Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction (SI), a nationally recognized academic success and retention program, began at UCF in fall of 1996. SI sessions are open to all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and achieve higher grades. Attendance is voluntary and is done face-to-face. For students, it’s a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, to discuss important concepts, to develop strategies for studying and learning the subject, and to test yourself before your professor does. At each SI session, you will be guided through course material by your SI leader
Benefits
Students who attend SI sessions on a regular basis usually average one or more letter grades higher than those who do not attend SI sessions. You will also develop a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways to learn it. The college level study skills that you learn in SI will help you earn higher grades in your other classes. Attending SI sessions can also help you develop friendships with students and staff and feel a stronger connection to UCF.
SI sessions encourage students to discuss concepts and check accuracy of notes in small groups. Group learning allows interaction and practice with the course concepts in a non-threatening environment. This method of studying has proven highly successful in increasing learning speed and in earning higher grades.
Why SI Works
Learning theorists such as Dewey, Piaget, and Bruner advocate peer group learning because it increases understanding and mastery of course content and students who collaborate earn higher grades. SI sessions encourage students to discuss concepts and check accuracy of notes in small groups. Group learning allows interaction and practice with the course concepts in a non-threatening environment. This method of teaching has proven highly successful in increasing learning speed and in earning higher grades.
