Tutor Resources
Tutors are enrolled in the Peer Tutoring course in Brightspace where they can find all necessary information and resources related to onboarding, training, tutoring, submitting hours in Workday, etc.
Information for Tutors
Want to develop your communication and leadership skills while providing academic assistance to peers? Become a Peer Tutor!
Peer Tutors work online and in-person and are paid minimum wage.
To be eligible to become a tutor, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be legally entitled to work for any employer in Canada.
- Be enrolled at Algonquin College in at least level 3 of a program (exceptions can be made for 1-year programs).
- Receive a minimum A- grade in a course(s) previously completed and selected to tutor.
- Maintain a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Receive a positive reference from a Professor or Coordinator*.
- Complete the Application and Training Requirements.
- Commit to at least 5 hours of availability per week.
*Before submitting your application, you must contact your chosen reference to inform them that you are applying for the Peer Tutor position and ask for their permission to use their name and email address as your academic reference.
Application Process
For faculty: If you would like to request a tutor for your program, please email the Student Learning Centre at slc@algonquincollege.com
For students: Peer Tutor applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and are reviewed based on the demand for tutors in specific programs.
The internal policies and procedures outlined below define the expectations, requirements, and guidelines for peer tutoring. Click on each item to view more details.
Students are expected to follow the Algonquin College policy on student conduct (SA 07 – Student Conduct), which states that “all students and prospective students will conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights of all members of the College Community, and College property.”
Under SA 07- Student Conduct, Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, “Assault, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment and/or other conduct, which result in members of the College Community perceiving threat or danger.” Please see the full policy for a complete list of actions considered Misconduct.
Tutoring is a one-on-one service only. Group sessions are not permitted. Attempts by tutors or tutees to violate this policy may result in them losing access to the tutoring program. Tutors who violate this policy will not be compensated for the affected sessions.
Role of tutors: Tutors act as guides to help tutees with their course material. Please remember that tutors are fellow students in higher levels of their program - they are not subject matter experts and may not have all the answers. However, tutors are well-prepared to clarify concepts, assist with understanding course content, offer study strategies, and help you work through challenging topics. Their goal is to support your learning and help you build a deeper understanding of the subject.
- Remember that tutors cannot correct or complete assignments or homework for tutees, Doing so is strictly prohibited and may be considered an act of Academic Misconduct.
Required Materials: To make the most of your session, provide a detailed description of the help you need when booking your session. Be sure to bring all relevant study materials such as textbooks, class notes, and specific questions.
The fee for tutoring sessions is $9.00 per hour.
Before booking, tutees must set up a payment method in the Peer Tutoring booking system by adding a valid bank card to their account.
After a student sends a booking request, the tutor can either accept or decline it.
- If the tutor accepts, the payment is processed at the start of the session.
- If the tutor declines, the student must submit a new request for a different time or tutor.
- If the request expires without being accepted, the student is not charged.
- If the payment fails, the student should contact the SLC Kiosk at slc@algonquincollege.com for assistance.
Students facing financial barriers can inquire about available sponsorship options by contacting the SLC Kiosk at slc@algonquincollege.com
Booking sessions with a sponsorship: Once a sponsorship letter is submitted to the SLC, please allow up to 24 hours for processing. Note that the SLC Kiosk is closed on weekends therefore any sponsorships submitted during that time will be processed on the next business day.
Approved sponsorships are applied to the tutee’s account in the form of coupons, which serve as payment for booking sessions. To use a coupon, select it in the Coupon field when booking a session. One coupon = one 1-hour session.
Sponsored tutoring hours must be used in accordance with the sponsorship agreement. Hours cannot be saved or used outside the approved terms. Violating these guidelines may result in tutees being disqualified from future sponsorships.
Multiple Sponsorships – Financial Aid: Students already receiving any other Peer Tutoring sponsorship are not eligible for Financial Aid Sponsorship.
Booking Requests: Tutees must submit booking requests at least 12 hours in advance and wait for a confirmation email once the tutor accepts the request. All session requests and confirmed bookings can be viewed in the Calendar within the Peer Tutoring booking system.
Booking Status Notifications:
- Accepted: The session will show as “Accepted” in the Calendar.
- Declined: The sessions will disappear in the Calendar. The tutee should book a different time or choose another tutor.
- Pending: The session will show as “This event is waiting for a response” in the Calendar. The tutee can contact SLC Kiosk at slc@algonquincollege.com.
Joining Sessions:
- For in-person sessions, the tutor will confirm the location.
- For online sessions, in the booking system go to Dashboard, click “Actions” > “Open Teams”
Last Minute Requests: Sessions requested between 12 and 24 hours in advance are considered last-minute and are subject to a special cancelation policy. For full details, please refer to the Cancellation policy below.
No tutor available? Submit a Tutor Request form.
Tutors who wish to receive tutoring must notify the SLC Coordinator, Evgeniya Minakova, at slc@algonquincollege.com.
If a tutor or tutee fails to cancel and does not attend their scheduled session, they will be marked as a No Show. In such cases, both parties only have to wait 15 minutes from the scheduled start time.
Tutor No-Show: If the tutor does not arrive within 15 minutes of the session start time:
- The tutee is entitled to a refund.
- To request a refund, the tutee must email the SLC Kiosk at at slc@algonquincollege.com, within 7 days of the missed session
- Alternatively, the tutor may offer to reschedule the session. In this case, no new booking request is required.
Tutee No-Show: If the tutee does not arrive within 15 minutes of the session start time:
- The tutor is entitled to receive payment for the session.
- The tutee will not be refunded for the missed session.
- The tutor should report the no-show by emailing the SLC Kiosk at slc@algonquincollege.com
Repeated No-Shows: If a tutor or tutee accumulates three (3) no-shows, they will lose access to Peer Tutoring services until further discussions with the SLC Coordinator.
Tutors/ tutees can cancel a session in the Peer Tutoring booking system at least 24 hours in advance. In this case, the tutee will receive a refund.
Last minute requests cancellation: Sessions booked between 12 and 24 hours in advance are considered last-minute. Once accepted by the tutor, these sessions cannot be cancelled, and no refund will be issued to the tutee.
Tutor requirements: To be eligible to become a tutor, students must meet all the following requirements:
- Be legally entitled to work for any employer in Canada.
- Be enrolled at Algonquin College in at least level 3 of a program (exceptions can be made).
- Receive a minimum A- grade in a course(s) previously completed and selected to tutor.
- Maintain a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Receive a positive reference from a professor or Coordinator*.
- Complete the Application and Training Requirements.
- Commit to at least 5 hours of availability per week.
*Before submitting your application, you must contact your chosen reference to inform them that you are applying for the Peer Tutor position and ask for their permission to use their name and email address as your academic reference.
Applying to become a tutor: Peer Tutoring will accept applications for tutors a few times per year. Prospective tutors must follow the instructions provided at that time.
Compensation: Tutors are paid minimum wage.
Hours: Tutors are allowed to work up to 24 hours per week.
Note: Tutors are expected to offer support for all courses in which they have earned a grade of A- or higher. These eligible courses must be listed on the tutor’s profile in the Peer Tutoring booking system. Exceptions can be made for general elective courses – tutors may choose not to list those.
Availability: There are no set hours when tutors must be available. You are free to choose times that work best for your schedule—whether that’s early mornings, between classes, evenings, or weekends. Tutors are not expected to remain available during mid-terms and final exams as their studies take priority. We also recognise that mid-term dates may vary across different programs.
Students, whether tutors or tutees, who wish to provide feedback on a peer tutoring policy or procedure, suggest improvements, or report an unsatisfactory experience are encouraged to contact the SLC Coordinator, Evgeniya Minakova, at slc@algonquincollege.com.
The coordinator will connect with the student to discuss the situation in detail and determine a suitable course of action.
Feedback can also be submitted anonymously using this feedback form.
Online Tutoring with Microsoft Teams
- Become familiar with the basic controls and features in MS Teams.
- For your first meeting with someone, take a few minutes to introduce them to MS Teams.
- Take advantage of MS Teams tools to encourage student participation by:
- Sharing their screen. They can add text, circle things they don’t understand, and more.
- Using a whiteboard. You and your participant(s) can add text, draw on the screen and more.
- Asking for comments in the chat.
- Sharing files in the chat.
Topics:
| How to Access Teams |
| How to Schedule a Teams Meeting |
| How to Host a Teams Meeting |
How to Access Teams
- Go to the official Download page .
- Click the Download button.
- Once downloaded, open the installer by clicking the Download icon
(in your browser) and selecting the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions. - After installation, open Teams and sign in with your Algonquin Email and Password with MFA (tutors must use the email that they log in with to the Peer Tutoring Booking System).
How to Schedule a Teams Meeting (in Teams Calendar)
- Open Teams and navigate to the Calendar app in the left side menu.
- Click + New Event in the top right corner.
- In a new pop-up window, turn on the Teams meeting toggle (to the right of the Title field). Add these meeting details:
- Add a Title
- Invite Attendees i.e., add participants' email address (for example, Miranda Pankonin).
- Select Date and Time
- Click Send
Note: Both the organizer and participants can find a meeting link in their Outlook Calendar or Teams Calendar.
How to Host a Teams Meeting
- Both the meeting organizer and participants can find a meeting link in their Outlook Calendar or Teams Calendar.
- Click the event and select Join.
- Peer Tutors must join online sessions by clicking Actions > Open Teams in their Dashboard in the Peer Tutoring booking system.
- From the pre-join screen, select your camera and mic settings.
- Click Join now when ready.
- When a participant joins the meeting, you'll see a pop-up notification at the top of the meeting window saying that they are in the lobby. Click Admit.
Topics:
| Teams Meeting Controls |
| How to Share my Screen |
| How to Demonstrate something on Screen |
| How to Record a Meeting and Access it Later |
Teams Meeting Controls
- Chat: Click to open the meeting chat panel where you can send messages to all participants.
- People: Click to view the list of participants. You can invite others, mute participants, or remove them from the meeting.
- Raise: Click to raise your hand to indicate you want to speak.
- React: Click to send reactions like thumbs up, applause, heart, laugh, or raise hand.
- View: Click to customize how you see other participants and shared content.
- Rooms: Click to create and manage breakout rooms for smaller group discussions.
- Apps: Click to add other applications to your Teams meetings (e.g. Microsoft Whiteboard. Note that you may not have access to all applications you see).
- More: opens additional features:
- Record and transcribe: Click to record meetings for future reference. The recording includes audio, video, and screen sharing. Transcription automatically converts spoken words into text, making it easier to review and search through meeting content.
- Meeting info: Click to view the meeting details, including the title, scheduled time and meeting link. “Meeting options” link allows you to modify the meeting settings (who can bypass the lobby, share screen, etc). Meeting options will open in the browser.
- Video effects and settings: Click to customize video during meetings. You can apply background effects (blur, custom images), adjust camera settings, and enhance video quality.
- Audio settings: Click to configure audio devices (microphone, speakers) and adjust settings like volume and noise suppression.
- Language and speech: Click to access the following options:
- Live captions will only be visible to the person who turn them on.
- Speaker Coach will provide a post-meeting summary including feedback on pace, intonation, filler words, inclusive and repetitive language.
- RTT (Real-Time Text) is an accessibility feature that allows text to be transmitted instantly, character by character as it’s typed, without needing to press “send.” RTT may be beneficial for people who have hearing, speech, or neurodiverse conditions.
- Settings: Click to access “Meeting options” to modify the meeting settings (who can bypass the lobby, share screen, etc). If the Share button is greyed out for your student, open Meeting Options, navigate to Roles > Who can present and select Everyone in the drop-down menu.
- Help: Click to access resources and support for using Teams. This includes access to tutorials, FAQs, and contact options for technical support.
- Camera: Click to turn your video camera on or off.
- Mic: Click to mute or unmute your microphone.
- Share: Click to share an entire screen, window, specific application or use Presenter Mode: content appears next to your video.
- Leave: Click to leave the meeting.
For more information, visit Use meeting controls in Microsoft Teams.
How to Share my Screen
- In your meeting controls, select Share.
- Turn on the Include sound toggle to share your computer audio if you share videos.
- Select what you want to share:
- Screen lets you show everything on your screen.
- Window lets you share an open window on your screen, like a browser page.
- Microsoft Whiteboard lets you share a collaborative whiteboard.
- After you select what you want to show, a red border surrounds what you're sharing.
- Select Stop sharing to stop showing your screen.
How to Demonstrate something on Screen
Annotation allows you to draw, highlight, and write on a shared screen while in a Teams meeting. This feature is particularly useful when discussing design, presentations, or any other visual materials that requires real-time feedback and collaboration. It's also a great tool for brainstorming sessions, where multiple people can contribute their ideas to a single document.
Note: You can only annotate while screen sharing, not while window sharing.
Turn on and use annotation
While you're sharing your screen in a meeting:
- Bring your cursor to the top of the screen you're sharing and from the presenter toolbar, select Annotate.
- A pop-up window will appear prompting you to select either "Only I can annotate" or "Everyone can annotate and make changes" (the default). You have 15 seconds before the default option automatically takes effect. Make a selection and click the button to proceed.
- Allowed participants will see the Microsoft Whiteboard toolset at the top of the shared screen, and they can begin annotating right away.
- To exit annotations, in the presenter toolbar, select to stop Annotate.
To learn more, read this document from Algonquin College: Use of annotation while sharing your screen in Teams.
How to Record a Meeting and Access it Later
To Start Recording a Meeting:
- Join or start a meeting in Microsoft Teams.
- Click on the “More” (three dots)
in the meeting controls. - Select “Record and transcribe” > “Start recording”.
- A notification will appear to all participants that the meeting is being recorded.
To Stop Recording
- Click the “More” (three dots) again.
- Select “Record and transcribe” > “Stop recording”.
- The recording will automatically be saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, depending on the meeting type.
Where to Find Recording
- The meeting will get saved in the organizer’s OneDrive under “My Files” > “Recordings”
- The organizer can also access the recording by clicking the meeting link in the Calendar and selecting "View Recap".
- The recording can be shared or opened in Stream.