(Back row, centre) Supplemental Instruction leader Natasha Jaques explains a concept to computer science students.
Photo by: U of R Photography Department

The Faculty of Science is piloting a new program called Supplemental Instruction (SI) to help undergraduate students successfully complete their degree programs and ultimately enhance the learning experience in the classroom.

This fall, the faculty hired four SI leaders to lead group study sessions for courses in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mathematics. It plans to expand the program to 12 courses next semester.

Prior to leading a study session in a given course, each SI leader had already successfully completed the course they will lead. They re-take the course with the students, and lead them with active learning techniques in peer-group study sessions three times a week.

"We are teaching the SI leaders to encourage students to teach each other," explains Stephen Cheng, SI co-ordinator. "The idea is if the students learn how to help each other in the first year and second year, they will continue learning together in the third year and fourth year."

According to Katherine Bergman, the dean of Science, the first challenge was to create space in the faculty to house the SI program. Over the summer departmental offices were amalgamated to create SI space in both the Laboratory Building and College West. The moves also created space for the faculty's six student societies, as well as space for the Pre-Health Club.

Approximately 26 faculty and staff members moved offices to assist in the creation of the space. According to Bergman faculty and staff supported the initiative because of its potential to support junior students academically and the academic leadership skills it builds in its senior undergraduate students.

"Retention starts with the student experience in the classroom," says Bergman. "They have to feel successful. That is a fundamental underpinning of retention. If students are not successful in the classroom in their junior years, they are not likely to continue. If you can engage them and enhance their ability to succeed early on they are more likely to stay and successfully complete their program."

Brien Maguire, associate dean (academic) for the Faculty of Science, was the strategic enrolment management plan team lead for student retention, and has worked on several retention projects at the University. He was responsible for establishing the SI program and sees it as a way to give added academic support to students.

"We know that there are classes where students struggle," says Maguire. "A whole lot of the material in the strategic enrolment management plan is about issues dealing with transitions, whether you are an adult learner coming back to university, a first generation student, or an international student. All face transition issues when starting their degree programs.

"SI is helping students understand the course content. Commonly students feel uncomfortable asking questions during class and identifying themselves as needing some help. Most, however, feel quite comfortable asking questions in a peer-group setting and their confidence increases when they discover other students with similar questions and concerns."