RootsTech 2022 - Day 1 - Pace Yourself

RootsTech is finally here. Some may have noticed that it actually started last night for those in the US. That was done so that others around the world would be able to start viewing sessions on March 3rd their time. Actually, there are several start times for RootsTech that people may not realize. The first was the soft release at 10:00pm EST March 2nd for pre-recorded sessions. The second was the Archives and Records Custodians Symposium which started at 8:00am EST this morning. At 10:00am EST the Expo Hall has their preview. The first General Session officially opening RootsTech 2022 is at 12:00pm EST.

There are so many things to do at RootsTech that you need to find a way to pace yourself. One thing to remember is that the pre-recorded sessions will be available after RootsTech is over. You can still view many of the sessions from 2021. What is the benefit of watching these sessions during RootsTech? One major benefit is that you can chat with the speaker during RootsTech. The chat will remain for a period of time after March 5th but you probably will not be able to chat with them several months from now. However, many of the speakers have provided their contact information in their presentation or handout and you can contact them that way if you have questions.

Many of the live sessions will also be recorded and available afterwards. You can tell if it is being recorded by reading the session description. Look at their schedule and see which ones fit into your time. If it is inconvenient for you to watch live you can come back and watch it later but you will miss the live real time interaction and questions.

All of the Keynote speakers were previously recorded and will be available on demand. But you may want to watch them live to experience the excitement of RootsTech.

There are some important pages at RootsTech that you should keep track of:

• Home Page - highlights various classes and live sessions - https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/home
• Calendar - includes the Main Stage, Live Session, and Product Demos - https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/calendar 
• Sessions - list of 2021 and 2022 pre-recorded classes - https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/search
• Relatives At RootsTech - list of the attendees that you are related to - https://www.familysearch.org/en/connect

My major piece of advice is to take your time, watch what you are interested in, chat with presenters and other attendees, and remember to have fun.

I will be adding posts about what I am doing and what I have learned during RootsTech so keep an eye on this spot for more to come.