Mentoring in the classroom: Making the implicit explicit

Abstract

In the SI model, mentorship stands at the center of students' relationship with the SI leader, a peer or near-peer who has previously done well in the class. The leader assumes the mantle of the model student who attends all lectures, takes exemplary notes, and in every way demonstrates the qualities which will assure success in the course. The leader convenes sessions outside class hours. Students attend voluntarily. The sessions blend what-to-learn with how-to-learn-it, artfully mixing study skills with content in ways that empower students in both. SI produces the most dramatic results in the traditional high risk classes where assistance is available to all students in the class. Improvement in student performance and reduction in attrition rates attest to the overall success of the SI model and the mentorship it embodies.