Supplemental Instruction

What is SI?
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. SI is provided for all students registered in supported sections who want to improve their understanding of course material.
Attendance at sessions is voluntary. For students, it is a chance to get together with people in their class to compare notes, to discuss important concepts, to develop strategies for studying the subject, and to test themselves before the professor does. At each session, students will be guided through the material by the SI Leader.

What is an SI Leader?
Have you ever wished you could do something over, knowing what you know now? That’s impossible, but students can come close in SI. SI Leaders are students themselves and are prepared to share with students what they have learned over the years about how to study. They are familiar with the course content and are there to help guide students through it. They will be in class everyday, hearing what students hear and reading what students read. What they will not do is lecture.  Their job is to help students think about the lecture they hear and the books they read and then put it into perspective during SI study sessions so students can learn it more efficiently.

What’s in it for students?
Chances are that students who regulary attend SI sessions will earn a better grade. They will developed a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways of studying. This will help in other classes too.

When do SI sessions start?
During the first few days of class, the SI Leader will introduce themselves and ask students to take a short survey so that they are able to know when the best time to schedule sessions will be. SI sessions will be scheduled for twice a week. Students may attend both or just one. SI sessions are informal. Participants should bring their notes, textbook, homework, and QUESTIONS!

How do we know what classes will have SI?
Currently supported courses have been identified based on the historical rates of D, F, & W’s in the class. These courses have proven to be difficult in the past and the AIM Team has worked with the departments to identify the most appropriate placement of SI.