Click on the questions below to see how the SI program works.
You and your classmates compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying the subject, and test yourselves before your professor does.
An SI leader—a student who previously excelled in the course and completed training in group facilitation techniques—guides you through course concepts. Your leader won't lecture or give you class notes. However, your leader will improve your learning by:
- Sharing strategies for success in the course
- Showing methods to make good use of your study time
- Helping put concepts together so you see an overall perspective
No. SI is a discussion group that gives everyone a chance to participate. The SI leader does not lecture or re-teach the subject matter. Instead, everyone contributes their knowledge and helps each other.
The professor is not present at sessions.
There are no extra assignments. It helps, however, to have attempted the homework or done the reading before you come to an SI session. Doing that work will allow you to bring questions to the session and to get the specific help you need.
The SI leader distributes a survey during the second week of a course. SI sessions are scheduled at times that are best for the majority of students. Times for SI sessions will be established at the beginning of the semester.
On rare occasions, SI session times and locations change. To verify when an SI session is scheduled for a particular course during the current semester, call the ARC at 312.567.5216.
We urge all students in supported classes to attend SI sessions, whether you're struggling or not. Many students who attend SI are excellent students who want to work toward a higher grade or understand the material more thoroughly.
Yes! The United States Department of Education found supplemental instruction to be highly effective. Studies at several institutions have shown that students who participate in SI earn higher final course grades than students who do not.
The Academic Resource Center would like to hear from you about the SI program at Illinois Tech. Please complete this survey online.