Experimental Study Groups (ESG)
ESG has been discontinued until further notice (3/4/02)
for
AEM Deform 3031
What is ESG?
ESG is a peer-led study session in addition to the regularly scheduled recitation session for the course. ESG sessions are designed as informal extra study sessions where students can ask questions and recycle the course material in a dialogue with other students. Sessions are led by undergraduates who have previously done well in the course (3.0 or better). Attendance at each session is voluntary.
When are ESG sessions held?
Sessions will be held at several times during the week. Ideally, students should attend an ESG session after their recitation session each week.
Where are the sessions held?
The ESG sessions for AEM 3031 are held in available rooms in IT on the East Bank. The ESG Coordinator arranges room assignments for ESG sessions.
What are the benefits of ESG? Typically, students attending ESG sessions increase their GPA in the course by .5 or better.
How do I get involved? Watch for postings at the beginning of spring semester for session times. If you are interested in leading an ESG session as a student worker watch for job postings on the web.
For more information contact: James Flaten, Minnesota Space Grant email: flate001@umn.edu.
About Experimental Study Groups Peer Assisted Study Sessions
Overview
ESG is an academic support program that utilizes peer assisted study sessions. ESG targets historically difficult academic courses and offers to all enrolled students regularly scheduled, out-of-class, review sessions. ESG study sessions are informal seminars in which students form a learning community to compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and reasoning skills. The ESG sessions are directed by "ESG leaders," usually students who have previously and successfully taken the "high-risk" course and then sit through the course again. The ESG leader acts as a model student of the discipline.
Key Elements
- ESG identifies high-risk courses instead of high-risk students;
- ESG provides a vehicle for developing essential academic skills in regular credit bearing courses;
- participation in the ESG program is voluntary and open to all students in the course;
- the ESG leader attends all lectures for the targeted course;
- the ESG program is supervised by a trained professional staff member;
- the program is offered only in classes in which the faulty member invites and supports ESG
- assistance begins the first week of the term before students encounter academic problems;
- the ESG leader facilitates and encourages the group to process the material rather than acting as an authority figure who lectures to participants.
How ESG Works
The ESG Program
ESG is a non-remedial, institution-wide approach to retention. Developed by Deanna C. Martin, Ph.D. at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1973, ESG is an academic assistance program that increases student performance and retention. The ESG program targets traditionally difficult academic courses-those that have a high percentage rate of D or F grades and withdrawals-and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer facilitated sessions. ESG does not identify high-risk students, but rather identifies historically difficult courses.
ESG Leaders
The ESG leaders are the key people in the program. They are presented as model "students of the subject." As such, they present an appropriate model of thinking, organization and mastery of the discipline. All ESG leaders take part in an intensive two day training session before the beginning of the academic term. This training covers topics as how students learn well as instructional strategies aimed at strengthening student academic performance. ESG leaders attend all class sessions, take notes, read all assigned material, and conduct three or more 50-minute ESG sessions each week.
ESG Sessions
The ESG session integrates how-to-learn with what-to-learn. Students who attend the ESG session discover appropriate application of study strategies as they review content material, e.g. note taking, graphic organization, questioning techniques, vocabulary acquisition, and test preparation. Students have the opportunity to become actively involved in the course material as the ESG leaders use the text, supplementary readings, and lecture notes as vehicles for learning skill instruction. ESG sessions normally occur in or near the course classroom instead of in a learning center. ESG sessions are attended on a voluntary basis and no effort is made to segregate students based on academic ability. Since ESG is introduced on the first day of classes and is open to all students in the class, ESG is not viewed as remedial.
ESG Supervisors
The ESG supervisor, an on-site professional staff person, implements and supervises the ESG program and ESG leaders. This person is responsible for identifying the targeted courses, gaining faculty support, selecting and training ESG leaders, monitoring the quality of the ESG session, evaluating the program, and reporting results to campus administrators.
ESG Results
ESG students earn higher course grades and withdraw less often than non-ESG participants. Also, data demonstrate higher re-enrollment and graduation rates. Faculty and staff from over 900 institutions in the U.S. and twelve countries have been trained to implement ESG. Programs from the field report similar results.
The original model for this program is taken from the Supplemental Instruction Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. See their website at www.umkc.edu/cad. Many other institutions, such at MIT, use similar models.
Last Modified: 2014-06-26 at 13:16:27 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation