Learning to do family history is as individual as your family background, and it’s an ongoing adventure. Although there is no “one true path” to learning, there are some great free resources to help you along your own learning path.

Free Online Classes

Not surprisingly, BYU’s Independent Study program offers free online family history classes:
http://is.byu.edu/site/courses/free.cfm

The family history classes are at the top of the list. These classes are a good place to start.

The FamilySearch Learning Center also offers classes on a wide variety of topics:
https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/home.html

The left navigation bar has links to various categories, making it easy to find a class that’s right for you.

Free In-Person Classes

Family history centers, especially larger ones, may offer free classes onsite. For example, the FamilySearch Library in Riverton, Utah, offers a monthly Saturday Seminar:
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Riverton_FamilySearch_Library/Saturday_Seminar

They also offer classes during the week:
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Riverton_FamilySearch_Library/Class_Schedule

As another example, here’s class information for the FamilySearch Library in Oakland, California:
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Oakland_California_FamilySearch_Library/Class_Schedule

You can find a family history center near you by visiting this page:
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Introduction_to_LDS_Family_History_Centers

See the section entitled, “Finding a Family History Center.” The family history center’s individual page will have more information on classes if they’re offered.

Self-Guided Learning

If you’re looking for something less formal and more flexible than a class, check out the Family History Guide. This site offers a series of projects and activities to build your family history skills:
http://www.thefhguide.com/index.html

This article from the FamilySearch blog provides more information:
https://familysearch.org/blog/en/family-history-guide/

FamilySearch Research Wiki

Finally, you’ll want to bookmark the FamilySearch Research Wiki as a go-to reference:

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Main_Page

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is not a place to find the names of ancestors. Rather, it’s a reference of over 82,000 pages covering an amazing variety of research topics. You can learn about basic research skills; you can also learn specifics of researching in a given location, including what records are available and where to find them. In true wiki fashion, you can also contribute information.

Take advantage of these great free resources to help you improve your family history knowledge. And be sure to tell a friend!