Strategic
Learning
A Project
of Student Learning Services, Counselling and Development
What
is the Strategic Learning Project?
How do students benefit from SL?
Who are the SL leaders?
What goes on in the SL group sessions?
What is expected from the Instructor of a class that
offers SL?
Role of Student Leader
Courses at Concordia with SL
What
students say about SL
What
Concordia Faculty say about SL
What
is the Strategic Learning Project?
The Strategic Learning Project is designed to increase student
retention and student success in courses that have historically proven difficult
for Concordia students. The Project features weekly review sessions, called
Strategic Learning (SL), which are open to all students in the selected course
who choose to attend. Sessions are facilitated by a trained student leader who
involves students in active learning: comparing and reviewing class notes, discussing
important concepts, preparing for tests and exams, and developing study strategies
appropriate to the course material. Student leaders are chosen with the approval
of the course Instructor, trained and supervised by Learning Specialists at
Student Learning Services and paid by Counselling and Development. (top)
How
do students benefit from SL?
Research carried out on this program, which has been offered
in many different universities since 1974, shows that students who attend such
groups earn higher course grades and withdraw less often than students who do
not participate. Also, data demonstrate higher reenrollment and graduation rates.
Faculty and staff from over 900 institutions in the US and twelve countries,
including Canada, have been trained to implement this type of program. (top)
Who
are the SL leaders?
SL leaders are undergraduate students who have recently taken
the selected course and done well in it. Their role is to facilitate collaborative
learning among students who attend the groups. To this end, they are trained
in group facilitation and in study skills so that they can help students develop
effective learning and study strategies appropriate to course material. They
also serve as “model students” during the course: attending all classes, taking
good notes, reading assigned material. Their role is NOT to lecture and teach
course content but rather to help students interact with course material using
effective learning strategies. (top)
What
goes on in the SL group sessions?
The SL sessions integrate how to learn with what to learn. Students
have the opportunity to become actively involved in the course material as the
SL leaders use the text, supplementary readings (if applicable) and lecture
notes as vehicles for improving students’ study skills and learning strategies
and thus their understanding of course content. Sessions of one hour each are
scheduled outside class time, usually at 3 different times each week. Attendance
is voluntary; groups are open to all students in the class throughout the semester.
(top)
What
is expected from the Instructor of a class that offers SL?
The Instructor is asked to recommend as potential SL leaders
several undergraduate students who have recently been successful in the course.
Upon selection of one of these students by Student Learning Services, the Instructor
is asked to support the SL project by maintaining liaison with the student leader
throughout the semester and recommending the SL sessions to students in the
class. After each class test and at the end of the semester, the Instructor
is asked to forward a list of grades for all students in the class to Student
Learning Services for research purposes. This information enables them to determine
to what extent students who regularly attend the SL sessions are benefiting
from the sessions. The SL leader will share this information with the course
instructor as well as with the entire class in order to encourage more students
to attend SL sessions. Instructors of courses selected for SL will receive a
guide outlining these responsibilities.
(top)
Strategic Learning: Role of Student Leader
Basic role:
To provide academic assistance to students in selected courses
by offering regularly scheduled study sessions throughout the semester.
Duties:
Minimum Qualifications:
Pay $11.00 per hour (Time involved is usually about 8 -10 hours per week for 13 weeks)
Strategic Learning at Concordia
For a list of courses at Concordia that currently offer SL, click here
(top)
Last Modified January 4, 2005
by Student
Learning Services