Proposal Title

More Students Working Together with Less Rote Learning: Fostering Academic Success in the Sciences with Peer-Led Study Groups for High-Risk Courses

Session Type

Presentation

Room

PAB 106

Start Date

9-7-2013 4:45 PM

Keywords

active learning, peer helpers, collaborative learning, student engagement, academic success, retention

Primary Threads

Teaching and Learning Science

Abstract

The University of Guelph’s award-winning Supported Learning Groups (SLG) Program offers students weekly, collaborative, out-of-class review sessions for challenging courses on our campus, including numerous 1st and 2nd year science courses. Based on a well established model of co-curricular academic support used around the world known as Supplemental Instruction (SI), the SLG Program encourages learner-centredness, enhances student engagement, and helps retain students. Come hear about our collaborative approach in which professional staff, instructors, and some of the brightest and most engaged upper-year undergraduates work together to build student competence and confidence in identified courses. These student Peer Helpers are trained to guide students through activities designed to get students working together to review the course content and come to understand it themselves, as well as develop successful study habits and prepare for midterms and finals. The effective use of group facilitation and collaborative learning strategies are our bread and butter – we will interactively involve participants as we describe how the SLG Program engages students with the course content they must master, with more active learning and less rote memorization, and helps them develop transferable learning skills.

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Jul 9th, 4:45 PM

More Students Working Together with Less Rote Learning: Fostering Academic Success in the Sciences with Peer-Led Study Groups for High-Risk Courses

PAB 106

The University of Guelph’s award-winning Supported Learning Groups (SLG) Program offers students weekly, collaborative, out-of-class review sessions for challenging courses on our campus, including numerous 1st and 2nd year science courses. Based on a well established model of co-curricular academic support used around the world known as Supplemental Instruction (SI), the SLG Program encourages learner-centredness, enhances student engagement, and helps retain students. Come hear about our collaborative approach in which professional staff, instructors, and some of the brightest and most engaged upper-year undergraduates work together to build student competence and confidence in identified courses. These student Peer Helpers are trained to guide students through activities designed to get students working together to review the course content and come to understand it themselves, as well as develop successful study habits and prepare for midterms and finals. The effective use of group facilitation and collaborative learning strategies are our bread and butter – we will interactively involve participants as we describe how the SLG Program engages students with the course content they must master, with more active learning and less rote memorization, and helps them develop transferable learning skills.