Supplemental Instruction for Students

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 yourself before your professor does, so that when he/she does, you'll be ready. At each session you will by guided through this material by your SI leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course.

What is an SI leader?

Have you ever wished you could do something over, knowing what you know now? That's impossible, but you can come close in SI. 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. They'll be in class with you every day, hearing what you hear and reading what you read. 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 into some kind of perspective during SI review sessions so you can learn it more efficiently.

When do SI review sessions start?

On the first day of class you will fill out a short survey to let the SI leader know your class schedule. Please bring your official schedule of classes with you to the first class period so you will be able to complete the survey accurately. Each SI leader will set up three or more review sessions a week at times that are best for the majority of the students. 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, and bring your questions.

What is 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. This will help you in other classes also.

Study Group Sessions - Fall 2007