Professor Michael Wesch and Kansas State University students are taking the blogosphere by storm with A Vision of Students Today. This YouTube video takes place in the vast expanse of a lecture hall and touches not only on technology in higher education classes but on the delivery of information altogether.
Definition
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that utilizes peer-assisted study sessions. SI sessions are regularly-scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills while working together.
Purpose
(1) to reduce rates of attrition within targeted historically difficult courses
(2) to improve student grades in targeted historically difficult courses
(3) to increase the graduation rates of students
Participants
Because all students in a targeted course are urged to attend SI sessions, students with varying ability levels and ethnicities participate. There is no remedial stigma attached to SI since the program targets high-risk courses rather than high-risk students.
For more information please visit the UMKC website:
UMKC
What is SI?
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. SI is provided for all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.
Attendance at sessions is voluntary. For you the student, it’s a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, to discuss important concepts, to develop strategies for studying the subject, and to test yourselves before your professor does, so that when he/she does, you’ll be ready. At each session you will be guided through this material by your SI leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course.
What’s an SI leader?
Have you ever wished you could do something over, knowing what you know now? SI leaders are students themselves and are prepared to share with you what they have learned over the years about how to study. They know the course content and are eager to help guide you through it. What they won’t do is lecture; their job is to help you think about the lectures you hear and the books you read, and then put it all together during the SI review sessions. SI can help you learn course material more efficiently.
When do SI review sessions start?
You will fill out a short survey to let the SI leader know your class schedule. Each SI leader will set up three or more review sessions each week at times that are best for the majority of students taking the class. You can attend one, two, or all three (the choice is yours) and each one will be different because you’ll have new material to discuss. SI review sessions are informal. Bring your notes; bring your textbook; bring your questions.
What’s in it for me?
If you attend SI sessions regularly, chances are you’ll earn a better grade. You’ll have developed a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways of studying. You are likely to do better in all of your courses as a result of participating.
(Adapted from the UMKC Supervisor Manual 2006)
Currently we have SI Leaders for Math, Accounting and Biology. Take a minute to check out the other pages to see how SI can help you in those subjects!
The SI Team on Friday Mid-training made me feel so much more confident about what we do as a team. We are really about helping students academically. They say God don't make no mistakes.
Definition
