FAQ’s and More Information about the Supplemental Instruction Program:

What is Supplemental Instruction (SI)?

Supplemental Instruction is a program instituted at universities nationwide, and students who participate regularly throughout the semester have been found, statistically, to have greater success rates in the course for which SI is offered.  SI is offered in those classes that have high rates of enrollment and high rates of D's, F's, or withdrawals.  At the University of Vermont, the courses with which SI is affiliated has traditionally been large lecture classes in the sciences and Economics.

The program's success hinges on the merits of targeted practice and review of class material and the increased level of engagement with this material that communication within small-group study provides.  SI leaders attend lecture and take notes along with students, then prepare two, hour-long review sessions each week that focus on key skills and concepts presented.  The sessions are further beneficial for students, however, in that they often incorporate valuable study skills, techniques, or strategies within practical applications of the course material.  In addition to fostering collaborative learning, that which is most effective in terms of retention of new knowledge, the program integrates how to learn with what to learn.

Supplemental Instruction Leaders work within the peer-tutoring model embraced by the Learning Co-op.  As students, they have taken the course for which they are leading SI (or an appropriate equivalent) and received a minimum grade of a B+.  In addition, each leader must receive a recommendation by the faculty in the department ensuring their knowledge of the material.  Often, SI Leaders have previously worked and continue to work as Subject-Area tutors in this discipline with the Learning Co-op.

What should I expect from the SI Leader?

• The SI leader neither re-lectures nor introduces new material.
• The primary function of the SI leader is to facilitate discussion among SI participants and model successful learning strategies at key moments in the SI sessions.
• The SI leader will:
• attend all class meetings
• share SI materials with the cooperating faculty member before use, if possible and requested
• provide feedback to the cooperating faculty member if requested
• aid the Professor in handing out exams or course materials and collecting materials from the students
• The SI leader will not be involved in grading exams or quizzes

What will I be required to do?

• You can support SI by granting time for occasional in-class announcements and assisting the SI Leader in contacting students
• Be supportive of the program by encouraging students to take advantage of SI
• If possible, assist us in selecting candidates for SI leaders for your course by providing students names who you feel would be a good leader and who received a B+ or better in the course

What should I expect from the SI Program?

• all SI leaders will be trained according to established guidelines and standards
• the activities and presentations of SI leaders will be monitored by the SI Coordinator
• an end-of-term comparative analysis of student performance will be provided upon request.

Who Should I contact with Questions?

Rachel Conrad
Tutor Program Coordinator
University of Vermont Learning Co-Op
244 Commons, L/L Center
(802) 656-7841
rconrad@uvm.edu
On the FAQ’s and more information about the Subject area tutoring program page (http://www.uvm.edu/learnco/?Page=coopprogs/faqs.html&SM=coopprogs/coopprogsSubmenu.html)