Open Forum

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

This is a great idea to help volunteers over the "learning hump" in getting onto database entry in Past Perfect, or similar programs.  The company inspired training sessions are invaluable, but even these can be a little daunting for seniors who are unsure of themselves when faced with a computer.  Their online classes would make a great basis for such a guide, and I believe the company may have done some of the work already in their training materials.  A very simple user guide, such as you describe could be quite useful, though frequent repetition will always make process come alive for volunteers.  Please keep us posted.  I would be glad to participate.


------------------------------
Colin Windhorst PhD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

Jakob,

If you email me at equinnva@ci.lacey.wa.us, I'd be glad to share with you the training tools I've developed for PastPerfect for just this issue. 

Erin

------------------------------
Erin Quinn Valcho
Museum Curator
Lacey Museum
Lacey WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2017 07:35 AM
From: Colin Windhorst
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

This is a great idea to help volunteers over the "learning hump" in getting onto database entry in Past Perfect, or similar programs.  The company inspired training sessions are invaluable, but even these can be a little daunting for seniors who are unsure of themselves when faced with a computer.  Their online classes would make a great basis for such a guide, and I believe the company may have done some of the work already in their training materials.  A very simple user guide, such as you describe could be quite useful, though frequent repetition will always make process come alive for volunteers.  Please keep us posted.  I would be glad to participate.


------------------------------
Colin Windhorst PhD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

Hello Jakob,

I've attached an example here that is much like you are describing. The whole thing (from working out the steps to taking the screen shots to writing and testing/editing) took about 2 days. The first half are directions on using our scanner and software but the second half (starting page 6) is about working with Past Perfect. I find it is still necessary to walk volunteers through the process a couple of times but I think they feel more comfortable knowing the guide is there, even if they don't end up needing to refer to it much once you have shown them the steps. Hope this helps. Good luck!

------------------------------
Michelle Nash
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Bristol IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

For those who might be interested there is a Past Perfect Users Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group.    If you share your question there, there are over 100 PP users who might be able to help.

------------------------------
Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2017 09:05 AM
From: Michelle Nash
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Jakob,

I've attached an example here that is much like you are describing. The whole thing (from working out the steps to taking the screen shots to writing and testing/editing) took about 2 days. The first half are directions on using our scanner and software but the second half (starting page 6) is about working with Past Perfect. I find it is still necessary to walk volunteers through the process a couple of times but I think they feel more comfortable knowing the guide is there, even if they don't end up needing to refer to it much once you have shown them the steps. Hope this helps. Good luck!

------------------------------
Michelle Nash
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Bristol IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

I can't find the google group for PastPerfect mentioned in the previous post. Is there an updated link? I've been searching for a PastPerfect users group as we just acquired the program and I'd like to shorten the learning curve. I'm working my way through the manual and it's pretty involved. I'll be training some senior volunteers at some point--- no way I can do all the cataloging myself. :) 
Thanks.

------------------------------
Rick McGill
Vice President
Granite County Museum & Cultural Center
Philipsburg MT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2017 05:18 PM
From: Janice Klein
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

For those who might be interested there is a Past Perfect Users Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group.    If you share your question there, there are over 100 PP users who might be able to help.

------------------------------
Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2017 09:05 AM
From: Michelle Nash
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Jakob,

I've attached an example here that is much like you are describing. The whole thing (from working out the steps to taking the screen shots to writing and testing/editing) took about 2 days. The first half are directions on using our scanner and software but the second half (starting page 6) is about working with Past Perfect. I find it is still necessary to walk volunteers through the process a couple of times but I think they feel more comfortable knowing the guide is there, even if they don't end up needing to refer to it much once you have shown them the steps. Hope this helps. Good luck!

------------------------------
Michelle Nash
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Bristol IN

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

I believe this group is active.

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group


------------------------------
Craig Niemi
Executive Director
Cincinnati OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-29-2017 01:10 PM
From: Rick McGill
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

I can't find the google group for PastPerfect mentioned in the previous post. Is there an updated link? I've been searching for a PastPerfect users group as we just acquired the program and I'd like to shorten the learning curve. I'm working my way through the manual and it's pretty involved. I'll be training some senior volunteers at some point--- no way I can do all the cataloging myself. :)
Thanks.

------------------------------
Rick McGill
Vice President
Granite County Museum & Cultural Center
Philipsburg MT

Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2017 05:18 PM
From: Janice Klein
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

For those who might be interested there is a Past Perfect Users Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group.    If you share your question there, there are over 100 PP users who might be able to help.

------------------------------
Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2017 09:05 AM
From: Michelle Nash
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Jakob,

I've attached an example here that is much like you are describing. The whole thing (from working out the steps to taking the screen shots to writing and testing/editing) took about 2 days. The first half are directions on using our scanner and software but the second half (starting page 6) is about working with Past Perfect. I find it is still necessary to walk volunteers through the process a couple of times but I think they feel more comfortable knowing the guide is there, even if they don't end up needing to refer to it much once you have shown them the steps. Hope this helps. Good luck!

------------------------------
Michelle Nash
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Bristol IN

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------

Yes it is.  I just joined it today. Thanks. Between there and here I'm sponging up all I can about PP5.... :)

------------------------------
Rick McGill
Vice President
Granite County Museum & Cultural Center
Philipsburg MT
rmcgill@blackfoot.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-01-2018 10:02 AM
From: Craig Niemi
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

I believe this group is active.

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group


------------------------------
Craig Niemi
Executive Director
Cincinnati OH

Original Message:
Sent: 12-29-2017 01:10 PM
From: Rick McGill
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

I can't find the google group for PastPerfect mentioned in the previous post. Is there an updated link? I've been searching for a PastPerfect users group as we just acquired the program and I'd like to shorten the learning curve. I'm working my way through the manual and it's pretty involved. I'll be training some senior volunteers at some point--- no way I can do all the cataloging myself. :)
Thanks.

------------------------------
Rick McGill
Vice President
Granite County Museum & Cultural Center
Philipsburg MT

Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2017 05:18 PM
From: Janice Klein
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

For those who might be interested there is a Past Perfect Users Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/past-perfect-users-google-group.    If you share your question there, there are over 100 PP users who might be able to help.

------------------------------
Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2017 09:05 AM
From: Michelle Nash
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Jakob,

I've attached an example here that is much like you are describing. The whole thing (from working out the steps to taking the screen shots to writing and testing/editing) took about 2 days. The first half are directions on using our scanner and software but the second half (starting page 6) is about working with Past Perfect. I find it is still necessary to walk volunteers through the process a couple of times but I think they feel more comfortable knowing the guide is there, even if they don't end up needing to refer to it much once you have shown them the steps. Hope this helps. Good luck!

------------------------------
Michelle Nash
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Bristol IN

Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2017 01:02 PM
From: Jakob Etrheim
Subject: Volunteer Training Book for Cataloging

Hello Friends,

I have been asked to create a little booklet or step-by-step sheet on how to accession and catalog artifacts, particularly into PastPerfect. I have been told to "dumb it down" because most of the people are seniors with very little computer experience. I plan to take a lot of screen shots of PastPerfect and put arrows where to go. I guess does anyone have any advice or any examples?

------------------------------
Jakob Etrheim
Collections Assistant
Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Willmar MN
------------------------------