Tutors on duty

In our Faculty, students learn by solving problems. We learn by doing! We practice engineering and computer science through homework assignments, laboratories, and projects.

But sometimes you need a little help to get started with a homework problem. Though many of our first- and second-year courses have tutorial sessions, the tutorial might come a little too late to be of much use in solving homework problems in time for the due date. That’s we provide a tutorial service called “Tutors-on-duty” or ToDs: to give you the help you need, when you need it.

What's a ToD?

The ToDs will be available to help you get started with a homework problem, and are there to help explain what the problem is asking and how it relates to the methods that were taught in class. The ToD can help you to get started in solving the problem by suggesting a good approach. Or the ToD can help you with the concepts of a course that is giving you a headache. The ToDs are there to help you stay ahead of the game by providing you with help well in advance of the due date for a homework assignment.

What can I get help with?

The ToD program is aimed mainly at first- and second-year courses. ToDs are expected to be able to help you with problems in the Faculty’s core courses such as ENGR 213 and 233, and with the more specialized courses offered by their department. Each department has been asked to appoint four ToDs, so there are four time slots in the week when you can get help with, say, the circuits course offered by Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also, the General Studies Unit will provide two ToDs to help with the technical communication course, as well as with report-writing, citation of references, preparing presentations, and so forth.

Online Assistance

Students can email questions to the ToD helpline at tod@encs.concordia.ca. The ToD Master will monitor email and re-direct questions to a ToD from the right department. The ToD Master will also monitor answers to be sure all enquiries get responses. All enquries remain "open" until an answer has been given.

When can I get help?

ToD Offices are located in the Hall Building: H-806-1 and H-806-02. There are four ToDs from each department, who are "on duty" for three-hour shifts as follows. Drop by during these time slots for the department in question:

Rooms: H-806-1 and H-806-2
Jan. 9 (Monday) - April 27 (Friday) inclusive
Help Line: tod@encs.concordia.ca

Note:

* Mid-term Break: Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 - Friday, February 24, 2012 - NO TOD Service

No TOD Services on Friday, April 6 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 9 (Easter Monday).
TOD service on thise days will be replaced: TBA

We can’t expect every ToD to be an expert in every course! As you become more familiar with the service, you’ll get to know which ToD is best for, say, C++ programming, and which ToD is the best one to ask about thermodynamics.

To provide the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs with confidential feedback so that he can evaluate the usefulness of the ToD program, you will be asked to give the ToD your name and ID number. If the service is popular with students, then perhaps we can offer more ToD hours in future semesters.

We hope that the ToD service will give you help when you need it and contribute to your success in Engineering and Computer Science.