News Articles
U of G a National Hub of Learning
Guelph to be go-to place for supplemental instruction
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Ten years ago, U of G became the first university in Canada to introduce supplemental instruction (SI) into its teaching and learning strategy. Today, the University is on the verge of becoming the official go-to place for Canadian post-secondary institutions wanting to bring SI to their students.
Senior administrators from the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC), where the SI model was created more than 30 years ago, will be on campus Oct. 9 to sign a memorandum of understanding that will pave the way for Guelph to become one of only a handful of national SI centres in the world.
“It's really exciting to be able to serve as a conduit of information about what's going on in Canada and around the world,” says Mary Wilson, an educational development associate in Teaching Support Services. Wilson founded the supported learning group (SLG) program at Guelph and will serve as the Canadian representative for the national SI initiative.
“Officials at UMKC have recognized that there is major interest in SLGs in Canada and that educators have been coming to us for advice about how to create their own SLGs. This is formal recognition of our role as a point of connection, and we're honoured to be at the hub of a growing network.”
National centres already exist in Australia, England, South Africa, Sweden and the United States. In 1999, U of G's SLG program earned an international award from UMKC for outstanding research design. In 2000, it was named Program of the Year by the Canadian Student Affairs and Services Association.
“SLGs are a series of weekly review sessions attached to what have historically been difficult courses,” says Krista Bianco, SLG co-ordinator and a former SLG peer helper.
Led by senior students, the SLG program helps students learn how to navigate challenging course material and perform better in the course. In addition, students connect with other students in their class to compare notes, discuss important concepts and develop strategies for enhanced learning.
“SLG leaders aren't content experts,” says Bianco. “Instead, they're there to help the group figure things out.”
Over the past decade, Guelph's SLG program has grown from three peer helpers in one section of a first-year chemistry course to an initiative that now boasts two full-time staff members and 35 to 40 peer helpers who provide support to students enrolled in 16 first-, second- and third-year courses. Last year, more than 3,000 students took part.
Benefits to students who use the program include increased retention of information; better time-management skills; less procrastination; active review, application and practice of learned material; immediate feedback from the group; and a safe, supportive and engaging learning environment, says Wilson.
“U of G was chosen to become Canada's national centre because of the success of our program and the commitment of our campus community to ensuring that this resource exists for our students. From the outset, the SLG program at Guelph has benefited greatly from the contributions of faculty, staff, SLG peer helpers and the students who participate in the group study sessions. Together, we've built an effective and valued support system for our students, and added an array of resources and services that add to our reputation as a learner-centred institution.”