SI Information for Students
New Feature: Students can now receive updates from SI Leaders via E-mail or RSS Feeds!
To sign-up for e-mail updates, do the following:
- Click on the courses/schedule menu option to access our interactive schedule.
- Click on the link to your course.
- Click the "Sign Up for Updates" option.
- Login using your NetID and password.
- Repeat steps 1-3 for other courses as desired.
To receive RSS Feeds about a course:
- Click on the courses/schedule menu option to access our interactive schedule.
- Click on the link to your course.
- Click the "View Recent Updates" option.
- Login using your NetID and password.
- Select your preferred RSS Feeds option.
- Repeat steps for other courses as desired
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if SI is offered for my course?
Once the semester begins, check the SI Schedule for a list of courses and SI sessions. In class promotions also are planned for courses with SI, including:
- During the first week of classes the SI Leader will make a 10-minute presentation to the class. The SI Leader will also ask the students to complete a brief survey to determine the best time to schedule sessions.
- Bookmarks will be distributed to students during the 3rd week with the session times and locations.
- Regular announcements and/or postings will be made in class, with the approval of the instructor.
What goes on at an SI session?
SI is an opportunity for students to work together to explore important concepts, review class notes, discuss reading assignments, practice test-taking strategies, and prepare of examinations. SI is a peer-facilitated by an undergraduate student who has previously been successful in the course.
How often are SI sessions held?
Three to five 50-minute sessions are held each week. See the SI Schedule for specific times and locations for your courses.
How are SI classes selected?
SI targets traditionally difficult 100-200 level courses which students must take to begin an academic major. These courses are usually large lecture courses requiring large amounts of reading from difficult texts, utilize examinations focusing on application and analysis, and because of their size, offer a perception of diminished opportunity for teacher-student interaction.
Who attends SI?
SI is open to all students enrolled in a specific course. So, even if your SI Leader does not regularly attend your lectures, you can still attend the SI sessions. Students from all ability levels attend SI. There is one thing all SI participants in common--desire to be a better learner.
Some students attend only a few sessions during the semester. Research at ISU shows that the more SI sessions a student particates in, the higher their final grade will be in the class.
Student Comments About SI
"My SI Leader was great. She broke down the overwhelming subject matter into bite size pieces. She gave us strategies for helping us understand and apply information to the tests."
"My first test score was an F. I went to SI and my second score was a B-."
"The SI Leader was a really good teacher who was really concerned about how much we learned. He was very friendly and went out of his way to help us understand the material."
"I thought (SI Leader) did a great job. She was not only effective at teaching the concepts and ideas in fun ways, (often better than the actual instructors), but she was also friendly and approachable. Her review before exams and practice tests were especially helpful."
"I learned a lot from SI and my grades improved from going to SI. I not only learned but I became friends with the SI Leader."
