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:: Supplemental Instruction Building on Early Successes, Expanding to New Programs


November 3, 2009


Guided group study effort began in 2005 and nearly doubled in scope under leadership of faculty coordinator Ron Huskin

Del Mar College (DMC) students struggling in historically difficult classes are increasingly turning to a guided group study initiative on campus––Supplemental Instruction. The initiative is modeled after the highly successful academic assistance program that originated at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 1973.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) leaders who have demonstrated mastery of course content are tapped to lead regularly scheduled, out-of-class sessions with students currently enrolled in certain classes, says Ron Huskin, DMC assistant professor of sociology and faculty coordinator for the College’s program.

“We identify students who have successfully completed targeted courses, ideally with a final grade of an A, and hire them back as Supplemental Instruction leaders to sit in classes as peers with the students currently taking those specifically classes,” Huskins says. “They then conduct weekly review sessions with students to promote retention.”

SI, which is a peer-facilitated effort designed to target challenging classes such as those found in natural sciences and math, is an international initiative that is utilized by more than 1,800 institutions in 30 countries according to The International Center for Supplemental Instruction at UMKC. The center’s Web site notes that the concept’s origins date back to the early 1970s when Dr. Deanna Martin was charged with the task of decreasing the attrition rate of minority students in health science programs at UMKC.

From its relatively narrow focus, the concept was expanded throughout the university and embraced by other institutions, paving the way for a designation by the U.S. Department of Education as an “Exemplary Educational Program” in 1981.

In fall 2005, Del Mar College first implemented the program following its introduction to administrators and faculty members during the College’s annual Summer Academy the previous year. Program goals are to improve student performance, increase continued enrollment and improve learning skills in three key areas––thinking and reasoning, responsibility and reflection, Huskin says.

Supplemental Instruction leaders are required to receive training prior to the start of the semester, and they must attend class lectures in the targeted class. Leaders work between 10 to 12 hours a week, which includes class time, meetings and two or three 50-minute SI review sessions per week. They earn $8 an hour.

The program’s reach has expanded considerably since Huskin took charge in the newly created “faculty coordinator” position in January. Under Huskin, the initiative expanded from 10 classes to its current 19 classes this fall. Recent additions include the RNSG 1413 course, Foundations in Nursing, as well as three sections of ACCT 2301, Principles of Accounting I, and ACNT 1303, Introduction to Accounting I. The Introduction to PC Operating Systems course, ITSC 1405, was offered for the first time this fall.

Results suggest the initiative is proving both popular and successful with DMC students. In spring 2009, 80 students joined an SI group while 156 did not. Of the 80 students in the Supplemental Instruction group, 47 students, or 59 percent, earned a grade of A, B or C. Of the 156 students in the non-SI group, 81 students, or 52 percent, earned a grade of A, B or C.

Statistics were even more impressive in summer 2009. Eighty-five (85) students participated in the SI group while 123 students did not. Sixty-seven (67) students, or 79 percent, in the participatory group earned a grade of A, B or C while among those who did not get involved, only 72 students, or 59 percent, earned a grade of A, B or C.

Many students who have participated in the Supplemental Instruction initiative say they are pleased with the results.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in supplemental instruction this semester,” says Debbie Brock, a physical therapy assistant major. “We had an exceptional SI leader who taught me study and organizational skills, which helped me achieve success in my first Anatomy and Physiology course. The experience will continue to be valuable throughout all of my college courses.”


-DMC-rg



For more information, media can contact Ron Huskin, Assistant Professor of Sociology, at 361.698.2138 or rhuskin@delmar.edu.





Date of this item added : 2009-11-03