Learning Assistant Program / Supplemental Instruction (LAPSI)

About LAPSI

Learning Assistant Program/Supplemental Instruction (LAPSI) is an academic support program that utilizes peer assisted study sessions. LAPSI sessions are free, voluntary, and open to the entire student population of a specific course. LAPSI sessions are regularly scheduled, out of class study sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings and concepts, work on handouts, review lecture materials, develop learning and study skills and predict test items. LAPSI helps “A” students keep their “A” and helps struggling students pull up their grades.

LAPSI follows SI model. Supplemental Instruction (SI) was first developed by Dr. Deanna Martin at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 1973 to address rising dropout rates. By 1981, the SI model was acclaimed as an exemplary program by the US Department of Education. Currently, more and more institutions of higher education, both national and international, offer SI to their students. View an article about SI (PDF) (view with the free Adobe Reader software) .

Contact Information

English/ESL

• Mary Fontanilla
  mfontanilla@ohlone.edu
  (510) 659-6087

Chemistry, History, Speech

• Ingrid Granados-Thomas 
  igranados-thomas@ohlone.edu
  (510) 659-6087

Mathematics

• Suba Marti
  smarti@ohlone.edu
  (510) 659-6174

LAPSI Schedule

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Download the desired schedule:

• English/ESL schedule for Spring 2008 (PDF)
• Chemistry, History, & Speech schedule for Fall 2008 (PDF)
• Mathematics schedule for Fall 2008 (PDF)

LAPSI Documents

Microsoft Word files are available for the following courses:

• Biol 106
• CS 102
• English 151A
• English 151B
• ESL 181
• History 117A
• Math 151B
• Math 152
• Spanish 101A, B

Hiring LAPSI leaders

LAPSI leader Job Description:

• Lead three to five, fifty minute peer assisted LAPSI study sessions each week for your assigned LAPSI integrated course
• Attend lectures for your assigned LAPSI course, take notes, and work through all homework assignments
• Plan and facilitate LAPSI sessions: LAPSI Session Plan Samples (PDF)
• Collect and enter LAPSI participants’ data for LAPSI evaluation
• Get paid at $8.75/hour while helping students
• Reach to the top pay rate as $9.99/hour after you have been through the tutor training classes

To apply, please contact the appropriate staff member.

LAPSI and Faculty

• LAPSI Letter
• Faculty and LAPSI
• LAPSI Tips by Sam

Student Comments

• Thank you, this was the best possible thing to help me in the class.
• Great! Wonderful. Everyone should attend.
• Alpana was very very helpful.
• The LAPSI sessions were very helpful&very good. They should be continued.
• I believe that the sessions should have their own classroom and time.
• I think the supplemental instruction should be given at a fixed time, before the start of the semester, so that students can make their schedule according to the available times of the supplemental instruction rather than taking a consensus from students.
• I liked the session! It helped me a lot and made me focus on the certain aspects that I needed to know.
• Just being able because tutoring times conflicted with my work & school schedule
• Helpful, gives better understanding, clears up questions
• The LAPSI sessions either conflicted w/my other classes or work
• Sessions were very good.
• Alpana was great!
• More sessions at different times
• I really think that we should have Lapsi leaders for all the classes because they really help the students to get better grades in their respective classes
• It was hard to find babysitter for more time than I was already using
• They were very helpful, especially when the lectures in class got complicated.
• It was very helpful. Gave me more of a guideline to study.
• Please make the sessions more frequently.
• Needs more time & more details
• talk slower, that is all
• I thought it was very useful.
• I found these sessions to be very helpful and I am very thankful they were offered. The chat rooms were great too.
• Great program idea.
• Very helpful
• She was great. Rachel was very good.
• more focused, detailed, less chatting
• I wanted to attend many sessions, however most of the times conflicted with other classes or work schedule.
• Instructor/tutor is very good+ motivated me to learn Spanish. He has excellent teaching ability. He is an asset to Ohlone students
• Mike was excellent + helpful : )

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Resources

SI at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

http://www.iup.edu/devstudies/AcadAssist/SI/sihelp.html

National SI

http://www.umkc.edu/cad/si/