GED5009 Digging into Ancestral Roots

In this general education course, students learn how science and technology can help them become amateur genealogists, tracing their family roots. They learn how scientists use DNA evidence to trace one’s origins back to the beginning of humankind’s existence, and to determine how contemporary individuals might be related to one another.  They examine microfilm technology and computer databases that are used to store and retrieve data about their ancestors, data such as birth, death and marriage records, and land transactions. Through discussion forum activities and individual research, students use both microfilm and the computer to retrieve family records. They examine the privacy issues associated with putting one’s family tree online.  Finally, using commercial technology, they construct a four-generational family tree that is supported by genealogical evidence.

Theme 5: Science and Technology

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