#FlipboardChat Summary: Curating Magazines for Research Studies

Mia Quagliarello / July 14, 2015

Every Wednesday evening, members of the Flipboard Club—an unofficial group of passionate evangelists—hold a Twitter chat about a Flipboard-centric topic. The chats are usually so informative and inspiring that we thought we’d summarize the tips, tricks and ideas discussed each week and let you know what the next topic is going to be.

Join in the chat at 7pm PT / 10pm ET via the #FlipboardChat hashtag on Twitter. If the time zone doesn’t work for you, join their Facebook group to stay in the loop. Tomorrow’s chat is called “Making a Resume or Portfolio Magazine.”

Last week, participants chatted about how how they curate magazines for research studies. Here’s what they said:

When gathering research materials, how do you typically save the information you find online?

• Nothing compares to Flipboard now when it comes to curating links and sharing them within apps or on the Web. I’m a fan.
• Used to bookmark or put in Google Doc. Now using Flipboard more and more.
• I use several programs: Evernote for files that need to be shared, Pocket to be read offline, and Flipboard to curate.
• I know you folks mention Evernote and Pocket, but Pinboard is my main saving/bookmarking tool.
• I also have a private Flipboard Mag for bookmarks. Side note: the cover is a GIF of a puppy, just cuz.
• Primarily Delicious then I click my faves. I like to export all my faves to a private magazine.
• I use a variety of tools: Flipboard (public or private mags, depending), along w/ Trove and Twitter faves saved to Evernote.
• Used to do more social bookmarking, but have moved to saving links in a Flipboard Mag. Visually appealing way to share.
• I typically use Pocket to save important articles, or the good old fashioned “leave the tab open” approach.
• Before Flipboard, I bookmarked in browser or used copy paste with resource notes. Those were the not so good ol’ days.
• I save in a private mag on Flipboard. I also use Instapaper and Evernote.
• I use Pocket a lot. Also, Evernote. If it’s a short-term project, I’ll bookmark it on my browser.

What are the benefits of using Flipboard when researching information online?

• I turn to Flipboard for research as it is a curation tool. Others have done heavy lifting and I can grab a great resource.
• Many things: blogs, news sources, photos, social media, more.
• A variety of talented curators and sources that’s growing every day.
• The collaboration that Flipboard allows. It’s also excellent to use in classrooms.
• Trustworthy sources, powerful search tool, good collaboration possibilities—all of which makes Flipboard great for this.
• It is much easier to find multimedia on a topic, along with text (compared to a Google search).
• Benefits for me are the collaboration piece coupled with the social media sharing capabilities.
• Flipboard helps you organize your content and your thoughts.
• It can be “ground zero” for incoming information from social, sources you care about, topics, etc.
• If you find magazines around the topic you’re researching, they are articles/info that a person “approves” of.
• Researching with Flipboard makes it easy to organize materials and automatically saves the source, which is invaluable.
• You can easily curate into series of magazines on mobile and computer.

When searching on Flipboard, where do you begin: topics, profiles, magazines or social networks?

• It depends on the area. A well-curated magazine is a quick way to get info, but less common ideas need another approach.
• I hit the search icon and go from there, usually to a magazine, then topic.
• Magazines, then topics on the top. Profiles and social are next, in that order.
• It depends on what content you are looking for, but typically topics. I like the “Stories that Match…” links on mobile.
• When I search on Flipboard, I use the topic search tool and auto selection feature that suggest magazines I should follow.
• I start with Cover Stories and skim through. Then I go to my saved searches.
• All of the mentioned. I use every bit of Flipboard’s content and search tools.
• Mostly social networks. I guess it depends on how quickly the topic pops up? I don’t have a great reason for my logic 🙂
• I usually start with topics. You get a plethora of information. Sometimes, you don’t have time to flip through mags.
• I usually go straight to the search and look for magazines first, then social media and whatever else comes up.

How do you identify credible and quality sources on Flipboard while researching?

• For research, I generally know if story is picked up (RT) by credible source. Quality is more subjective.
• Is the source a Flipboard partner? Then I know they have been vetted for credibility and are often well known.
• Like anything else, I look at the source on and off Flipboard. Does the person have credentials that make sense? And if it’s a publication/website, I visit it—is it legit? What’s its pedigree; is it a blog and is it sourced well?
• Read the comments on the article. Readers are smart. If something is hinky, chances are someone has said something.
• All flips are NOT equal. If you flip an article and it doesn’t have source info or bad images, keep looking and flip again!
• Mostly rely on recommendations from Flipboard. Always thankful they share/highlight.
• Sources are credible if they come from a recognizable name with a good reputation. Also, if you can find a 2nd, 3rd source reporting the same news (not from the same source), it’s probably legit.
• I look at the source and I skim the article. I also look at the website style; if it looks hinky, I don’t flip or trust.
• Sometimes, I research an article further by going to the original source, especially if i need better images.

What are your best tips for organizing or categorizing research material using Flipboard Magazines?

• Lately I have been creating a storyboard/flowchart, nothing fancy. I layout out my plan, then I begin flipping.
• Save searches and topics; group things together.
• I try to get at least one mag per topic, except for special event themes like E3.
• Private mag scores again! Often I am researching to see if there is enough content for a public mag.
• Depends what you are researching. I usually put things in Pocket, review, then flip into a private magazine, then edit.
• You could even create a separate profile (account) for it if the project is really robust and you are following a lot of sources.
• Organizing is hard if you have hundreds of articles in a mag. Sometimes I split a mag into two or more.
• Use a different private magazine for each subject, or portion of your project. Flip each section into one metazine.
• When I save searches and topics, I then edit everything I’m following so I then have the right things grouped together.
• One mag per project/theme!

How would you advise students wanting to use Flipboard Magazines for group research study?

• One student can be the editor, one writer, one takes photos, and the curator can arrange the content online in the editor.
• Have a plan, a rough outline, before flipping or else you will end up with a disorganized mag and unable to find anything.
• Have each student tackle a different aspect of the project and flip into a private mag shared with the others. Some articles/content might work in multiple mags, then you know you have a great source.
• I would have students curate by sharing magazines through Flipboard and collaborate on content as rough draft and make a final.
• It’s a perfect tool for group collaboration! Everybody can flip and then you can discuss and decide what stays.
• Team magazines. Divide the duties per student, each sticks to his topic to avoid mayhem.
• Loved an idea I heard last week of flipping individual mags into one larger one.
• Comment and use the Compose feature to add your two cents and feedback to your classmates’ work.
• Initial brainstorming as a group before they start to maximize coverage of resources with minimal duplication.
• Don’t settle with one private magazine! If your project is comprehensive, each person’s contribution can be one mag.
• Teacher should set guidelines for what goes in the mag. Keep everyone on point.

What types of research studies do you think could benefit most from using Flipboard Magazines?

• Love it for history, business, world affairs and ‘Yeah Geoscience Mr.White’ http://flip.it/N6tpJ
• All forms of research can be curated but the bonus is Flipboard makes it look good. Quantitative and qualitative data!
• It’s great for medical research, water conservancy, vegan cheese (yep) and so much more.
• I think that history and science subjects would probably benefit hugely from using Flipboard Magazines.
• Is it wrong that I want to say every research study? Anything that involves sifting through a lot of info.
• If I understand the question correctly, anything—I use it for everything. I am researching a few things at the moment.
• Reporting/journalism studies; case studies for business school or classes; researching specific people…
• History, science, politics, government, art, science/space exploration, it just goes on…
• Medical of fact versus fiction with real-life cases that commensurate with it.

What do you do with your Flipboard Magazines once your research is concluded?

• My research is never concluded. Why I love Flipboard.
• If it were for a project, I might make it private. If it’s something I really enjoyed, I’d keep curating.
• Flipboard is a great tool that can become your blog site especially if it’s combined with Adobe Slate or Storehouse.
• If it doesn’t work as a mag topic, I keep it private. May revisit it later. If it does work, publish and promote!
• Embed in your website!
• SHARE SHARE SHARE! Sharing is caring! Curate then share.
• Archive and post on a blog. It can even be cool to print it as a publication for future writers with comments and stars.
• If they’re private, organize them and make them public! Flip your final paper/presentation in there.
• Why, share them with the universe, of course! One person’s treasure is everyone’s treasure with Flipboard.

Don’t forget to join the #FlipboardChat tomorrow night: the topic is “Making a Resume or Portfolio Magazine.” Start chatting on Twitter at 7pm PT / 10pm ET, or come back to this blog for an update.

~MiaQ on behalf of the Flipboard Club

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