q&A: These will appear above and in the Genealogist-to-Genealogist (G2G) Forum. (Best for anything directed to the wider genealogy community.)