Where growing numbers of students are academically underprepared, SI offers the institution a cost efficient and educationally effective programme designed to retain and graduate students while protecting the academic integrity and rigor of the subject. SI focuses on reducing attrition while raising the general level of student performance to meet departmental standards. SI enhances without duplicating the classroom experience. SI does not attempt to replace the role of the content expert by relecturing. As students interact with an experienced learner, they improve their ability to think independently and critically about academic issues as the content unfolds.
Evaluation is rigorous.
Evaluation of SI targets measures of student performance rather than more subjective factors such as student and staff perceptions of the service. Because evaluation includes student grades, attrition, and graduation rates, programme administrators can make informed decisions about cost effectiveness and educational benefits. Student Benefits SI is proactive and participatory rather than reactive and passive. While engaged in answering each other's questions, students are, in fact, engaged. Students need the opportunity to process information in a way that helps them make their own connections and, in so doing, solidify their understanding of the content.