Supplemental Instruction

06F

Final Report

Supplemental Instruction Overview:

Supplemental Instruction is an academic support program that uses peer assisted study sessions to help students process course content. SI is led by trained student leaders, modeling how to learn with what to learn. Students develop essential study skills using the content and materials from the course being facilitated.

SI has evolved at TSJC
Students have come to know that SI targets TSJC’s toughest courses, and participation in an SI lab becomes a badge of honor. SI builds community and academic support in the best possible way. Students become soldiers in the trenches, and learn as a team! Every year as we look at program results, there are many factors to consider. Each lab group is different, and we often include narrative explanation of anomalous results.

Formative Assessment:

SI grade comparisons are separated for ENG 121 ITOP courses, because ITOP SI participation is mandatory, eliminating a control group. CRJ 101 section had 100% participation: control group was same course, same instructor, prior year with no SI support.

ITOP students enter ENG 121 academically under prepared, with Accuplacer Sentence Skills scores 10 points below college level. SI goal for ITOP students is to have the majority finish the course with a grade of at least 2.3 (74%) as written in Student Support Services grant goals for 2003-2004. All three ITOP sections exceeded that goal this year.

SI and Retention:

Supplemental Instruction is proving to be an effective vehicle for reducing the rate at which academically at-risk students withdraw from college level courses. In its 6^th year, the SI program has a reputation for being a consistent tool for academic support, and an excellent way to explore study skills in the context of reviewing course content.

Focus for the Future:

SI intends to work closely with the Nursing Department to provide structured academic support for that student population. The Nursing program will schedule time for students to participate in both SI group reviews, and one to one tutoring in the Learning Center.