Key Takeaways:
- Research using library databases helps students build both information literacy and self-management skills such as organization, time management and persistence.
- Librarians and educators can intentionally design research experiences that help students build self-management skills through social emotional learning.
- Well-designed library research tools provide structure and guidance that help students become confident, independent learners.
Social emotional learning (SEL) is a process that helps students develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to manage emotions, achieve goals and build positive relationships. Five core competencies make up SEL: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. The second competency, self-management, is essential for student success — whether they are completing school assignments, handling responsibilities at an after-school job, or managing everyday life tasks.
By engaging in research activities that foster information literacy and executive functioning (mental skills that allow individuals to plan, organize and manage their thoughts and actions to achieve goals), students lay the groundwork for meaningful personal development. Through research supported by library databases, students can strengthen the very self-management skills that support their emotional growth and academic achievement.
How Using Library Databases for Research Builds Self-Management
Librarians know that research builds information literacy, helping students learn to find, evaluate and use reliable sources. What’s discussed less often is how the same process strengthens self-management skills such as organization, time management and determination. Using library databases, students plan research timelines, manage deadlines and stay focused when challenges arise. Each step, from asking questions to refining results, helps them practice persistence and build confidence in their ability to learn independently.
Database content also plays an important role in developing these skills. For example, EBSCO’s Points of View Ultimate provides a safe, structured space for students to explore challenging or controversial topics, from artificial intelligence to zero-tolerance policies. Because the database presents multiple viewpoints and credible evidence, students learn to approach issues calmly and thoughtfully rather than reacting emotionally. This process helps them practice empathy, regulate impulses and think critically — important aspects of social emotional learning.
Beyond content, database design also supports student engagement and focus throughout the research process. Available through optimized versions of Explora, EBSCO’s Ultimate Databases for Schools are designed to guide and engage students throughout the research process. The topic browse feature, Topic Explorer, helps students narrow broad subjects into focused topics, encouraging goal setting and sustained attention. As students refine searches, select keywords and evaluate sources, they build planning, self-discipline and other executive functioning skills. Each interaction strengthens both information literacy and the ability to manage time and attention, key components of effective self-management.
Activities to Build Self-Management Through Research
- Debate Preparation with Points of View Ultimate: Ask students to research both sides of an issue, such as cell phones in schools or driverless vehicles. Encourage them to notice emotional reactions and focus on evidence-based reasoning to build self-awareness and self-control.
- Goal-Oriented Inquiry Projects: Guide students in setting a research timeline with key milestones such as topic selection, note-taking and synthesis. These steps reinforce planning and time management.
- Focus Challenges: Ask students to track how they refine a search over time. Discuss strategies that helped them stay on task or manage frustration when search results weren’t immediately helpful.
- Collaborative Research Journals: Have students work in small groups to document how they handled disagreements or setbacks during the research process. These reflections connect problem-solving and teamwork with emotional regulation.
Cultivating Lifelong Self-Management Skills
When students use library databases, they gain more than research experience. They learn how to manage their own learning process. Research builds confidence, focus and perseverance, helping students develop both academic and emotional skills.
By using EBSCO’s Ultimate Databases for Schools, librarians can help students build self-management and information literacy skills through authentic research experiences that prepare them to become thoughtful, independent learners ready for lifelong success.
