How I Use Learnist: a New Way to Research

Dave Stancliff

Learnist is a community of people sharing what they know and learning from each other. This “How I Use Learnist” blog series spotlights various ways people use Learnist in their lives to share their expert knowledge on various topics. As an expert on journalism, politics, and news Dave Stancliff finds that Learnist offers him new ways to research. Dave also offers his favorite boards on Learnist!

Recently a friend asked me why I used Learnist so much. I told him that because I’m a freelance writer I’m always researching subjects and I‘ve found that Learnist offers something no one else does: a new way of researching subjects.

For example, if I’m writing a fiction short story and I needed to know what would happen in a plane crash, I’d look under the category “Technology.” Then I’d pull up the board, Anatomy of a Plane Crash and read the 17 story links provided. Afterwards, I would be able to write a more believable scene for my story.

Although I use Learnist as a writing resource, I’ve found other good reasons to use it too. I have a blog, “As It Stands,” and embed Learnist boards on it for my readers. I’ve found that these boards have helped increase the traffic to my blog. It’s given my blog another dimension to attract viewers, which I like.

Talk about easy reading. Sometimes I like to pull up a category like health and fitness. I recommend you check out the board titled, Why You Should be Drinking Lemon Water.” I think you’ll be surprised at how much you learn.

Just for fun, I like going to the Travel & Places category because it not only offers great vacation deals, but the boards range from interesting topics like How to Pack a Suitcase Like a Flight Attendant to Bali — The Ultimate Guide to the “Island of the Gods”.

When it comes to Sports I enjoy following Learnist Expert Contributor, Laurence Scott, Sports Journalist, host of San Francisco Clubhouse on NBC Bay Area and reporter for the Golden State Warriors. I particularly like his board Tony Parker’s Euro Influence.

I like to call Leanrist a “relaxed resource.” I come away knowing things about subjects that I never would have learned if I would have Googled a single subject, or went to Pinterest, or even referred to Wikipedia.