Studying for midterms and final exams just got easier. The Guelph chapter of Students Offering Support (Guelph SOS) is offering review sessions for students. But this isn’t your typical study group. For a $20 donation, students who take part in the session also contribute toward education projects in Latin America.
“This seemed like a really great opportunity to give back to the community,” says Katie Rubinoff, Guelph SOS president and a fourth-year marketing management student. “It was also an initiative to not only help students here, but help people in developing countries as well. We’re doing something great here, and we’re doing something great somewhere else too.”
SOS is a student-led charity that partners with non-governmental organizations in Latin America to identify education projects in need of support. Tutors and students who participate in the review sessions also have the opportunity to travel to Latin America, where they build schools and distribute school supplies to children. This past summer, volunteers went to Terre Rouge, Haiti, and Ocalca, Nicaragua. Since the volunteers pay for their own flight, accommodations and food, all money raised by SOS goes toward the education projects.
Recalling what it was like to be a first-year student, Rubinoff says it’s easy for them to become overwhelmed by the amount of material they need to review for midterms and final exams. They can benefit from studying in a group and getting different perspectives on the material from other students. “Having it explained to you in a different way can help you understand the material better,” she says. “If I’m studying by myself, it’s great to get a foundation of the material, but it can help to study with others because you can bounce ideas off each other.”
The review sessions are led by upper-year students who have already taken the courses and have a strong grasp of the material. The sessions run for about 90 minutes, covering major concepts, definitions and sample questions. Students can also ask questions during the session or approach the tutors afterwards. Participants also receive a practice midterm or study guide to reinforce what they’ve learned. The tutors often work with the professor who teaches the course and base the review sessions on notes provided by a student in the class. “We typically focus on first- and second-year courses because that’s where the demand is from students who need the most support,” says Rubinoff, adding that Guelph SOS plans to offer more science and engineering courses next year.
SOS started at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004 and has since spread to 26 university campuses across North America. The Guelph chapter began offering tutoring sessions at U of G in 2010 and raised almost $5,000 with the help of 250 students. They hope to raise twice as much money by the end of the winter 2012 term. The first midterm review session held this fall raised $420.
Guelph SOS offers review sessions that aren’t already covered by U of G’s supported learning groups. “We’re just another great option for students if they need assistance in their courses and we’re offering a session,” says Rubinoff. “For students looking to join our club, I think it’s a really great way to get involved and to give back to the community.”
Guelph SOS is always looking for tutors who have strengths in a particular course. For more information, visit www.guelphsos.com or contact Rubinoff at krubinof@uoguelph.ca.