Supplemental Instruction is available online while classes are remote

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking historically difficult courses. Sessions are facilitated by students (SI Leaders) who have already taken and done well in the course. 

SI Leaders will guide you through class material in an environment where you are working with other students to discuss important concepts, compare notes, develop strategies for studying the subject, and test each other before you are actually tested by your professor.

SI was developed by Dr. Deanna Martin in 1973 at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, designed to increase student retention and academic performance. The program has been at Ohio University for more than 20 years and has proven successful in these areas.

How SI Works

• SI Leaders will contact students directly from class rosters to indicate that SI is available for a course and to provide instructions on how to join the online sessions.
• Sessions are offered at set times Sunday-Thursday, between 6-9:10 p.m., totaling 3 hours per week. 
• You don't need to sign up in advance to attend, but you do have to go if you want to obtain SI materials such as worksheets. 
• Sessions are free, voluntary, and open to all students enrolled in SI courses.
• Sessions are for students with any range of academic abilities.
• SI leaders have not only already taken the course and received a high grade, but they also sit in on the class again, take notes, and read assignments to make sessions as relevant and beneficial as possible
• Leaders work with faculty to create sessions that integrate how-to-learn with what-to-learn.
• Students get extra help working with peers in groups to solve problems related to course material. Leaders guide students through class material in a collaborative environment where students work together to discuss important concepts, compare notes, develop strategies for studying the subject, and test each other.
• SI is not a place to go to get homework questions answered, but rather to gain a deeper understanding of the material being covered in the course. 
• Sessions involve active review of course content, and also focus on study strategies such as note taking, organization, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, problem solving/critical thinking, and test preparation.
• If any information has changed for an SI session in any week, your SI leader will send you an email. Please always check your email for possible updates before attending an SI Session. Days or times of sessions may change based on course happenings (exams, midterms, department-led study session) or the SI Leader's availability (family emergency, sick, out of town, etc.)

Student Testimonials

"I benefitted from SI sessions because it helped motivate me to study more. I did not do well on my first quiz in the class but after I began to attend SI somewhat regularly my grades improved tremendously."

"It was awesome having a more in depth discussion about the topics while they were still fresh in the mind. [The SI Leader] did a great job of facilitating those discussions, was always prepared with handouts despite her hectic schedule, was always cheerful and kept the SI session light and fun, and covered a large amount of material, breaking sections into individual, small group, and class work."

"It was a comfortable environment to learn."

"Going to SI truly helped me learn these math skills not just temporarily, but in a long term way. I couldn't have made it through without the help of my wonderful leader."

"SI brought my grade up 20%."

"I feel that SI really helped my grade in the course this semester. On my first exam, I failed. After this I started going to SI and got a C+ on my second exam."