SI creates a fun, collaborative learning environment where you actively work with fellow classmates to assess your understanding, deepen your knowledge, and grow your skills within your SI-supported class and beyond. In order to make sure SI maintains these qualities, it is important for you to be aware of the following participation guidelines:
Students should accept the SI Canvas Page. If you are enrolled in a course that has SI, your SI Leader will invite you to join the SI Canvas page. That page is where they will post all session and office hour updates.
Students should come prepared for all SI sessions. Students are responsible for having assigned readings done by the time of the SI session. SI sessions are meant to help students deepen their understanding of the course material. When students do not read beforehand, the session focuses on catching up with the reading rather than on applying the information from the reading, and thus, the efficiency of the session is diminished.
Student participation is required. SI sessions are designed to encourage students to participate in discussions, work collaboratively, and review the materials learned in class. If students are confused about a particular topic, want something clarified, or have ideas that could be expanded on, then SI sessions are the perfect place to voice their thoughts without any fear of judgment.
SI session/office hour attendance is anonymous to the instructor. Learning is often a messy process, and SI sessions are a safe space for that messiness. So, we want you to be free to learn without worrying about your grade or being evaluated. But we do need you to check in via Navigate at the beginning of the session so we can properly evaluate the program.
SI leaders will not re-lecture. SI leaders are only effective if they are going beyond what you get from the lecture. In the session, they will be giving you a worksheet for interactive activities that help you explore class materials, and they will ask you questions to guide you when you need some extra help. If you need assistance outside of the scheduled SI Session and Office hours, please visit the Baylor Tutoring Center.
SI leaders want you to come to sessions regularly. SI is most effective for those who regularly come throughout the semester. SI leaders don’t want you to face the headache that comes with cramming. SI is built to go through the messy learning process one chunk at a time, so it really won’t help you at the last stage. Your SI leader will welcome you at any point in the semester, but they will be more confident in their ability to help you if you come early and come often. Even if that means you can’t come to all of the sessions every time.
SI leaders don’t help students with assigned homework. SI leaders are all about knowledge and skill building so they won’t help with specific homework questions. But they would love to assist with the concepts or example problems on the worksheet. All worksheets will be posted on the SI Leader's Canvas page.
