Supplemental Instruction

How do I use Supplemental Instruction?

Supplemental Instruction is a series of regularly scheduled review/study sessions for students taking historically difficult courses led by students (SI Leaders) who have already taken the course, earned an A- or better, and have a GPA above 3.0.

Attend a Supplemental Instruction session to:

• Develop effective study strategies and habits that lead to higher grades
• Learn how to manage academic stress and anxiety
• Establish a fun and beneficial relationships with peers
• Engage in an interactive learning environment
• Maintain motivation to complete courses successful and graduate

What happens in Supplemental Instruction sessions?

• Ask questions
• Discuss material covered in lectures
• Solve practice problems
• Compare notes
• Organize study material and maximize your study time
• Learn study techniques
• Learn how to talk to you professor during office hours
• Identify campus resources

What does a Supplemental Instruction Leader do?

• Provide assistance to students enrolled in an academically challenging courses
• Plan and facilitate out-of-class study sessions three times a week throughout the semester
• Attend all course lectures
• Attend all SI leader trainings and meetings, and complete tasks throughout the semester to enhance the SI Leader experience and SI program for students
• Assist in the collection and reporting of evaluative data regarding the selected course

SI Leaders are trained in proactive learning and study strategies as well as facilitation skills. SI Leaders are facilitators who assists students to integrate course content and learning strategies.

To become an SI Leader, you should have the following qualifications:

Undergraduate Students:

• Enrolled in at least half-time credit hours at Georgia State University
• Have already completed the SI course with an A- or better in a previous semester
• Atlanta Campus Only: Attend an Information Session (Fall 2021 dates will be posted on the application and the SI bulletin board)

Graduate Students:

• Enrolled full-time and/or in the required number of credits required by your program
• Be a student in the Philosophy, Political Science or Economics Departments, and be invited to apply for the position by your department the Office of Supplemental Instruction

Graduate and Undergraduate Students:

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Possess excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Have a working knowledge of campus resources for academic success
• Provide a recommendation from a professor; instructor in the discipline is preferred

How do I become a Supplemental Instruction Leader?

Graduate Assistantship Opportunities

What should I expect from an SI Leader in my class?

SI Leaders should:

• Maintain consistent attendance in all your lectures, with proper attention given to the material discussed
• Facilitate three sessions per week outside of class time
• Conduct ongoing communication about lecture/session material and recommendations for topics to emphasize in sessions

What shouldn't I expect from an SI Leader in my class?

SI Leaders should not:

• Grade test or quizzes
• Report students’ SI Session attendance to you
• Act in the same role as a TA

What is my role as an Instructor participating in SI?

• Encourage all students to attend SI sessions regardless of performance
• Include the SI Leader’s name and session days/times/location in your syllabus
• Meet weekly with your SI Leader for a brief conversation about what to review during their sessions
• Recommend excellent candidates for future SI Leaders during the SI Office recruiting process

Can I attend an SI session held for my class?

• So that we preserve the casual atmosphere of the sessions and keep the anonymity of SI participants, please do not attend SI sessions

Atlanta Campus
Nancy McDaniel
404-413-2061
supplementalinstruct@gsu.edu

Perimeter College - Alpharetta, Clarkston, Dunwoody, Newton
pcsi@gsu.edu

Perimeter College - Decatur
Debra Harris Phillips
678-891-2579
dphillips44@gsu.edu

Unable to find an SI session? Need additional help with difficult subjects?

Visit the Academic Success website to learn more about other GSU programs