Supplemental Instruction

What is SI?

Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions are peer-facilitated, structured study sessions designed to help students in challenging "gateway" courses. Students learn from experienced peers who have been successful in that subject and are recommended by a professor. Both face-to-face and online SI sessions (via Blackboard) are available. Your SI leader will visit your first lab and give you more details.

What occurs at a Supplemental Instruction session?

Supplemental Instruction is an opportunity for students to work together to explore important concepts, review class notes, discuss reading assignments, practice test-taking strategies, and prepare of examinations. SI sessions are facilitated by a tutor (SI Leader) who has previously been successful in the course.

Who is a Supplemental Instruction leader?

SI leaders are tutors or students themselves who have taken the class before and earned a high grade in the course. SI leaders are prepared to share with students how to effectively study for the course. SI leaders attend the same class every day, taking notes and listening closely to the professor.

Why attend SI?

• Find answers to your questions about difficult course material or problems
• Test preparation and review
• Gain strong study skills
• Connect with other students in your major and learn with friends
• Engage in active learning
• Carve out set study times in your busy schedule

What courses are supported by SI this semester?

Check back later for more information!

Do I have to attend SI?

No, attending SI is completely voluntary. Then again, what do you have to lose?

What does it cost?

Supplemental Instruction sessions are free. Students are encouraged to come as often as they like, however, the statistics show that the more students attend, the better their grades.

How often should I attend SI?

Regular attendance at SI (at least once per week) is linked to greater mastery of course material and higher course grades.

I filled out the scheduling survey...now what?

Days, times, and locations for Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions are determined by SI Leaders during the first week of classes, after a sufficient number of students have contributed feedback via the scheduling survey. The session logistics will be promoted the end of the first week, and sessions begin the second week. Your SI leader will email you the SI schedule for the semester. Get ready for your 1st SI session by bringing textbook, notes, and questions to the session and be ready to participate in a small group setting.

The session days/times do not fit my schedule. or the locations are inconvenient. What should I do?

Our apologies about the inconveniences. Based on the number of students in a class, it’s impossible for us to find Supplemental Instruction sessions that accommodate everyone's preferences, which is why we try to select sessions that make SI available to the largest number of students at least twice per week. If SI can help you, please make the time to attend. Other options for help are:

• Requesting a tutor
• Using LSCO’s free online tutoring system - Upswing

Meeting with your Instructor/SI leader during office hours (or by appointment)

Who attends Supplemental Instruction?

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is open to all students enrolled in the course. Students from all ability levels attend SI. There is one thing all SI participants have in common--desire to be a better learner.