Beyond the Webinar: Fresh Ways to Grow Your Genealogy Skills in 2026
By Kelley Barrett, Vegas Ancestor Hunter
As another year approaches, many genealogists automatically begin looking for the next course, webinar, or institute to add to their calendar. While formal education absolutely has its place, some of the most powerful learning experiences happen outside a traditional classroom. During my Lunch & Learn presentation on December 19, 2025, I shared the “ABC’s of Learning”—a framework I use to think more broadly and intentionally about how we continue growing as genealogists.
My hope is that this article encourages you to explore new, engaging, and sometimes unexpected ways to learn genealogy in the coming year.
Learn by Active Listening
Learning begins with how we listen and engage with information—whether at a society meeting, conference session, lecture, podcast, or discussion group.
Ways to strengthen active listening:
Eliminate distractions and interruptions
Avoid making snap judgments about unfamiliar topics
Take notes, highlight key ideas, diagram processes, or create mind maps
Ask questions when something isn’t clear
Review notes, syllabi, handouts, and recommended readings
Try this: Revisit a recorded talk you’ve already watched and focus on applying just one concept you missed the first time.
Learn by Branching Out to Other Disciplines
Genealogy does not exist in a vacuum. Our research is deeply connected to history, geography, archaeology, sociology, and many other fields.
Ideas for branching out:
Identify relevant national, state, or local groups and societies
Explore historical reenactment or living history organizations
Participate in their meetings or educational programs
Read articles, blogs, and books outside traditional genealogy topics
Understanding the broader historical and cultural context of our ancestors often leads to new insights and better research questions.
Learn by Collaborating
Collaboration allows us to learn from one another and move forward together.
Ways to collaborate:
Join or create a study, discussion, or “work” group
Work together to achieve shared learning goals or complete joint projects
Leverage one another’s knowledge, skills, and resources
Even informal partnerships—such as a monthly research check-in with a friend—can make a big difference.
Learn by Doing
Hands-on work is one of the most effective ways to learn.
Opportunities to learn by doing:
Locate records for others at local archives, libraries, or repositories
Become an online transcriber or digital volunteer (often called a “Citizen Archivist”)
Library of Congress
National Archives
Smithsonian
Newberry Library
Join ongoing projects such as Zooniverse or map georectification using Google Earth Pro
Create your own focused research project (for example, reconstructing the life of an ancestor or mapping a local cemetery
When we apply what we’ve learned, gaps in our understanding quickly become clear—and that’s a good thing.
Learn by Exploring
Exploration helps us connect records to real places and people.
Ways to explore:
Visit a local or regional archive, library, or museum
Join a heritage tour or research trip
American Ancestors: Boston (May 2026) or London (December 2026)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises with Ancestry ProGenealogists
Build your own locality guide covering history, geography, records, and repositories
Even a short visit to a nearby archive can deepen your understanding of local record sets and research strategies.
Learn by Participating
Learning increases when we actively participate rather than passively observe.
Participation ideas:
Attend genealogy meetings and conferences with intention
Ask questions, join discussions, and volunteer when opportunities arise
Join and actively contribute to Facebook groups
There truly is a Facebook group for nearly every genealogy interest, including:
Family Bibles – Genealogy
Family Treasures Found
Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques
Ireland: Genealogy & Heritage
Organise Your Genealogy
The Genealogy Squad
If you can’t find a group that fits your needs, consider starting one.
Learn by Practicing
Skills improve—and remain sharp—through regular use.
Ways to practice:
Schedule consistent, intentional research time
Enlist a small group of peers for regular practice sessions (in person or virtual)
Seek out online tutorials, Facebook challenges, and volunteer transcription
projects
Practice doesn’t have to be complicated; consistency matters more than duration.
Learn by Reading
Reading remains one of the most accessible and flexible ways to learn.
Reading strategies:
Review book awards, blogs, and reading lists for recommendations
Visit the websites of favorite genealogy authors and join their mailing lists
Prepare a personal reading list for the year ahead
Join a reading or study group (such as NGSQ)
Participate in—or start—an online genealogy book club
Learn by Self-Study
Self-study allows you to dive deeply into specific topics at your own pace.
Structured self-study resources include:
Genetic Genealogy in Practice by Blaine T. Bettinger and Debbie Parker Wayne
Mastering Genealogical Documentation by Thomas W. Jones
The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook by Thomas MacEntee
Choose one resource and commit to working through it steadily.
Learn by Teaching
Teaching is one of the most effective ways to solidify what we know.
Teaching opportunities:
Prepare and deliver a presentation for a local genealogical or historical society
Research and write an educational article for a genealogy newsletter
Start your own blog or genealogy webpage
You don’t need to be an “expert”—just a step ahead of someone else.
Learn by Volunteering
Volunteering benefits both the genealogy community and your own learning.
Volunteer opportunities:
Get involved with a local, regional, or national organization
Become a Find a Grave® contributor
Volunteer for an institute, society, or conference
Learn by Writing
Writing encourages careful thinking and better documentation.
Ways to learn through writing:
Create and share biographical sketches of your ancestors
Maintain a research journal or blog
Write original articles for genealogy newsletters, magazines, or journals
Final Thoughts
As you look ahead to 2026, I encourage you to think beyond the next webinar. Choose one or two new ways to learn—by doing, exploring, collaborating, or teaching—and see how they transform your research. Genealogy learning is not a one-size-fits-all journey, and sometimes the most valuable lessons come from simply trying something new.