Origin
Supplemental Instruction Philosophy
How the Supplemental Instruction Program Works

Origin

Background of the SI Program Supplemental Instruction is a non-remedial, institution-wide approach to retention. Developed by Deanna C. Martin, Ph.D. at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in1973, Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that increases student performance and retention by providing regularly scheduled, out-of class, peer facilitated sessions.

• The Program is designed to help raise students level of performance and to help increase retention.
• The Classroom experience is enhanced not duplicated.
• SI sessions integrate how to learn with what to learn techniques.
• Students discover appropriate applications in study strategies, note taking, and graphic organization questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, test preparation, and how to review the content materials.
• We are trying to give the students an even better support system to develop good study habits.

The Supplemental Instruction program involves a number of committed individuals working for the success of the students. The Director of SI, SI Coordinator, SI Mentor, Professor, and SI leader all work in different aspects to achieve the goals of the SI program. The SI sessions occur in classrooms near the course classroom not in the learning center. Students in the Learning Theory classes are required to attend the sessions designated by the Director. These classes are normally the introductory history and bible courses. All other sessions are open to all students in the course and are voluntary in nature.

The Director of SI, an on-site professional staff person, implements and supervises the S.I. program the director also identifies targeted courses and gains faculty support. The S.I. coordinator is responsible for selecting and training S.I. leaders, monitoring the quality of SI sessions, and evaluating the program. The SI mentor helps train SI leaders and works hands on with the SI leaders giving them support. The S.I. leader attends all class session, takes notes, reads all assigned material, and conduct two hour long sessions a week. As a result of these individual working in the program SI students earn higher course grades and withdraw less often then non-SI participants.