Frequently Asked Questions

We offer drop-in help and online booked appointments. Check Penji for available times. Make sure you switch to the Math Centre to see the math help services. Here's an introductory video to Penji.

Check our hours page for available times. Check Penji for online appointments.

Yes! Penji will show the times when online drop-in help is available. Make sure you switch to the Math Centre to view the online drop-in times.

When you click on the online drop-in location, you will see how long the expected wait is, since other students may be receiving help at the same time. You will receive a link in your student email account that you can use to see the math technologist. Or watch this video on how to view the drop-in schedule.

See our schedule in Penji for available online appointment times. Make sure you switch to the Math Centre to view the appointment schedule. You can book four 30-minute appointments per week and 2 appointments back to back.

Appointments are up to 30 minutes long. You may have up to 4 appointments per week to accommodate other students' needs. You may book 2 appointments back to back (consecutive) at one time.

Our webpage links directly to Penji where you can check our appointment availability. Make sure you switch to the Math Centre to see the schedules for the math technologists. Follow these steps or watch this video on booking an appointment.

1. Go to "Schedule a single 30-minute session".
2. Select "Math Help" as the class you want help in.
3. Select a time slot and c lick "Next".
4. Select a tutor/math technologist. Once selected, click "Continue".
5. Pick the available online location. 
6. Complete the topic box. Please provide your program and the topic (e.g., Automotive business: Vector addition). Click "Next".
7. A summary of your request will be shown,. Click "Complete".
8. Confirm the session request.
9. A confirmation email will be sent to your student email account with the details for the session. Keep the confirmation email. It includes the online link for the session.

If you need help scheduling an appointment, you can watch this short video or contact us by email for assistance.

Be prepared to share your work electronically. Although we won't help with your assignment, we may refer to it for clarification on concepts you need assistance with. Have a specific goal in mind for your session.

Yes, check out our Math Tools resources. The Learning Portal has a Math Hub with resources.

Here’s a special bonus. Dan, our math technologist, has created screencasts. Check them out.

1. Introduction to the Math Centre
2. The 11 Basic Rules of Math
3. Use of an Interest and Annuities Formula Sheet
4. Similar vs. Congruent Triangles
5. Trigonometry
6. Vectors
7. Single Equivalent Payment - Part 1
8. Single Equivalent Payment - Part 2

You can book an online appointment or attend drop-in help online using Penji. Watch this video for an introduction to Penji.

Yes, we do! You can view our drop-in times in Penji to connect with a tutor. Drop-in tutoring is happening online. Make sure you select the "Get a Tutor" tab in the Tutoring community in Penji to view the drop-in schedule. This video describes how to view and join a drop-in session.

1. Click on "View drop-in schedules". 
2. Click on the class you would like help with and select the "Next" button.
3. You will see the drop-in times and locations on the following screen. Click on "Check-In" during the scheduled hours for online tutoring. For in-person tutoring, attend the session by going to the location listed at the time listed.
4. After checking in for online tutoring, you will receive an email in your student email account updating you about your place in line, and when the tutor will be ready to meet with you.
5. Once the tutor is ready, join the drop-in session. 

We are offering in-person tutoring for some courses. Please continue to check Penji for updates.

Yes! You can book an online appointment with a tutor using Penji. 

Appointments are 30 minutes or 60 minutes long depending on a student's needs. You may have a maximum of 60 minutes of tutoring per day and 120 minutes of tutoring per week to accommodate other students' needs.  

You can book an online appointment with a tutor using Penji. Make sure you select the "Get a Tutor" tab in the Tutoring community in Penji to view the appointment schedules. Watch this video to book a group tutor appointment or this video for an individual tutor appointment.

1. Select the appointment type of your choice from the options listed.
2. Click on the class you would like help with and click the "Next" button.
3. Select a time slot.
4. Select a tutor.
5. Pick the available online location. 
6. Describe the type of help you would like to receive during the appointment.
7. Confirm the session request.
8. A confirmation email will be sent to your student email account with the details for the session. Keep the confirmation email. It includes the online link for the session.

If you need help scheduling an appointment, you can watch this short video or contact academicsuccess@georgiancollege.ca for assistance.  

Have a specific goal in mind for your session. Come prepared with your questions and your resources (textbooks, lecture notes, etc.). Although tutors won't help you with your assignment, they may want to refer to it for clarification on concepts you need assistance with.

Click on the session you would like to cancel in Penji. Select the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then click on "Cancel session". You will be asked to briefly explain why you are cancelling the session. Fill in the box and then select "Cancel session". You will receive an email notification in your student email account confirming the cancellation.  

Of course! Tutoring is available online. Just make sure to consider your time zone if you're not local and that of your tutor to make sure you don’t miss an appointment. Here’s a time zone converter to help with matching times.

You may book a maximum of 60 minutes of tutoring per day and 120 minutes of tutoring per week via one-on-one appointments. There is no limit for drop-in tutoring each week.

Online tutoring is provided using WebEx or Microsoft Teams.

No. Tutors are not allowed to assist you with your assignment or assessment (test, exam, etc.). Tutors are required to report academic misconduct to their Academic Success team lead. Review Georgian’s regulation on academic integrity for further information.

Tutors will coach you using tips and strategies to improve and build your learning and study skills. Each tutoring session will have specific and realistic goals that you help create.

Tutors must always adhere to Georgian’s academic integrity philosophy.

Check your Blackboard course shells. Your professors will identify resources that you can access. You can also check out the resources suggested by the student success advisors.

If you are interested in becoming a tutor, check out the tutor job description for more information

If you choose to hire a tutor not from the college, make sure you negotiate a contract. The contract should include how many hours of tutoring, pay rate, how long each tutoring session is, start and end date of contract, etc. Don’t forget that you are responsible to maintain the academic integrity of your work.

Writing help is available through drop-in and booked appointments. 

You can also submit a paper for feedback. Our writing technologists will review up to 30% of your paper and provide feedback within 3 business days. Tell us your name, student number, email, and program.

1. Select "Get paper feedback" from our department website or "Submit a paper" from the Writing Centre guide. Watch this video for the steps.
2. Remember, your paper isn't being edited or changed in any way. It takes up to 3 business days before you receive feedback in the form of comments. Only 30% (or 1/3) of your paper is reviewed.
3. Select "Begin to submit a paper".
4. Enter the required information - first and last names, Georgian email address, student number, etc.
5. Describe the type of feedback or section in your paper you would like feedback on. Examples are APA formatting, references and in-text citations, paragraph structure, etc.
6. Now add your paper in MSWord format. You can either click the box to open the folders on your computer or drag a file over. Your file will be listed under the upload box.
7. The maximum file size is 2MB.
8. Selected the wrong file? No worries, you can delete it by clicking the garbage can icon.
9. Sometimes it's really helpful to include the assignment instructions. You can upload them, too. There is a separate upload box for assignment instructions.
10. Click the "Submit" button.
11. If you want a copy of the form submission, either enter a valid email address or select the email you used in the form. Now click the "continue" button. Your paper has been submitted.

If our form isn't working for you, email us at academicsuccess@georgiancollege.ca with the following required information.

• First and last name
• Student number
• Georgian email address
• Program of study
• Attached paper for review.

You can attach the assignment instructions for clarification and tell us what you would like feedback on.

We will return your paper with our feedback within 3 business days after you submit your paper. For example, if you submit the paper on a Monday, you'll get the paper back no later than Thursday. However, if you submit a paper on a Friday, you will receive feedback no later than Wednesday of the following week.

During high volume periods in the semester, it may take up to 5 business days to return a paper with feedback. High volume periods usually occur before study week and at the end of the semester.

One of our writing technologists looks at your paper and concentrates on 30% (or 1/3) of your paper. If you've identified where you need feedback, e.g. APA formatting, they will focus on what you want. All feedback will be in the form of comments within your document.

Within MSWord, make sure you are in the "Review" ribbon. You may need to select "Show Comments" or make sure that "All Markup" is selected. Select each comment and "Delete" it. What you need to do depends on if you are using a desktop or web version of MSWord.

See our schedule in Penji for available times. Make sure you are in the Writing Help tab in the Writing Centre community in Penji to view the appointment schedule. Click on "Schedule a single 30-minute 1:1 appointment" and then "Join a class". Select "Writing Help" as your class. Select "Writing Help" again and then the "Next" button. You will see the appointment schedule on the following screen. You can also watch this video on how to book an appointment.

Appointments are 30 to 60 minutes long.  You may have two 30-minute appointments per week or one 60-minute appointment per week.

You can make an appointment with a writing technologist or writing tutor online using Penji. Make sure you are in the Writing Help tab in the Writing Centre community in Penji to view the appointment schedule. Watch this video on how to book an appointment.

1. Click on "Schedule a single 30-minute 1:1 appointment."
2. Select "Join a class". Select "Writing Help" as your class. Select "Writing Help" again and then select the "Next" button.
3. Select a time slot.
4. Select a writing technologist or writing tutor.
5. Pick the available location. 
6. Describe the type of help you would like to receive during the appointment. 
7. Confirm the session request.
8. A confirmation email will be sent to your student email account with the details for the session. Keep the confirmation email. It includes the online link for the session.

If you need help scheduling an appointment, you can watch this short video or contact academicsuccess@georgiancollege.ca for assistance.  

Be prepared to share your work electronically. Have your assignment ready in case we need clarification. Have a specific goal in mind for your session.

Click on the session you would like to cancel in Penji. Select the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then click on "Cancel session". You will be asked to briefly explain why you are cancelling the session. Fill in the box and then select "Cancel session". You will receive an email notification in your student email account confirming the cancellation.  

No, but we will show you how to proofread.

Organization and time management are key to being successful in an online course. Check out the resources suggested by Georgian's student success advisors.

More information on study skills can be found on The Learning Portal's Study Skills hub

Math help, writing help, and tutoring are free services to all Georgian and Lakehead-Georgian students.

This is a new experience and we get it can feel overwhelming. Have you considered other student services? Perhaps contact studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca or your student advisor. In the meantime, don’t forget to take care of yourself. There are many mental health and wellness services available to students.