With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Professor Hamid Nahavandi knows that teaching mathematics comes with unique challenges, but complicated courseware shouldn’t be one of them.
Titles & Courses:
- College Algebra, 3rd Edition – College Algebra
- Precalculus, 3rd Edition – Trigonometry
- Calculus with Early Transcendentals, 2nd Edition – Calculus
When I first adopted the Hawkes Learning platform about four years ago, I was unsure of what to expect. Prior to making the switch to Hawkes, I had been using WebAssign for about a year, but I often found it difficult to navigate, and it lacked sufficient tech support. I’d often have to rely on my colleagues for help, which was frustrating. Once I transitioned to Hawkes, I noticed the difference in Hawkes’ immediately available and excellent Support Team. My designated Customer Success Specialist, Marissa, has been wonderful and always within reach when I have any questions. I can also easily connect with Hawkes Learning’s Support Team’s 24/7 live chat. Over time, I became much more comfortable using the platform, and I continue to learn more. Recently, Joshua from the Customer Success Team came to my office and patiently walked through my Hawkes questions.
I also encourage my students not to hesitate in reaching out to Hawkes’ Support Team. I remind them that Hawkes can help them through phone calls and through their live chat on the website. Our campus also has a Hawkes Student Ambassador intern. Having that extra support through the Student Ambassador program has been great for the students, as they may feel more comfortable asking a peer questions outside of our class time and my office hours.
When it comes to my favorite features of Hawkes, I always think of the “Learn, Practice, Certify” sequence that Hawkes presents in their homework lessons. I often direct my students to the “Learn, Practice, Certify” features, especially when they miss class. The videos within the Learn segment have been wonderful.
These tools have been great for students to catch up on lessons at their own pace, and they really help reinforce the material. The mastery-based approach used in Hawkes has had a positive effect on students’ learning.
From an instructor’s perspective, I’ve found the tools within Hawkes to be very complementary to my teaching. The Curriculum feature within Hawkes Teach (the instructor side of the platform) is directly aligned with my classroom lessons, which saves me time and ensures that the material is consistently covered. The step-by-step explanations for each concept are also incredibly helpful, especially when a student needs further clarification. Another feature I really appreciate is Hawkes’ AI Tutor, which provides additional academic support to students outside of class. In conclusion, I’ve been really pleased with Hawkes, and their service is the best I’ve ever experienced.