Mastery learning is transforming the way students engage with challenging material, and Hawkes Learning is at the forefront of this shift. By emphasizing understanding over memorization, Hawkes empowers students to take control of their learning journey, building confidence through personalized, self-paced practice. In this blog, we're highlighting firsthand experiences from students who have thrived using Hawkes Learning’s mastery-based approach—discovering not only improved grades but also a renewed sense of motivation and achievement in their academic lives. Let’s hear directly from the students who’ve experienced the power of mastery learning. Ella from Guilford College “Hawkes’ mastery approach has made a difference in my educational experience because it makes it feel more personal. I know I can learn at my own pace and always go back to practice to understand the content before being tested on it. This makes me feel more at ease when learning something because I know I don’t have the pressure of a time constraint and I don’t have to get it right the first time.” Trenton from Prairie View A&M University “I love the Hawkes mastery approach because it forces you to learn to do the work (in a good way). It makes you go to the practice first and study as much as you can and work on a bunch of practice problems. Then, you are able to move on to similar questions in the Certify mode (using the mastery approach). It helps you genuinely learn instead of just doing homework.” Ash from University of Charleston “The mastery approach allows me to go through my Certify lessons and complete a majority of the lessons that I am confident in, while still getting a few problems wrong that I might be struggling with a little bit. This creates a more stress-free environment, where I can get one or two questions wrong and then go back and focus on them later, which ultimately reduces the number of errors I make from just being stressed about getting everything right.” Stephanie from Walla Walla University “Before I started using Hawkes, I would just hope for the best, but with Hawkes, it would make me understand before we moved forward… When I made a mistake, it didn’t just mark me wrong; it showed me how I was wrong and what I could do to fix it. The Certify part is my favorite because it makes me make sure that I understand the lesson before moving on and be more patient and consistent with my studying. Overall, the mastery approach has made me feel more confident in my studies.” Jay from San Diego City College “I absolutely loved Hawkes’ mastery approach. I loved how the structure is clear and concise, and the varied problem-solving really serves as a great stepping stone toward mastering just about any subject. I loved how I was always able to have a clear goal in mind, and that really made it feel easier and a lot more accessible while I was learning.”
October 22, 2025
Mastery learning is transforming the way students engage with challenging...
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We’re delighted to offer an exciting internship program to students from colleges and universities across the country. This fall, we have an excellent group of student interns joining us for our Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors program! Each semester, our Student Ambassadors offer guidance and one-on-one assistance with all things Hawkes to fellow students on campus, helping them to find homework assignments, create practice tests, learn best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and more. Read below to get acquainted with this semester’s team of talented Student Ambassadors. Ella from Guilford College Ella is a senior at Guilford College, pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Religious Studies. After graduation, she hopes to keep learning about natural processes and do meaningful work with plants and animals. With her free time, she enjoys walks in the Guilford Woods, looking at birds, and honing her arts and crafts skills through woodburning and watercolor. Margaret from Purdue Global Margaret is completing her degree in Project Management at Purdue Global at the age of 40, taking on her second journey in higher education with dedication and determination. She is from Indiana and is a proud mother of four, including one child currently in nursing school. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts and spending quality time with her family and friends. Jay from San Diego City College Jay is a future linguist stationed at their local City College in sunny San Diego, California. With a passion for language, Jay is currently studying Humanities and Language Arts with the goal of transferring to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics next year. The first time they used Hawkes was during the Spring 2025 semester in their Elementary Statistics course. Outside of San Diego City College, Jay enjoys reading, video games, art, and working at the San Diego Museum of Art. Joe from SUNY Old Westbury Joe is a Biology major at SUNY Old Westbury. His dream is to perform noteworthy research and make an impact on the world through science. Joe is interested in wildlife and marine biology, as well as cytology and teaching. He is passionate about nature and animals, among many other things. When he is not learning about science, he can be found teaching guitar and bass, practicing martial arts, exercising, hiking, and traveling. Ash from the University of Charleston Ashton is a junior at the University of Charleston, studying Biology and Data Analytics. He is also enrolled in an online Mathematic B.S. program through Indiana University. Ash holds an institutional GPA of 4.0 at both universities, with a cumulative GPA of over 3.9. After graduating, his goal is to pursue medical school and continue research. In his free time, Ash likes to go on walks, tend to his plants, and spend time with his cat Pythagoras. Stephanie from Walla Walla University Stephanie, now a sophomore, attends a small town college in Walla Walla, known as Walla Walla University, in Washington. When she is not studying for an exam or drinking caffeine to stay awake to study, you will find her hanging out with friends, watching movies, or listening to music. She is recently trying to get back into playing chess again and to read more books. Trenton from Prairie View A&M University Trenton is a senior at Prairie View A&M University. He is studying mathematics and hopes to get his teacher certification so that he can teach future students in various math classes. He loves to tutor students who need help with many forms of math. He loves to play video games and watch football and basketball in his free time. He also loves to create content for YouTube and TikTok. He is also a sneakerhead and has a large collection of Nikes and Jordans. This is his fourth semester as a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador. Nicholas from Piedmont University Nicholas attends Piedmont University and is a sophomore majoring in biology. He is looking to go into the medicine field, as he has always felt he has a calling and a purpose to help people. Although medicine is his passion, he is devoted to helping others in a general sense. One of his favorite quotes is “learning how to learn,” which reflects his position as a Hawkes Ambassador this semester as he helps students “learn how to learn” through Hawkes. He is looking forward to having a great semester and a great learning experience through Hawkes’ various programs. Are you interested in becoming a Hawkes Student Ambassador? Learn more about this exciting internship opportunity and submit your application here!
September 24, 2025
We’re delighted to offer an exciting internship program to students from...
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Can courseware really make a difference? For one determined student and mom, the answer is yes. Meet Jessica Skinner, a full-time mom, full-time student, and aspiring mechanical engineer at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. While juggling parenting and college life, Jessica found that Hawkes Learning didn’t just help her stay on track, it transformed how she learned. With built-in instructional videos, step-by-step problem guidance, and a mastery-based approach, Hawkes gave Jessica the structure and flexibility she needed to succeed. But the impact went beyond the classroom. Her children often watched her work, celebrating every mastery check and learning the value of persistence by example—especially her seven-year-old, who began putting more effort into his own schoolwork. Read the full story to see how Hawkes is helping students like Jessica achieve their goals—while inspiring the next generation along the way. *Interview responses have been slightly edited for content and clarity. Hawkes has played a significant role in my strategies for success, both academically and personally. My children often watch me work on my assignments, and they celebrate with me whenever I achieve mastery. This visible demonstration of progress and perseverance has had a positive impact, especially on my seven-year-old, who has started to put more effort into his own schoolwork. I believe this is directly influenced by seeing me actively engage in my studies and strive for success. Unlike other courses I attend on campus, Hawkes provides a clear, visual representation of progress, which not only motivates me but also serves as a source of inspiration for my children to value hard work and determination. Hawkes Learning offers several features that support my engagement and promote a positive attitude toward learning. One of the most helpful aspects is the inclusion of instructional videos, which visually explain the lessons and make complex topics easier to understand. Additionally, the platform’s step-by-step guidance allows students to work through problems without simply giving away the answers. This approach encourages independent problem-solving and helps reinforce the learning process in a way that supports long-term understanding and success. I am a visual learner, and when I have somebody working out the problems and showing me how to work them out, it is a game changer. The biggest way that Hawkes Learning’s platform has assisted me in overcoming my challenges would be the Step-By-Step part of the Practice section. It helps me understand and work out the problems myself while teaching me how to solve them. I appreciate Hawkes’ mastery-based approach to learning. It functions like a quiz at the end of each lesson, ensuring that I fully understand the material before moving on. This method promotes deeper learning and helps reinforce key concepts. I also find the unlimited practice opportunities especially helpful, as they allow me to learn from my mistakes without added pressure. Overall, this approach reduces frustration and supports long-term academic success by focusing on comprehension rather than speed. In my experience, I would utilize all of the tools they offer you. Be sure to watch all of the videos along with doing the reading. While the professor is working out the problems and explaining them to you, I suggest working them out as well. If you don’t understand how to work a problem, the Step-By-Step option in Practice will help you work the problem out while letting you answer it yourself. Hawkes Learning has so many tools to help you succeed; all you have to do is utilize them. "Hawkes Learning has so many tools to help you succeed; all you have to do is utilize them."
As you gear up for final exams, you may wonder what tools are available to set you up for success. Hawkes Learning offers students innovative, engaging learning tools to assist them with their homework and test prep. Take it from the pros – our Hawkes Student Ambassadors are shining a spotlight on their favorite Hawkes features for studying for finals. Step-By-Step “Step-By-Step is designed for people like me, allowing students to view the problem in a broken-down format and solve it in increments. In this way, it clearly lays out the path towards a solution, guiding you along so that you can not only review the process but also pinpoint where exactly you may have gone wrong as well.” – Ada from Guilford College → Dive deeper with Hawkes’ Step-By-Step feature HERE. AI Tutor “If there was one feature I used the most, it was the AI Learning Tutor. It was like having a 24/7 tutor who knew exactly where I was struggling and could guide me back on track. Instead of drowning in complicated terminology, it broke things down in a way that felt approachable.” – Inam from University of Virginia’s College at Wise “The AI Tutor helps students understand confusing concepts. It simplifies complicated information into step-by-step instructions, which allows learners to understand challenging concepts. It develops confidence by allowing a better understanding of confusing subject problems… resulting in students having greater academic success.” – Vatsal from University of North Carolina – Charlotte “Whenever I struggle to get through a problem, I ask the AI tutor questions about it. I can get specific answers and feedback from the tutor who can guide me through the questions.” – Trenton from Prairie View A&M University “With the new AI Tutor feature in Hawkes, you can trust the fact that the information you are getting is accurate and pulled directly from Hawkes itself. This feature gives students a unique, safe way of being able to ask questions that will help lead them in the correct direction.” – Piper from Ball State University Explain Error “The instant feedback on assignments has helped me personally. Instead of waiting for my teacher to give me my grades back, I can easily get feedback quicker along with explanations of what I did wrong. Hawkes Learning is an accessible platform and easy to navigate.” – Lillian from Oklahoma City Community College “This feature helps students use their critical thinking skills to figure out where they are going wrong and what they need to correct in the future!” – Piper from Ball State University Solution “Keep in mind that, while other programs may simply give you the answer, Hawkes provides the process as well so that you can compare your own method and figure out where you got stuck. I found this particularly helpful when dealing with highly nuanced problems that required close attention to detail.” – Ada from Guilford College Practice Tests “Being able to create my own test or quiz is another helpful tool. It is helpful because it allows me to put myself in a testing environment before my actual test. It allows you to put whatever questions you want to test yourself over. There is even a timing function to limit yourself to a certain time while testing to simulate a real testing environment.” – Trenton from Prairie View A&M University “I am a huge fan of the Hawkes Practice Test feature, which allows you to take mock exams customized to your individual needs. You can select the desired units, lessons, time limit, and number of questions, then save the test and take it whenever you want. This allows you to study under exam conditions with no learning aids so that you get a feel for your preparedness, and Hawkes generates a breakdown upon completion. From there, you have the option to review areas of difficulty and try some additional practice questions before attempting a retake. Practice tests are a wonderful way to build knowledge and boost confidence, and I highly recommend utilizing them.” – Ada from Guilford College → Learn more about how to create your own Hawkes Practice Test HERE.
April 24, 2025
As you gear up for final exams, you may wonder what tools are available to set...
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As a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador, these are my top three favorite features within the Hawkes platform: 1. Explain Error Encourages the use of critical thinking skills Tells you what to do instead of just telling you it is incorrect Provides hints needed to solve a problem Sometimes we just need a quick reminder of what we need to do to be able to work through a problem. That is exactly what the Explain Error feature is there for! I used Hawkes for a math class, which is obviously a subject that needs specific steps in order to complete problems correctly. The small hints provided by the Explain Error feature gave me the small push I needed to get to the final answer without completely giving away the solution. This feature helps students use their critical thinking skills to figure out where they are going wrong and what they need to correct in the future! 2. Step by Step Gives you the confidence you need to do problems by yourself in the future Makes you provide the correct answer before moving on Will act as an instructor if you cannot reach yours When the hints provided in the Explain Error feature are not enough, Hawkes provides the opportunity to walk through the problem in a step-by-step manner. To move on to the next step, the “Step By Step” feature requires you to provide the correct answer for the step that is currently being displayed. By using this feature, it allows the students to see exactly how to find the correct answer without skipping any steps. In the long run, this helps the students when it comes to tests and real-life application because they have the exact knowledge they need to do it by themselves! 3. AI Tutor Offers immediate assistance within the courseware Provides a safe way to use modern technology Will answer any questions you have about the problem AI has become a huge part of the world we live in, but it can be hard to trust it because we do not know where the information is coming from. With the new AI Tutor feature in Hawkes, you can trust the fact that the information you are getting is accurate and pulled directly from Hawkes itself. This feature gives students a unique, safe way of being able to ask questions that will help lead them in the correct direction. The students are able to ask this tutor anything they need that is even remotely related to the problem and get an instantaneous answer. Meet the Author Piper Kinder is a freshman at Ball State University in Indiana who is currently studying Radiography. Next year, she will be at the IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to complete her clinicals. After her graduation in August of 2026, she plans to work as a medical imaging professional in X-ray, CT, and MRI. When she is not busy with school, Piper enjoys spending her time with family and friends and working out! Student Ambassador Internship
March 28, 2025
As a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador, these are my top three favorite...
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With rising academic pressure and student stress at an all-time high, many students are tempted to seek shortcuts for completing assignments, with apps like Mathway and Photomath offering quick solutions. However, as many students have discovered, these tools may help solve their homework problems, but don’t foster long-term understanding. In contrast, Hawkes Learning has garnered praise for its mastery-based approach, which not only helps students solve problems but also encourages a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts. Through step-by-step guidance and personalized learning features, Hawkes helps students build real confidence and skills, preparing them for exams and future success. It’s this emphasis on genuine learning, rather than quick fixes, that truly sets Hawkes apart. Hear directly from our Student Ambassadors on how Hawkes has enhanced their own learning experiences leading to lasting success. Terrell B. from Mississippi Valley State University: “Hawkes Learning has truly helped me build a strong understanding of math by guiding me through each concept step by step rather than just giving me the answer. Unlike instant-solve apps like Photo Math, which only provide quick solutions, Hawkes ensures I learn the material through its mastery-based approach. One of the biggest advantages is that it identifies the areas where I struggle and gives me personalized questions to strengthen my understanding, making it feel like I have a tutor built into the program. This has greatly impacted my confidence and performance because I no longer memorize answers; I understand how to solve problems on my own. Thanks to Hawkes’ interactive tools and customized learning features, I’ve seen real improvements in my test scores and overall comprehension, and I know these skills will help me succeed far beyond the classroom.” Ada B. from Guilford College: “They [Hawkes Learning] want to see you succeed, and every aspect of the software works towards that goal. I say this having taken a Hawkes Statistics course in my first semester of college. With Hawkes, I easily secured an “A.” I was able to do so because everything is right there: Explain Error, Step-By-Step, lessons, 24/7 tutors. I never wanted for assistance, and was thus able to secure a passing grade, not without some difficulty, but without giving up. And even more than that, I came through with an understanding of—and even an interest in—the course. With Hawkes, you can rest assured that the help you receive comes directly from the software itself rather than some sketchy website deep within the bowels of the internet, and it is tailored to your individual needs. Learning isn’t a “one size fits all” endeavor. It, like any other art, requires a degree of personalization and adjustment. Hawkes recognizes this and sees it as an advantage rather than an obstacle.“ John S. from the University of Mississippi: “I would personally like to say how much Hawkes has helped me master my math lessons. I feel confident going into the lab to take my exam because I know that I can solve anything that is going to be asked on that test. Instant solving websites only give you an answer, that is not even always correct, instead of helping you work through the problem and explain why you got it wrong. This is where Hawkes differs because it provides the step by step solution and an AI tutor to help you understand the concept that the question is based around. In all, the instant solution websites are only momentarily helpful, while Hawkes sets students up for long-term success.“ Vatsal B. from the University of North Carolina—Charlotte: “Relying on cheating apps might save you time in the short term, but it will hurt in more challenging classes in the future. Hawkes leads to long-term success by teaching you to actually learn the concepts and formulas.” Inam O. from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise: “Hawkes actually helps you learn instead of just giving you the answer like apps such as MathWay, Studocu, or GauthMath. Those apps might seem like a quick fix, but they don’t really teach you anything. They just spit out solutions. That might get you through homework, but when it’s time for a test, you’re stuck… With Hawkes, you have to actually work through problems step-by-step, so you understand why the answer is what it is. The way it is set up forces you to practice until you really get it, which makes a huge difference when it comes to exams or using math later. Even if you’re not in a math class right now, the same idea applies to other subjects. Real learning takes effort, and shortcuts don’t lead to long-term success.“ Are you interested in becoming a Hawkes Student Ambassador? Learn more about this exciting internship opportunity and submit your application here!
March 26, 2025
With rising academic pressure and student stress at an all-time high, many...
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Imagine your students having access to a personal tutor whenever they need it, to guide them through challenging concepts with both patience and precision. That’s exactly what AI Tutor offers: real-time, personalized support through responsible generative AI. C Check out this student panel from the Spring 2025 Innovative Educators Summit to hear the benefits of AI Tutor directly from students using it! More Than Just Answers We know generative AI has a mixed reputation among educators; that’s why we intentionally designed AI Tutor to be different. Instead of simply handing out answers, it acts in a conversational manner, fostering critical thinking by asking guiding questions and prompting deeper engagement with the material. This approach helps students develop problem-solving skills, build confidence, and become independent learners—benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. With AI Tutor, students get a responsible, AI-driven support system that enhances learning in multiple ways. Below are just some examples of how AI Tutor supports genuine learning, along with examples of questions that it can handle. Remediation Opportunities Build background knowledge, define unfamiliar words, and get problem-solving guidance. Ex. Can you define reactant for me? Ex. Can you give me some background information on this? Simplified Explanations AI Tutor breaks down material with easy-to-understand explanations and provides step-by-step instructions, enhancing mastery and building confidence. Ex. Can you break this down into simpler terms? Ex. Can you walk me through each step of this problem? Ex. Can you explain this in a different way? Ex. Can you provide additional examples? Enrichment Opportunities AI Tutor can explain how a concept applies to the real world, helping to bridge the gap between theory and application. It can also explain how it is relevant to a current or future career path. Ex. Can you offer a real-world example of this? Ex. Can you connect this to my future career field in [X]? Ex. I am a nursing student. How does this help me with my job? Calculator Instructions Step-by-step instructions guide students through the calculator process, helping them solve problems faster and more effectively. Ex. How do I solve this with a TI-84 calculator? Customer Support Redirect (Available May 2025) Students will be redirected to Customer Support when asking a technology-specific question unique to Hawkes Learning. Ex. How do I reset my password? Ex. How do I access my eBook?
March 20, 2025
Imagine your students having access to a personal tutor whenever they need it,...
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We live in an age of instant, accessible information. I won’t deny it, nor will I pretend it is without its benefits. With a quick dance across the keyboard, we have the ability to glean knowledge like never before, from history and current events to science and art. That said, the corresponding convenience is tantalizing and has its pitfalls. Access can quickly sour and become abuse, and we find ourselves not so much learning as avoiding. I don’t have to join the legions of broken records enumerating the moral objections to cheating. I don’t have to add to the volumes of cautionary tales warning against dishonest academics. We know that cheating is wrong. But it’s also tempting. I understand it—I really do. Life happens. Things pile up. You get flustered, frustrated, and sometimes it’s easier to feed a few commands to a generator and receive a solution than to toil away for hours at something you just can’t seem to understand. But that’s why we have Hawkes Learning. The software is specially designed so that you don’t have to resort to cheating in order to pass. It’s likely you’ll encounter professors who take pride in their low pass rate—who enjoy being designated as “the difficult class”—but, fortunately for all of us, Hawkes isn’t like that. They want to see you succeed, and every aspect of the software works towards that goal. I say this having taken a Hawkes Statistics course in my first semester of college. If it tells you anything about my relationship with math, I am a Creative Writing major. Suffice it to say that I struggle (sorry to all my language arts folks for perpetuating the stereotype, but it’s true in my case). With Hawkes, I easily secured an “A.” I was able to do so because everything is right there: Explain Error, Step-By-Step, lessons, 24/7 tutors. I never wanted for assistance, and was thus able to secure a passing grade, not without some difficulty, but without giving up. And even more than that, I came through with an understanding of—and even an interest in—the course. With Hawkes, you can rest assured that the help you receive comes directly from the software itself rather than some sketchy website deep within the bowels of the internet, and it is tailored to your individual needs. Learning isn’t a “one size fits all” endeavor. It, like any other art, requires a degree of personalization and adjustment. Hawkes recognizes this and sees it as an advantage rather than an obstacle. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again, but cheating won’t help you in the long run. Even if you don’t care about a subject in and of itself, if you want a decent grade, you’ll have to learn the material sometime or other. Artificial intelligence is useless on an exam, but a firm grasp of the coursework isn’t. Take advantage of the resources at your fingertips, and if you’re unsure about anything, get in touch with your school’s Hawkes Student Ambassador. We’re happy to help. It’s what we’re here for. Meet the Author Ada Boroughs is a first-year student at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is double-majoring in Creative Writing and Environmental Studies, and hopes to someday work in conservation in addition to becoming a published author. Outside of school, Ada enjoys reading, writing, drawing, listening to music, and dancing, the latter of which she pursues with Greensboro Ballet. She is a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Arcadian Wild, hot chocolate, and petting every dog she meets, and if you visit her Pinterest board, you will find dragons, roses, vintage maps, and a collection of delightfully cheesy Lord of the Rings memes. Learn More: Student Ambassador Internship
March 18, 2025
We live in an age of instant, accessible information. I won’t deny it, nor will...
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The integration of artificial intelligence into education is transforming how students receive support, making learning more personalized and accessible. AI Tutor, an innovative tool from Hawkes Learning, is at the forefront of this change. Designed to cater to individual student needs, the AI Tutor provides instant, tailored assistance that empowers students to learn independently and with greater confidence. Through direct feedback and on-demand guidance, students are experiencing firsthand how AI can enhance their educational journey. This blog curates real student feedback, shedding light on how Hawkes Learning’s AI Tutor tool is reshaping student support and fostering a more engaging learning experience. *Students’ interview questions and responses have been slightly edited for content and clarity. “The most helpful aspect of the AI Tool is its ability to provide instant, step-by-step explanations tailored to each student’s learning needs. By offering real-time feedback and breaking down complex concepts into simpler terms, it makes learning more accessible and efficient. I believe it will help students by presenting different approaches to problem-solving, which may differ from what they’ve been traditionally taught. Additionally, it can handle redundant questions, allowing students to reinforce their understanding without frustration. It helped by breaking down steps further and not assuming I would automatically understand everything right away. This made it easier to follow along and grasp difficult concepts at my own pace.” Terrell B. from Mississippi Valley State University “AI Tutor supports students by providing instant help and explanations. If you do not understand a certain part, you can ask AI Tutor to explain more until you understand. It will allow students to grasp the concepts, making it simpler to understand complex topics.” Lilian S. from Oklahoma City Community College “I believe the best feature of the Hawkes AI is the suggested questions section. When a person is lost in a problem and may not know what or how to ask a question, the suggested questions tab is there to help. I believe that it made learning more engaging because it gave me direct feedback on questions I had on [math] problems. It helped clarify questions by showing me the steps to solve them.” Trenton J. from Prairie View A&M University “Hawkes’ AI Tutor is fairly unique in that it allows students to receive personalized step-by-step help based on specific questions they articulate themselves. I also appreciate that it draws strictly from content found within Hawkes Learning rather than presenting potentially faulty information from the wider internet. It encourages students to engage with the learning process, ensuring that they understand the material. Whereas many supplemental resources take a generalized approach to instruction, the Hawkes AI tool is designed to adjust according to each student’s needs so that they receive the most effective help for their learning style. It also provides an alternative to other AI platforms whose use of the internet often leads to inaccuracies.” Ada B. from Guilford College “Overall, it’s easy to use and very helpful. It makes studying faster and less confusing. It helps students understand tricky topics right away. It makes learning more interesting by giving quick feedback. Fast answers keep students focused and motivated.” Vatsal B. from University of North Carolina – Charlotte “I feel the most helpful aspect of the AI tool is the fact that I can type in any question that I have, or I can use the ‘suggested questions’ options that are available. I would describe my overall experience as beneficial in helping me learn why problems are solved the way they are instead of just mindlessly trying to find the answer. It also helped clarify difficult concepts by putting these problems into simple wording that anyone can understand and apply to their work. I would say it made [learning] more engaging because, with just a click of a button, I can get an in-depth answer to any question I may have.” John S. from University of Mississippi “I was surprised at how clear and helpful the explanations were. Instead of searching online for a long time, I could just ask a question and get a direct, simple answer. It saves time, makes learning easier, and helps when I get stuck on something. It’s like having a tutor available 24/7. It makes learning more interactive. Instead of just reading from a textbook, I can ask questions, get examples, and see different explanations until I fully understand a topic.” Inam O. from University of Virginia’s College at Wise To hear more about students’ experience with AI Tutor, check out our AI Tutor student panel hosted at Hawkes Learning’s Innovative Educators Summit: Learn how Hawkes Learning’s AI Tutor can enhance your students’ learning experience and see a demonstration: AI Tutor
March 11, 2025
The integration of artificial intelligence into education is transforming how...
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We’re thrilled to once again team up with students from colleges and universities nationwide for our exciting internship program, the Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors! Each semester, these selected students provide guidance and personalized support to their peers on campus, helping them navigate homework assignments, create practice tests, master best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and much more. Continue reading to meet this semester’s exceptional and talented group of Student Ambassadors. Piper from Ball State University Piper Kinder is a freshman at Ball State University in Indiana who is currently studying Radiography. Next year, she will be at the IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to complete her clinicals. After her graduation in August of 2026, she plans to work as a medical imaging professional in X-Ray, CT, and MRI. When she is not busy with school, Piper enjoys spending her time with family and friends and working out! Terrell from Mississippi Valley State University Terrell Booker is a sophomore at Mississippi Valley State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a focus on cybersecurity; he currently holds a 3.00+ CGPA on a 4.00 scale. His ultimate goal is to become a cybersecurity professional, and he plans to earn industry certifications such as the CompTIA Security+ to advance his career. Terrell was born and raised in Memphis, TN. He loves collaborating with his peers on technical challenges, and in his free time, he enjoys programming and following the NFL season. Inam from University of Virginia’s College at Wise Inam Osmani is an aspiring data scientist with a passion for coding, statistics, and leveraging data-driven solutions for social issues. He enjoys reading, playing guitar, and working out in his free time. With an analytical mindset, he aims to apply his skills in coding and statistical analysis to create meaningful impact in his field. John from University of Mississippi John Stubbs is from Mobile, Alabama, and is a Freshman at the University of Mississippi. He is in the Patterson School of Accountancy and is a member of the Mississippi Gamma chapter of SAE. John has striven to maintain a high academic standing, as shown by his inclusion in the National Honor Society and continuous appearances on the honor roll in high school and college. John is the oldest of four and a big role model for his younger brother and younger twin sisters. John enjoys spending most of his free time with friends, on the golf course, or in the woods. John was on a two-time state championship-winning golf team in high school, as well as a member of the football team. John loves to spend time with family at their hunting camp in Catherine, Alabama, by hunting the big fields or just sitting by the fire and relaxing. Sonja from SUNY Old Westbury Sonja Jerome is a Biological Science major at SUNY Old Westbury. Her dream is to teach biology and do meaningful research. When she’s not studying for her next exam, she loves to spend time with family and friends. She likes the beach, reading, writing, running, skating, visiting new places, and weight training. Her goal for this year is to learn how to swim. Trenton from Prairie View A&M University Trenton Jeffers is a Junior at Prairie View A&M University. He is studying mathematics and hopes to get his teacher certification so that he can teach future students in various math classes. He loves to play video games and watch football and basketball in his free time. This is his third semester as a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador. Vatsal from University of North Carolina – Charlotte Vatsal Bhakar is into finance and stock markets, learning more about investments and following economic trends. He is a hardcore Chicago Bears fan, and he enjoys watching the NFL. Having a taste for adventure in and above water, he has gone scuba diving in Florida. Vatsal is also an Eagle Scout, reflecting leadership and commitment to community service. Ada from Guilford College Ada Boroughs is a first-year student at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is double-majoring in Creative Writing and Environmental Studies, and hopes to someday work in conservation in addition to becoming a published author. Outside of school, Ada enjoys reading, writing, drawing, listening to music, and dancing, the latter of which she pursues with Greensboro Ballet. She is a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Arcadian Wild, hot chocolate, and petting every dog she meets, and if you visit her Pinterest board, you will find dragons, roses, vintage maps, and a collection of delightfully cheesy Lord of the Rings memes. Are you interested in becoming a Hawkes Student Ambassador? Learn more about this exciting internship opportunity and submit your application here!
February 21, 2025
We’re thrilled to once again team up with students from colleges and...
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A Hawkes Instructor Spotlight: Dr. Hillary VanSpronsen of Maine Maritime Academy We are delighted to spotlight Dr. Hillary VanSpronsen, a dedicated and passionate educator who teaches at Maine Maritime Academy. Dr. VanSpronsen, who primarily teaches precalculus and calculus courses, has been using the Hawkes Learning platform since 2019 to help foster student success. One of our Hawkes Student Ambassadors, Orion Tevanian, interviewed Dr. VanSpronsen to discuss her teaching philosophy, how she incorporates Hawkes into her courses, and her thoughts on the platform’s mastery-based approach. Read along to learn more about Dr. VanSpronsen’s Hawkes experience. A Diverse Approach to Teaching Dr. VanSpronsen teaches several versions of precalculus, including classes with varying speeds and content, such as business math and trigonometry. This semester, she is also using Hawkes’ Single Variable Calculus with Early Transcendentals for her Calculus II course. Having worked with different textbooks and learning tools over the years, Dr. VanSpronsen has found that Hawkes offers the flexibility and support her students need. “I’ve been using Hawkes since 2019 at a previous institution, and I’ve used it in various forms, mostly for precalculus,” she said. “It’s been a great experience.” The Best Part of Teaching: Student Connection When asked about her favorite aspect of teaching, Dr. VanSpronsen highlighted the connection she builds with her students. “My students are absolutely the favorite part of my day. Going into teaching is not a drain; it fills my cup,” she shared. She enjoys engaging with her students both inside and outside the classroom. “I love talking with them, joking with them, and teaching them,” she added. “There is nothing that they could tell me that would delight me more than to say at the end of the semester that they liked my class and they potentially have a different view of math.” Why the Mastery-Based Approach Works Dr. VanSpronsen told us that she has used nearly every online homework system available over the last 20 years. One of the standout features of Hawkes that Dr. VanSpronsen appreciates is the platform’s mastery-based approach. Unlike traditional methods that focus purely on right or wrong answers, Hawkes’ Learn, Practice, Certify model encourages students to truly master the material, helping them build a solid foundation for future learning. She appreciates that Hawkes allows her the flexibility to adjust the mastery threshold for her classes. The Importance of Practice and Tools Dr. VanSpronsen’s teaching philosophy centers on the importance of practice and using all available resources to succeed. She encourages her students to take advantage of the tools provided in Hawkes, including video explanations, the textbook, and built-in help features. By giving students the opportunity to practice, review, and learn at their own pace, Dr. VanSpronsen helps them gain the confidence they need to succeed in math. Dr. VanSpronsen’s approach to teaching, combined with the support of Hawkes, empowers students to not only excel in her courses but also to build confidence in their mathematical abilities for years to come. At the heart of Dr. VanSpronsen’s teaching philosophy is a belief in her students’ ability to succeed. She strives to create a classroom environment that fosters both academic growth and personal development. “I believe all students are capable of doing math,” she said. “They just need the right coaching, the right materials, and the right mindset.”
Our Hawkes Student Ambassador Raegan Fisher interviewed Professor Jacob Kaltenbach, PhD, a multidisciplinary and professional studies professor at Purdue University Global. Professor Kaltenbach currently teaches composition courses in the English and Rhetoric Department at Purdue Global. He has also previously taught in the Humanities Department, including various critical thinking, literature, and philosophy courses. In the future, he hopes to teach the new doctoral-level writing course for Purdue Global graduate students. Professor Kaltenbach has been teaching for more than 30 years at universities across the country and around the world, including more than 20 years in the online format for Purdue Global. In this interview, Professor Kaltenbach shares his experiences using Hawkes and how it has supported student learning outcomes in their courses. *Interview questions and responses have been slightly edited for content and clarity. What do you find is your favorite thing about teaching? I really take pleasure in helping our students better represent themselves using the written word to better express themselves and to integrate their critical thinking skills into their professional communication. At the same time, I learn so much from our students myself. I get the chance to teach students from all different disciplines. Our assignments encourage students to cover recent trends and changes in their fields, as well as their hobbies, communities, and careers. For example, our students write on community proposals for change in CM220. I get exposed to all these different, exciting ideas from these types of assignments—from human services, from the health fields, from industrial psychology, from entrepreneurship—which is almost like having a subscription to a wonderful magazine. I get exposed to so many new trends in different fields, and that keeps me interested in my work, in figuring out the best ways to help students leverage their existing professional communication skills for their career advancement. I have the opportunity to hear perspectives from all different regions of the country, as well as many people overseas. How long have you been using Hawkes in your classroom? I’ve been teaching with Hawkes in our English courses for about five years at this point. I participated in the early trials of Hawkes being integrated into our classes. We’ve seen some real benefits for our students and had the chance to really customize support for our students. Hawkes is one of our most essential tools to help target those different skill levels and different learning needs. What would you say is your favorite thing about Hawkes and using it? I defer to the students, and students tell me it challenges them. The same students will tell me they enjoy the content, the mode of delivery, the chance to build skills, and seeing their efforts validated through the Certification mode. That’s the kind of review we want to see from our students, right? I mean, you don’t want to hear, “This was easy, and I liked it,” and you don’t want to hear, “This was too hard, and I hated it.” They are saying, “This is really tough, but I enjoyed it.” I think that’s the sweet spot we want to see as educators. Did you find that the students appreciated the opportunity to use the Practice mode as much as they personally needed to? As a learner of other languages, if I’m learning Spanish or French, Russian or Chinese, and I am in a region or country where the language is spoken, I can go out on the street the next day and use a new skill I learned in the classroom. The moment I use it, it activates it, and it becomes real. There’s a real disconnect if you were just learning it theoretically and not applying it. I think Hawkes’ model does that in a way because you’re relearning these skills that you touched on or learned by osmosis in grade school, but you’re putting them to work in your papers right away. Hawkes helps students reflect on what they’ll need to go back and redo. Students can connect areas they did not 100% internalize, and I think Hawkes helps them actually internalize the material. Do you believe Hawkes stands out as a helpful resource among other resources that might be available to students? Yeah, absolutely—our students are very busy. Many of our students are full-time working adults and often parents as well. I think, on the one hand, they don’t have time to look for many other tools. It’s really nice that Hawkes is integrated into our courses. Hawkes is also where the students get the sense that they’re receiving some extra help, and they’re getting it from an outside voice. What goes alongside that is our own Writing Center, and I think they work together quite nicely. Because our faculty has been involved in customizing our application of Hawkes, we’ve ensured continuity and correspondence between our resources and the Writing Center resources. The Writing Center resources stand out too, so I think that they’re a perfect complement. I wouldn’t want to see one without the other. Have you found Hawkes to be helpful in building the students’ self-checking skills? That’s what makes a good editor. I tell students who already have these really advanced professional writing skills, there’s always a place to learn from. I think you learn from what you do, and what many of our students can also learn to do is to become a better editor of their own work, which requires self-checking. I think Hawkes models that a little bit in its Certification method. Have you noticed a difference with your students’ learning and grades since using Hawkes? Absolutely—just the ability to refer our students to both Hawkes and the Writing Center—that helps diminish the frustration. We can cut down on the kind of deferred questions and issues that are going to affect student retention and success. Additionally, many students defer their questions. This is like deferred maintenance on your house; it’s going to catch up with you eventually. That’s often why a paper fails. This can be a simple question such as, “Do I need another source here?” or “Do I need a better transition here?” I think students are sometimes afraid to ask those questions of the instructor, who will also be involved in their assessment and grading process. I try to encourage students that there are no stupid questions. I’m not going to review your whole paper and give you a grade in advance of grading, but if you ask me, “Is my tone and voice consistent?” I’m going to look at it and give you an answer. I think Hawkes helps students build that self-check skill, and I think it helps cover some of the questions that they might have and may not ask me. They get the answers for themselves through Hawkes, and if it doesn’t answer their question, it spurs them to communicate with me because it gives them a vocabulary. Students are afraid to ask a question because they don’t have the terminology. Hawkes gives you that terminology. The student can then realize, “OK, I’m having a problem with passive voice, so I’ll ask Professor Kaltenbach.” The students are empowered and given that terminology to come back with some measure of expertise to the classroom space. I think that builds confidence. I’m pretty sure we’ve seen an increase in our retention and success rates in CM107 over the last five years, and I don’t think we can ignore Hawkes as a contributor to that increase. Do you have anything else you want to add or any information you would like to share for other students using Hawkes? I think that Hawkes’ approach definitely improves our students’ basic skills, and it improves their eventual writing assignment grades. We don’t offer test scores, so I can’t say it boosts our students’ test scores in this way, but it boosts your final assignment grades. These skills need continuous revisiting. They need continuous improvement, and the approach that Hawkes offers to adult learning is very effective, as is its platform design. I can’t imagine our current course without Hawkes as part of its learning environment. I really appreciate the opportunities that Hawkes has offered many of our students to succeed in the CM107 class and outside the courses. Meet the Author Raegan Fisher is a student at Purdue University Global pursuing an advanced degree in Health Care Administration. She is a health care professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry and plans to use her degree to further her goals of becoming a health care administrator. In her personal life, she is a wife and mother of two teenage daughters. She enjoys spending time with family, pets, cooking, reading, and attending her girls sporting and other extracurricular activities.
Hawkes Student Ambassador Trenton Jeffers recently interviewed Dr. Dandrielle Lewis to gain insights into her experience with Hawkes Learning at Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Lewis leads the mathematics program at Prairie View as Department Chair. Read how she integrates innovative tools like Hawkes Learning to enhance student success. How long have you been teaching? I’ve been teaching since 2011. I spent eight years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 4 years at High Point University in North Carolina, and then I came here to Prairie View in August 2023. What is your favorite thing about teaching? Oh gosh, the light bulbs going off for students! Seeing them learn something for the first time or seeing them finally understand after struggling—it’s a beautiful moment for everybody. I love when the students learn. It can happen in the classroom, in study sessions, and when they come to office hours. You can tell when somebody’s been looking at a problem for a long time, but whenever it clicks for them, you see them smile or get excited. They’re usually like, “Yeah, let’s do another one!” and have found their confidence to tackle another problem. How long have you been using Hawkes, and which classes have you used Hawkes in? Since Fall 2023. I’ve used Pearson before with My Math Lab and some other platforms, but I had never used Hawkes until I came to Prairie View A&M using Hawkes’ College Algebra for our Math 1314 course. What is your favorite thing about Hawkes? I would have to say my favorite thing about Hawkes is that the representatives are incredible! They know the software inside and out. They’re always available, and I think that’s beneficial for us as faculty and also beneficial for students. Sometimes students run into issues at different times late at night. Faculty work mostly during the day, but students are up all the time, so Hawkes’ Support is still there for them even when we can’t be. I love the accessibility for the students in terms of the homework. It’s not difficult for them to actually go in and figure out which mathematical characters or symbols to input. I’ve heard very good things from students using Hawkes Learning, so I’m excited about that. Additionally, I think the ability for students to go in and create their own practice exams is phenomenal. Overall, Hawkes’ student-friendly setup is very nice. Have you noticed a difference because of using Hawkes? Yes! In courses where we’re using Hawkes, I see the students going through the assignments and paying attention to how the questions are phrased in the homework. Then, when they come into the classroom, it opens the door for the students to be prepared for discussion with their instructor, and we are able to have real-world discussions about how to apply the concepts they’ve learned, which has been a major difference. Meet the Author Trenton Jeffers is a junior at Prairie View A&M University. He is studying mathematics and hopes to get his teacher certification so that he can teach future students in various math classes. He loves to play video games and watch football and basketball in his free time. This is his second semester as a Hawkes Learning Ambassador.
January 13, 2025
Hawkes Student Ambassador Trenton Jeffers recently interviewed Dr. Dandrielle...
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Our Nassau Community College Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador, Lauren Zafonte, had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Murray Fullman and learning more about his devotion to teaching, especially as it relates to using Hawkes Learning. After 62 years of teaching, Dr. Fullman has seen it all – from teaching at the college level to junior high and high school. His passion for education and connecting with students has kept him going strong. Now, he’s found a valuable tool in Hawkes Learning for the past 6-7 years, which he uses for his Intro to Psychology courses. Dr. Fullman praises Hawkes’ concise, engaging content and the variety of learning modalities it offers students. He’s also been impressed by the exceptional support system from the Hawkes team. Truly an inspiring educator! *Interview responses have been lightly edited for content and clarity Can you start by telling me a bit about how long you’ve been teaching? I am probably going to shock you with this, but believe it or not, I’ve been teaching 62 years! I have been at Nassau Community College for 56 years. I actually started teaching when I had a graduate fellowship for my master’s degree. I’ve taught every level. I went from a graduate fellowship or teaching at the college I went to for my doctorate, where they never sent off my transcript, so I wound up teaching at a junior high school because I had to find a job. I ended up leaving the junior high because it was down in the South where I was only allowed to teach history up to 1865. Any memorable moments you’d like to share from your teaching experience? One of my students became a very famous singer. I was teaching at Hicksville High School, where he went at the time, and he played on Friday nights at the dances. I always say, if you find a job that you enjoy doing, you’ve worked the last day of your life. The interaction with students is my favorite part of teaching. I love being with people. When I get students like yourself, that to me is the most rewarding thing about teaching. You feel a sense of accomplishment, and I feel fortunate as to the number of people who are my colleagues now who really have gone into the field because of my influence. I was standing in line to board a plane during one of my many commutes between New York and Florida, because I taught in both states for 16 years, and suddenly a student walked up to me. He asked, “Are you Dr. Fullman?” He said he knew it was me because of my smile. He told me he is in the field now and actually has four offices. That to me, is the most rewarding thing. How long have you been teaching with Hawkes? When you first contacted me, I looked it up to see how long it had been. I was originally contacted by a fabulous representative. She came up to Nassau Community College and asked if she could demonstrate the courseware. She did such a fabulous job that I was totally enthralled by the program and what it had to offer. That was back in 2018, so I’ve been using Hawkes for quite a while. Which classes are you using Hawkes for? Intro to Psychology. Believe it or not, when I first came to Nassau, I did not like teaching Intro to Psychology. Before Hawkes, I only taught Abnormal Psychology for about 25 to 30 years. Then when I was introduced to Hawkes, I said to myself, maybe it is time for a change of pace. Since then, I do not even teach Abnormal Psychology. I love Hawkes so much that I will only teach Intro to Psychology. Would it be correct to say you’ve noticed a difference in the students since using Hawkes? Yes, I noticed the difference immediately with Hawkes. I’m the type of person that likes to be succinct and get to the point. I read Hawkes, and I find it really enjoyable. It’s short. It’s simple. I like the fact that you can get through reading the text without dragging yourself through it. I really think they are doing an excellent job. What is your favorite thing about Hawkes? Their resources are fabulous. The opportunity for the student to learn on multiple levels is incredible. We all have different learning modalities – some of us are visual learners and some of us are auditory learners. So, if you happen to be an auditory learner, you have the opportunity to listen to the material. I highly recommend Hawkes; I tout it off to other people when I’m talking about it. I think the support system is absolutely phenomenal! Meet the Author Lauren is a freshman Nursing major at Nassau County Community College, where she maintains a 3.9 GPA and a spot on the Dean’s List. She aspires to one day become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health. Her favorite classes are psychology and English. She is proud to serve as Treasurer of the ASAP (Advancing Success in Associate Pathways) program at NCC. While she does occasionally enjoy a good Netflix binge, her true loves are reading, poetry, and audiobooks. Lauren has a three-year-old pitbull, Luna, who loves to play and run, which keeps her active.
December 20, 2024
Our Nassau Community College Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador, Lauren...
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When I first experienced the AI Tutor tool, I was very impressed by its interactive design and ease of use. It felt like having access to my own personal tutor available 24/7 to help guide me through challenging concepts and questions. It gave me confidence to ask questions in order to get clarification on a specific topic. I was curious to see how well it would assist in providing feedback and explanations. It certainly did not fall short of my expectations. I believe the most helpful aspect of the AI Tutor tool is its ability to provide immediate, personalized feedback to complex inquiries. Instead of emailing a professor back and forth or waiting for a response, a student can receive guidance and clarification in real time. This will be especially beneficial when working on assignments or preparing for exams because it enables the student to understand the task at hand and move onto the next topic without remaining stuck. The AI Tutor tool will significantly enhance students’ learning experiences in their Hawkes Learning classes by offering individualized support. It can explain in detail complex material in simpler terms, provide breakdowns of step-by-step solutions, and challenge students to think critically about the course material. "This kind of interaction promotes independent learning, helping students to build their confidence and deepen their understanding of the content of the course." Meet the Author Lauren is a freshman Nursing major at Nassau Community College, where she maintains a 3.9 GPA and a spot on the Dean’s List. She aspires to one day become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health. Her favorite classes are psychology and English. She is proud to serve as Treasurer of the ASAP (Advancing Success in Associate Pathways) program at NCC. While she does occasionally enjoy a good Netflix binge, her true loves are reading, poetry, and audiobooks. Lauren has a three-year-old pitbull, Luna, who loves to play and run, which keeps her active.
December 18, 2024
When I first experienced the AI Tutor tool, I was very impressed by its...
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Hawkes Student Ambassador Kristin Jellison recently sat down with Associate Professor of Mathematics Paul Patison to learn more about his experience using Hawkes Learning at Navarro College. Professor Patison, a Navy veteran, embarked on a teaching career after completing a program sponsored by Texas A&M University-Commerce. He later earned a Master’s degree and found his passion for teaching at the college level. In this interview, Professor Patison shares insights into his Hawkes journey – from first adopting the platform in his classes to the impacts he’s observed on his students’ learning outcomes. Learn more about Professor Patison’s experiences below. Please describe your academic journey and what made you fond of the academic system. I graduated high school at 18 and I didn’t go straight into a college or a preparatory program. I was in the Navy from 18 to 22, and then when I left the Navy, I already had a family. That said, I had to work to support my family and therefore was only able to attend school part-time. As I approached 30, I found an educator preparation program at Texas A&M University-Commerce that was on the Navarro College campus and started taking the classes. Paul (front row, second from the left) receiving a Navy unit commendation award in 1990. I thought, “You know what? This might be my calling.” After I got my certification, I taught in the ISDs for 15 years from elementary to junior high and even high school with some dual credit classes. I had already worked to achieve my Master’s degree. I started teaching at Navarro for 7 years and have loved every minute. When you teach, do you take inspiration from anywhere or anyone? I had an instructor when I was working on my teaching degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce who inspired me. She challenged me on the very first night of class when I had to take a competency exam. When she was passing out the test, she stopped right in front of me, looked at me, and said, “I bet you $10 that you can’t pass this.” I would say that pushed me to seek and learn. So, I would say that instructor definitely inspired me to always continue to be better. As we reflect on your academic journey, is there a specific moment you recall working with a student where you were reminded of why you love teaching? I’ll just put this in a general sense, wrapping up more than one story or one person into one. Students will come to you for tutoring, but they’re reluctant. They’re like, “I don’t know why I’m not getting it, but if this is going to help me, then I’m going to come to you.” As they build that relationship with you, they start to trust you. Then they’re like, “You know what? I am gaining a little bit of confidence here. Yes, I can do this!” I think that is key, even at the college level. They can show their work to a professor and ask, “Am I doing this right?” and when they get the confirmation that yes, they are getting it, it just boosts that confidence to do it on their own, especially through the Hawkes program. How have you seen the Hawkes program support students? Hawkes supports the students simply because if they are not ready to demonstrate mastery of the lesson, they can get into the practice section and work on it. What I like about Practice is that students can skip lessons they have a firm grasp on already. For example, if there are five objectives in a lesson, and they are confident in two out of the five, they can just work on the three objectives. They don’t have to keep working over and over again on concepts they already mastered; instead they can simply focus on the three objectives that they’re struggling with. Also, the step-by-step solutions – I mean, you couldn’t ask for anything better! Really it’s a guided solution that the students can work through. How do you incorporate Hawkes into your teaching style and how you approach math? Typically, the problems are presented in Hawkes mirror how I teach. I’ve tried other products, but the problems are just not structured the way I teach. I use the Webtest tool to help my students, so students can mimic the testing environment and help ease their test anxiety. What classes do you teach? I teach College Algebra 1314, and NCBM 0314, which is the support class for College Algebra. I teach 1324 which is Elementary Statistics, Business Math I, and Business Math II. Business Math II is sometimes referred to as Business Calculus. You mentioned that you like how Hawkes allows Practice before doing the Mastery; therefore, students can get comfortable with the subject before moving on. Would you say that the Practice feature in Hawkes is your favorite? Yes, Practice is my favorite because of the tools that are built-in to help students. I hear from students that working in Practice is very encouraging, instead of jumping straight into Certify. There are so many students that come to us with math anxiety, and I think Hawkes does help relieve a little bit of anxiety with mathematics. Ultimately, it takes away the pressure of getting a grade. Meet the Writer Kristin Jellison is a Hawkes Student Ambassador for the Fall 2024 semester. Kristin is a sophomore at Navarro College where she is majoring in chemistry and plans to transfer to a 4-year university for forensic chemistry. Her academic interests include math and sciences, but outside her studies she enjoys reading and writing. After graduation, her career goal is to work in a forensic chemistry lab.
November 11, 2024
Hawkes Student Ambassador Kristin Jellison recently sat down with Associate...
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Each fall and spring semester Hawkes recruits students to participate in the Hawkes Student Ambassador Internship Program. Hawkes Student Ambassadors serve their college or university by hosting weekly office hours, leading Hawkes trainings, and showing students best practices of maximizing Hawkes’ student tools for success. The Student Ambassadors also work with Hawkes in special projects such as writing for the Hawkes Blog, creating social media content, and more. If you’re interested in learning more about this internship opportunity and would like to apply for the spring 2025 semester, please visit this link: https://www.hawkeslearning.com/student-ambassador-internship Emaline from Piedmont University Emaline is a Sophomore at Piedmont University in Demorest, GA, and she majors in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She plays basketball for the university, along with being a SAIL navigator and an English peer tutor. After graduation, Emaline plans on working as Speech and language Pathologist. Outside of school, Emaline enjoys hiking and travel! Trenton from Prairie View A&M University Trenton Jeffers is a Junior at Prairie View A&M University. He is studying mathematics and hopes to get his teacher certification so that he can teach future students in various math classes. He loves to play video games and watch football and basketball in his free time. This is his second semester as a Hawkes Learning Ambassador. Kristin from Navarro College Kristin is a sophomore at Navarro College where she is majoring in chemistry and plans to transfer to a 4-year university for forensic chemistry. Her academic interests include math and sciences, but outside her studies she enjoys reading and writing. After graduation, her career goal is to work in a forensic chemistry lab. Lauren from College of Coastal Georgia Lauren Jones is a junior at the College of Coastal Georgia and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2026 with her bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education. With content area concentrations in Language Arts and Math, Lauren’s dream is to ignite students’ passion for reading and writing in the middle school setting. During her free time, Lauren can be found at the beach with her son and a good book. Rachel from College of Coastal Georgia Rachel is a sophomore at the College of Coastal Georgia, where she is majoring in Data Science. She hopes to use this degree to work for the FBI where she can use data to find criminals or at a major tech company like Microsoft. In her free time she likes to listen to music, play video games, and hang out with her youngest sister. Her favorite class is AI and Business Innovation where she learns about Artificial Intelligence and she hopes to use this knowledge to make an impact in society. Raegan from Purdue Global Raegan is the Senior Manager of Volunteers – North Puget Sound for Providence Swedish. As a busy professional she has found the time to go back to school and pursue a degree in Health Care Administration at Purdue University Global. She hopes to use this degree to further her career in the field of health care management. She is enjoying being back in the classroom even if it is a virtual one and currently holds a 4.00 GPA. In her free time Raegan enjoys spending time with her family and attending her kids’ sporting and musical events. She loves going to the local farmers markets and taking long bike rides through the beautiful trails of the Pacific Northwest. Spencer from Piedmont University This student accomplishes everything she puts her mind to. Spencer Davis is from Suwanee, Georgia. Before becoming a Hawkes Ambassador at Piedmont University, she began her studies at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, where she was an honor student and member of the Omicron Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. Since transferring to Piedmont, she has done film work for the university’s Women’s Lacrosse Team, became a member or crochet club, and sister circle; a group created for young Black women to help them positively impact their community. Now that she is in her sophomore year at Piedmont and hopes to do more things with her free time and focus on her passions: reading, napping, sweet treats, volunteering at animal shelters, and writing letters to family. Lauren from Nassau County Community College Lauren is a freshman Nursing major at Nassau County Community College, where she maintains a 3.9 CGPA and a spot on the Dean’s List. She aspires to one day become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health. Her favorite classes are psychology and English. She is proud to serve as Treasurer of the ASAP (Advancing Success in Associate Pathways) program at NCC. While she does occasionally enjoy a good Netflix binge, her true loves are reading, poetry, and audiobooks. Lauren has a three-year-old pitbull, Luna, who loves to play and run, which keeps her active. Nick from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Nick Stevens is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte holding a 3.8 GPA. He is working toward a degree in marketing which he plans on using to get a job in the growing city of uptown Charlotte. He enjoys going to the gym as well as socializing with his friends at fraternity events and learning how to make new foods. Orion from Maine Maritime Academy Orion is the founding president of Maine Maritime Academy’s (MWA) Fencing Club. He is an older student who came back to school to finish a dual major program in Oceanography and Small vessel operations. Orion wants to work as a meteorologist with NOAA or NASA but likes the idea of being a boat captain as a backup plan.
September 19, 2024
Each fall and spring semester Hawkes recruits students to participate in the...
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As a student, I am often enrolled in online curriculum to complete assignments and take tests. I’ve used multiple online services for classes, but out of all of them, I’ve enjoyed Hawkes Learning the best for several reasons. My Four Favorite Features: Three-step process for each lesson Clear and helpful dashboard Easy simple functions Tutor options for incorrect problems Three-Step Process for Each Lesson Before using Hawkes Learning, I would stress over every word our professor said in class, painstakingly read every word of the book, and still get confused on homework. I would get problems wrong, and never learn why. With Hawkes, the three-step process of Learn, Practice, and Certify gave me the tools I needed and confidence I lacked. In each Hawkes lesson, students start by learning the content with options of reading the eBook or watching HawkesTV videos. Next, students can practice the concepts stress-free before working on the graded homework. In the Practice mode, I love using the “Tutor” feature to learn why I was getting problems wrong, to work through them step-by-step, and read an explanation. Finally, students complete Certify, the graded portion of the homework. By the time I reach Certify, I am super confident in the concepts, and I finish it easily. I am proud that I understand everything. With Hawkes Learning, this three-step process – when done as intended – can practically guarantee understanding and confidence in classes. Clear and Helpful Dashboard Knowing what to do, and when, is imperative to a successful semester. Struggling to find due dates was always one of my problems because I could never find which of the colorful tabs would be able to display what I needed to do and by when in an organized fashion. This is probably what I appreciate the most about Hawkes – the simple organization of information. Hawkes knows what students need. When I access an online curriculum, I’m looking for specific information, and with Hawkes, I can find it the moment I’m logged in. Easy Simple Functions When I am working on homework, I get easily distracted by all the excessive buttons, extra headers, extra colors, and all the links meant to be helpful for students. So by the time I read through half of the problem, I’ve already been exploring all the buttons, procrastinating on the work, and wasting my time losing focus. What I love about the functions on Hawkes is that there are not too many buttons. There are simple colors, and I can focus on the problems. The buttons that are available with Hawkes are actually helpful and useful – links to resources that I actually use. Tutor Options for Incorrect Problems Expanding more on the Tutor option in Practice, Hawkes has been the first online curriculum I’ve found that explains to the user why a problem was wrong, shows you how to do it correctly, and allows you to try it step-by-step. This feature has increased my learning confidence tremendously – especially when having to remember the many steps in math problems. Demonstration of the Tutor feature in Practice Thanks to Hawkes Learning, I was able to navigate the semester easily. By seeing clear due dates, I could work on prioritizing tasks properly. This helped me focus on the problems, troubleshoot when I misunderstood the content, and complete assignments confidently. Thank you, Hawkes Learning! Meet the Author: Jamie Stiver is a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador and senior studying Business at the University of Olivet. She runs on the Cross-Country team and is involved in C3 (Christian Comets Connect) on campus. Her favorite class is currently Financial Management, and she is also part of the President’s Leadership Institute. In her free time, Jamie enjoys playing piano, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
August 22, 2024
As a student, I am often enrolled in online curriculum to complete assignments...
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Starting the semester with new classes can be overwhelming; however, Hawkes provides students with many features that can make your courses more manageable and less stressful. As a student using Hawkes in my course, I found my personal favorite features. The following helped me succeed in my classes, and I hope they will do the same for you! Practice Mode Although it can feel more time-efficient to go straight to Certify, the Practice mode is a great place to start if you have all your notes ready. Personally, Practice helped me understand sections I was struggling with and simply reinforced what I already knew. Some benefits of the Practice module are: You can practice as many times as you’d like, even if you already finished Certify. The difficulty is customizable. You get immediate error-specific feedback if your answer is wrong. Tutor Feature in Practice Module I highly encourage my peers to work on the Practice module before Certify. It is not just because it helps you become more familiar with the content, but because of the Tutor feature. This option is located at the bottom left of any assignment you are doing in Practice. (Hint: It’s a red button!) What I love about the Tutor is it gives you a step-by-step process to reach the final answer. While in that Tutor, there are explanations on how and why you need each step. It surely is a unique way of studying and is great for note taking! Practice Tests We all experience some anxiety before a midterm or a final, especially if you are not so sure where to begin to study. Luckily, Hawkes has my favorite feature ever: Practice Tests. These are customizable tests that Hawkes creates for you based on the content you choose. For example, maybe you did a great job in Lesson 2.1 but need to reinforce Lesson 2.2, you can create a test just for that section! How to create a practice test: 1. Access your course from your dashboard, then find the “WEBTESTS” tab. Once you click on it, select “Practice WebTests.” 2. This is the part where you can customize your test based on what you need! Make sure to name your test. Then, you can select the sections you want to have on it from the drop-down menu. Don’t forget to type how many questions you want and how much time you will have to finish it. When you have all that information, it’s time to go! Designing a Practice WebTest 3. Once you click, “Start,” you are ready to start answering your test! Remember, don’t stress! This does not count for your grade. It is only for your practice. This layout will be the same one for your real tests, this also helps you to get familiar with the platform. When you finish your test, you can submit your final answers and see how many were correct and incorrect. It is a great way to see where you are standing and what areas might need more support. You can make as many practice tests as you want or retake previous practice tests. Overall, Hawkes has amazing tools that can smooth your journey through a course. Make the most of them! You can gain great studying and learning skills that will positively impact your future classes. Meet the Author Stephanie Mora is a sophomore at San Diego City College majoring in Philosophy. She works as an English Tutor in her college and is part of the supplemental instruction program. After finishing her Philosophy degree, she plans to attend Law school and help immigrants and their families around the country. Stephanie is a passionate music and film lover, she enjoys art, concerts and is an avid reader of fantasy books. She also loves to spend time with her two dogs Benny and Nube. Stephanie served as a Hawkes Student Ambassador throughout the spring 2024 semester. If you’re interested in learning more about Hawkes Learning’s Student Ambassador Internship Program, please click below: Hawkes Student Ambassador Internship
August 17, 2024
Starting the semester with new classes can be overwhelming; however, Hawkes...
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A guest blog by Student Ambassador, Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, from the University of North Texas Greetings, fellow students! I’m excited to share with you my recent experience completing a difficult business analytics course as a committed Hawkes Student Ambassador. I firmly believe that the Hawkes’ Mastery Approach played a pivotal role in shaping my academic journey, and I am excited to delve into the details with you. Embracing Complexity with Support I must admit that I was a little intimidated by the subject matter when I first stepped foot into the advanced field of business analytics. Hawkes’ Mastery Approach proved to be a trustworthy mentor, providing organized assistance that enabled me to confidently work through these challenging concepts. In the realm of education, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of superficial learning, focusing solely on achieving high grades without truly grasping the underlying concepts. Hawkes encouraged a more in-depth and significant interaction with the material. The Mastery Approach prioritized comprehension and mastery over memory, fostering a true knowledge of the material. A Transformative Learning Philosophy For me, this change in learning methodology was quite transformative. I started to value education as an ongoing process of exploration and discovery rather than as a race to complete assignments. With a newfound sense of confidence, this viewpoint enabled me to approach my studies with a fresh sense of enthusiasm and dedication, which ultimately helped me excel in the course. The Mastery Approach in Action: Certify Mode One aspect of Hawkes’ Mastery Approach that impressed me greatly was its implementation in the “Certify mode.” Far from being a mundane series of exercises, this mode felt like a meticulously designed learning pathway tailored to facilitate mastery. Each step was thoughtfully crafted to reinforce learning, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the course material. Expressing Gratitude to Hawkes In conclusion, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Hawkes for providing such an enriching and empowering learning experience. The Mastery Approach has equipped me with not only the knowledge and skills required to succeed but also a deeper understanding and appreciation of the learning process itself. Meet the Author: Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, an MBA student at the University of North Texas specializing in Business Analytics, is recognized for her unique blend of analytical prowess and business acumen. With a focus on enhancing student experiences through data-driven insights, she aspires to become a senior business analyst post-graduation. Actively engaged in campus activities such as the Asian Student Association, and Public Relations Club, and serving as a Volunteer Social Media Coordinator, she demonstrates dedication to both academic and extracurricular excellence. In her leisure time, she finds enjoyment in playing chess and badminton, reflecting her varied interests.
August 2, 2024
A guest blog by Student Ambassador, Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, from the...
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A guest blog by Student Ambassador Molly Linck, University of Mississippi When I started my first college math course, I was a little nervous about how well I would learn in such a big classroom without any one-on-one time with my professor. But when I first started using Hawkes to do my homework, I instantly realized I had more access to learning materials than ever before. As a Hawkes Ambassador at the University of Mississippi, I want to tell you about some ways you can utilize Hawkes to make the most out of your study time. Practice Makes Perfect The Hawkes Practice Mode is a great way to solidify your understanding of the material before moving on to Certify. Practice features a Tutor mode which can either give you an example problem with a hint, or even a full step-by-step answer to the solution if needed. Utilizing the Practice mode can ensure you fully understand the material and how to complete the problems step-by-step before going into Certify mode. Watch the Videos In Learn mode, Hawkes offers lessons on the topic you’re studying along with an instructional video on how to do the problems. These videos can be very helpful for those times where you don’t remember some parts of your professor’s lesson or you just need a little refresher. Sometimes it’s easiest to watch a video explaining the topic, and this is when the instructional videos are perfect. Take a Practice Test The Practice Test feature, found under the WebTest section, can help you test your knowledge before an upcoming test. By creating a Practice Test, choose which topics you would like to practice, and Hawkes will do the rest in creating the test. Taking Practice Tests until you’ve mastered them can help ensure you know all of the materials and are ready to go on test day! Molly Linck is a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador from the University of Mississippi. Learn more about Hawkes’ Student Ambassador Program here.
July 22, 2024
A guest blog by Student Ambassador Molly Linck, University of Mississippi When...
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As a first-generation college student, I never had someone in my family to equip me with the habits I would need to be successful in college; I had to create my own. Hawkes made learning these habits so much easier for me. I remember sitting in my freshman business calculus class thinking, “How in the world am I going to understand this?” The answer? Hawkes. Studying was something I never really learned to do in high school, so it was a huge learning curve for me once I got to college. Hawkes takes the dread out of my study sessions for me. Here are some features I have grown to love because of my hassle-free study sessions: Practice Mode Practice mode is great because it allows me to skip the questions I already know and practice the ones I am unsure of. In the event I get an answer incorrect, it gives an explanation as to why it was incorrect with the Tutor feature. Because my major in accounting deals with ample amounts of math, I have learned that the only way to truly LEARN math is to practice it. The more repetitive the process, the better. Practice mode is the best place to do that! Tutor Feature As aforementioned, Practice mode offers a Tutor button in the event I answer a question incorrectly. I love this feature because it walks me step-by-step through the problem to pinpoint exactly where I went wrong. Again, lots of math oftentimes means lots of room for error. The Tutor feature is my favorite way to get out of a sticky situation without having to send my professor an email (the response time is also immediate, which is a plus!)! Certify Mode The Certify mode helps me to know when I have mastered a concept. Although Certify does not offer the Tutor feature, it can be paused and resumed. This is particularly great when I come across a question I might have skipped on the Practice mode that I really shouldn’t have. Certify mode truly concretes my knowledge and makes me feel the most prepared for my next test or quiz! The Encouraging Messages Although this might sound like a minute detail of the Hawkes platform, I find it to be one feature that I could not leave out of my post. There have been times when I have spent way longer than I intended on a Certify problem just to get it incorrect; however, I reattempt the problem just to get an encouraging, “Way to go, Madelyn!” or “Nice Work!” message next to my continue button. It might not seem like much, but a little encouragement goes a long way on those long nights spent before a calculus test! Meet the Author Madelyn Harris is a Hawkes Student Ambassador and sophomore at the University of Mississippi. Madelyn is majoring in accounting and minoring in intelligence and security studies. She is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and boasts a 4.0 GPA. Her favorite classes are those for her minor; she plans to apply for an internship with the National Security Agency to fulfill her dreams of becoming a forensic accountant after graduation. Outside of school, Madelyn is co-owner of a nutrition business with her mom, and she loves to serve the people of her community every chance she gets. Student Ambassador Program
July 8, 2024
As a first-generation college student, I never had someone in my family to...
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Embarking on my educational journey with Hawkes has been a game-changer, and I’m excited to share my observations about the features of this courseware that have been crucial to my success in the classroom. As a committed user of the platform and Hawkes Student Ambassador, I’ve had the honor of delving into several platform features that have improved my educational experience. The Practice Test feature has been a game-changer in my exam preparation. I was able to recreate actual exam settings and identify my areas of weakness by customizing practice exams. This feature helped me feel less nervous about the test and gave me significant guidance about what to focus on during my study sessions. The Learn mode and Practice mode are two more intriguing features that have helped me to solidify my grasp of the course material. Practice mode provided limitless application possibilities, while Learn mode allowed for in-depth topic reviews. I was able to review difficult ideas at my own pace because of the flexible and encouraging learning environment that was created by the inclusion of options like Skip and Tutor in Practice. I believe in staying organized and that is the key to academic success, and the notification feature on Hawkes proved to be a reliable companion. Because it highlighted important tasks according to their due dates, it helped me stay on track. This function helped me organize my time so that I never missed a deadline and continued to be proactive with my academics. Hawkes provides more than study materials. The Practice Tests provide personalized performance overview charts, displaying an all-encompassing assessment of my progress. Additionally, after each Certify session, a Certify Review would provide a visual picture of my performance and opportunity to review my question attempts. By examining these resources, I was able to spot patterns and concentrate on the areas that need more care, which enabled me to make improvements over time. These particular aspects of the platform have been crucial to my academic success, and my experience with Hawkes has been transforming. My overall learning experience has been enhanced by the platform’s dedication to customization and flexibility, while also providing me with the resources I need to succeed. Looking back on my academic journey, I can see that Hawkes has been a dependable teacher who has helped me achieve academic success. I am excited to share my success with fellow students and encourage them to leverage these features for their academic wins. Hawkes has been a dependable teacher who has helped me achieve academic success. Meet the Author: Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, an MBA student at the University of North Texas specializing in Business Analytics, is recognized for her unique blend of analytical prowess and business acumen. With a focus on enhancing student experiences through data-driven insights, she aspires to become a senior business analyst post-graduation. Actively engaged in campus activities such as the Asian Student Association, and Public Relations Club, and serving as a Volunteer Social Media Coordinator, she demonstrates dedication to both academic and extracurricular excellence. In her leisure time, she finds enjoyment in playing chess and badminton, reflecting her varied interests. Lakshmi served as a Hawkes Student Ambassador throughout the spring 2024 semester. If you’re interested in learning more about Hawkes Learning’s Student Ambassador Internship Program, please click below: Hawkes Student Ambassador Internship
June 28, 2024
Embarking on my educational journey with Hawkes has been a game-changer, and...
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As part of my journey in securing internships, I had the privilege of completing a virtual internship with Hawkes, an experience that provided invaluable insights and professional growth opportunities. Despite the absence of a traditional office setting, the virtual internship at Hawkes offered a dynamic and enriching environment where I could apply my skills, collaborate with team members, and contribute to meaningful projects. One of the highlights of my virtual internship was the opportunity to work on different projects that covered various departments. From content creation to writing blogs, each project presented unique challenges and learning opportunities. Through these experiences, I gained hands-on experience in areas such as persuasive writing, which further enhanced my skill set and understanding of the platform. One particularly rewarding aspect of my internship at Hawkes was the emphasis on remote collaboration and communication. Despite being geographically far; the Hawkes team adopted a supportive and complete culture that facilitated seamless collaboration. Project check-ins, and communication channels ensured that team members remained connected and engaged. “The skills, knowledge, and connections gained during my internship have absolutely shaped my professional development and prepared me for future careers in the field.” Moreover, the flexibility afforded by the virtual internship format allowed me to balance my internship responsibilities with other commitments, such as coursework and personal projects. This flexibility not only enhanced my productivity and efficiency but also underscored the importance of adaptability and time management in a remote work environment. Reflecting on my virtual internship experience at Hawkes, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and advanced organization. The skills, knowledge, and connections gained during my internship have absolutely shaped my professional development and prepared me for future careers in the field. What is a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador? Each semester, Hawkes offers a paid internship opportunity to students across the country who have passed a course using Hawkes, with over a 90%, maintained at least a 3.0 GPA, and are excited about gaining real-world experience in public speaking and serving as a mentor for fellow students. Student Ambassadors offer guidance and one-on-one assistance with all things Hawkes to fellow students on campus, helping them to find homework assignments, create practice tests, learn best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and more. Meet the author: Junior Che, originally from Belize and currently residing in Yakima, Washington, is a dedicated individual pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Software Development using Python at Purdue University Global. With a profound passion for technology, Junior thrives on absorbing knowledge from the ever-evolving tech world. Known for his innovative spirit, Junior loves experimenting in his home lab that he built purely for the enjoyment of the process. Looking ahead, Junior aspires to combine his interests by opening his own business, seamlessly integrating the technology and automotive industries. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to both his academic and personal pursuits.
May 14, 2024
As part of my journey in securing internships, I had the privilege of...
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As we look forward to the summertime, we must dig deep to finish the semester strong! We asked our Spring 2024 Student Ambassadors for tips on closing the spring term with excellence. Check out what they shared below! Trenton from Prairie View A&M University: It is essential to stay organized, review syllabi, and remain ahead of assignments so that the deadline is always met. To make these suggestions more effective, I recommend using a planner to keep track of everything that needs to be done before the semester ends. Having a clear and accurate overview of your responsibilities will allow you to prioritize your tasks to ensure that nothing falls out of place. Lakshmi from the University of North Texas: Staying motivated is crucial for success. Setting attainable goals, praising progress, and envisioning victory helps me stay motivated and focused while I pursue my academic ambitions. Molly from the University of Mississippi: Throughout all of the business of finals week it can be hard to remember to get an adequate amount of sleep, but it is so important! Quality sleep will help recharge your body and your mind to be ready for studying and exams, so try to make sleep a priority. Lean from College of Southern Maryland – Eastern Shore: Because the weather is getting nicer, I recommend studying or working outdoors. It is a nice change of scenery and environment and often is much more relaxing than studying inside a building. To study for finals, I suggest doing so with friends or classmates, as this allows you to study without sacrificing social time. It also makes the study session more enjoyable. Puja from the University of North Texas: Implement stress management techniques that work for you, whether it’s meditation, yoga, exercise, or listening to music. Recognizing when you are stressed and addressing it can prevent feelings from becoming overwhelming. Stress management not only helps maintain your mental health but can also improve your cognitive function. Madelyn from the University of Mississippi: Although it might sound cliche or cheesy, encouragement is essential to finishing strong! Remind yourself that your best is the best YOU can do, and that’s okay! Keep your inner circle close and encourage each other. It makes a difference when you are reminded that your purpose is greater than the grades you receive; it takes more grades than one to get a degree! Interested in being a Student Ambassador? Click here to learn more and apply for our Fall 2024 Internship!
May 9, 2024
As we look forward to the summertime, we must dig deep to finish the semester...
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A guest blog article by Student Ambassador, Madelyn Harris Finals are right around the corner; what a scary thought! Studying for finals does not have to be scary though. Studying with Hawkes is a hassle free experience that will leave you feeling prepared to ace your exams! In four simple steps, you can trade your stress for serenity: B- Be Confident! The first step to achieving your goals is to begin. By utilizing the Hawkes platform, students have access to their courseware textbook, an amazing Practice Mode, and practice tests. Working through the problems in the textbook or practicing them before test day can boost students’ confidence greatly! E- Endless Attempts Hawkes’ Practice Mode is my favorite place to go to build my confidence because it gives me endless attempts at the same problem in different formats. The “Try Similar” button in practice mode gives endless variations of the same type of problem, so I go into my exams feeling confident that I have seen any problem that might be on the test! S- Speak Out I truly owe everything I have learned through Hawkes, including my participation in the Ambassador Program, to my wonderful professors. If you don’t know where to begin studying, reach out to your professor! I have always felt like a priority to my Hawkes professors and Hawkes Ambassadors; they are here to help you succeed! T- Timing is Everything! Only you can know how prepared you are for your exam! Timing your studies is of the utmost importance. Lacking confidence in your ability to study might require a few more hours during the week preparing, but putting everything off until the night before the test is never a good idea! Taking time to do a handful of practice problems on Hawkes each day is better than cramming in a last minute study session before the exam! Madelyn Harris is a Hawkes Student Ambassador and sophomore at the University of Mississippi. Madelyn is majoring in accounting and minoring in intelligence and security studies. She is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and boasts a 4.0 GPA. Her favorite classes are those for her minor; she plans to apply for an internship with the National Security Agency to fulfill her dreams of becoming a forensic accountant after graduation. Outside of school, Madelyn is co-owner of a nutrition business with her mom, and she loves to serve the people of her community every chance she gets. Learn more about the Hawkes Student Ambassador Program here!
May 7, 2024
A guest blog article by Student Ambassador, Madelyn Harris
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Written by Student Ambassador, Junior Che of Purdue Global University As a former user of Hawkes Learning’s English Composition, I can attest to the significant impact it had on my writing journey. Hawkes provided a structured and interactive platform that not only enhanced my writing skills but also introduced confidence in expressing my thoughts effectively. One of the most beneficial aspects of Hawkes was its integration into lab sequences, a feature utilized by Purdue Global. This method of learning allowed me to engage with the material at my own pace while receiving timely feedback and guidance. The structured nature of the lab sequences provided a roadmap for improving my writing, starting from fundamental concepts, and slowly advancing to more complex skills. Each lesson was carefully designed to build upon the previous one, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of various writing elements such as grammar, syntax, and organization. This approach not only facilitated learning but also boosted my confidence as I witnessed real progress in my writing abilities. One of the standout features of Hawkes was its selection of tools and content to address specific writing challenges. From interactive exercises that reinforced grammar rules to comprehensive writing assignments that encouraged critical thinking, Hawkes offered a wide range of resources to cater to different learning styles. In conclusion, my experience with Hawkes’ English Composition helped shape me into a proficient writer. Through its integrated lab sequences, diverse tools, and personalized feedback mechanism, Hawkes equipped me with the necessary skills and confidence to excel in academic writing and beyond. The journey with Hawkes was not just about mastering the mechanics of writing but also about fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of effective communication. As I continue to apply the lessons learned from Hawkes in my academic and professional pursuits, I am grateful for the invaluable role it has played in my writing journey. What is a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador? Each semester, Hawkes offers a paid internship opportunity to students across the country who have passed a course using Hawkes, with over a 90%, maintained at least a 3.0 GPA, and are excited about gaining real-world experience in public speaking and serving as a mentor for fellow students. Student Ambassadors offer guidance and one-on-one assistance with all things Hawkes to fellow students on campus, helping them to find homework assignments, create practice tests, learn best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and more. Meet Student Ambassador, Junior Che Junior Che, originally from Belize and currently residing in Yakima, Washington, is a dedicated individual pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Software Development using Python at Purdue University Global. With a profound passion for technology, Junior thrives on absorbing knowledge from the ever-evolving tech world. Known for his innovative spirit, Junior loves experimenting in his home lab that he built purely for the enjoyment of the process. Looking ahead, Junior aspires to combine his interests by opening his own business, seamlessly integrating the technology and automotive industries. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to both his academic and personal pursuits.
March 11, 2024
Written by Student Ambassador, Junior Che of Purdue Global University As a...
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We’re excited to once again partner with students from colleges and universities across the country for an exciting internship program we call our Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors! Each semester, selected students offer guidance and one-on-one assistance with all things Hawkes to fellow students on campus, helping them to find homework assignments, create practice tests, learn best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and more. Read below to get acquainted with this semester’s team of bright and talented ambassadors. Madelyn Harris, University of Mississippi Madelyn Harris is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, where she is majoring in accounting and minoring in intelligence and security studies. Madelyn is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and boasts a 4.0 GPA. Her favorite classes are those for her minor; she plans to apply for an internship with the National Security Agency to fulfill her dreams of becoming a forensic accountant after graduation. Outside of school, Madelyn is co-owner of a nutrition business with her mom, and she loves to serve the people of her community every chance she gets. Molly Linck, University of Mississippi Molly is a freshman at the University of Mississippi, where she is double majoring in marketing and finance. Molly is from St. Louis, Missouri but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Molly’s hobbies include going to the gym, attending cycling class, watching sports, and playing soccer. After graduating, Molly hopes to become a financial analyst. James Davis, Prairie View A&M University James is a freshman at Prairie View A&M University, where he’s majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Computer Science. He’s also trying to become a math tutor for College Algebra and Trigonometry. In his free time, he likes to watch YouTube, play games, learn coding, and enjoy relaxing. One day, James dreams of working in the field of Data Analytics. Stephanie Mora, San Diego City College Stephanie is a sophomore at San Diego City College majoring in Philosophy. She works as an English Tutor in her college and is part of the supplemental instruction program. After finishing her Philosophy degree, she plans to attend Law school and help immigrants and their families around the country. Stephanie is a passionate music and film lover, she enjoys art, concerts and is an avid reader of fantasy books. She also loves to spend time with her two dogs Benny and Nube. Samuel Brumley, Ball State University Samuel Brumley, a Computer and Information Technology sophomore at Ball State University, originally hails from Tampa, Florida, and launched his educational journey at Yorktown High School in Indiana. His academic focus is on IT and systems administration, where his exceptional coursework performance reflects his genuine passion. However, it’s his role as a Student Ambassador for Hawkes Learning that truly distinguishes him. Samuel’s commitment to fellow students is unwavering, offering invaluable support, motivation, and insights to nurture a vibrant learning community. This dedication mirrors his deeply rooted values. In addition to his ambassadorship, Samuel serves as a Computer Service Technician for Ball State University’s Housing and Residence Life department, where he plays a pivotal role in maintaining the seamless operation of computer systems, further enriching his practical IT experience. Beyond academics and work, he actively participates in various activities, ensuring a well-rounded life that fuels his personal and professional growth. As Samuel continues to navigate the IT landscape, his bright aspirations drive him toward a future where he can make a profound and lasting impact in the field while inspiring others on their educational journeys. Junior Che, Purdue Global Junior Che, originally from Belize and currently residing in Yakima, Washington, is a dedicated individual pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Software Development using Python at Purdue University Global. With a profound passion for technology, Junior thrives on absorbing knowledge from the ever-evolving tech world. Apart from academics, Junior is a passionate soccer enthusiast and finds joy in being a mechanic, as well as repairing various electronics and many other things. Known for his innovative spirit, Junior loves experimenting in his home lab that he built purely for the enjoyment of the process. Looking ahead, Junior aspires to combine his interests by opening his own business, seamlessly integrating the technology and automotive industries. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to both his academic and personal pursuits. Puja Madhav, University of North Texas Puja Madhav is currently in the pursuit of a Master of Science degree in Business Analytics at the University of North Texas. Alongside her academic endeavors, Puja proudly serves as an ambassador for Hawkes Learning, actively engaging with the students and professors to promote innovative learning solutions. Beyond her academic and ambassador roles, Puja enjoys dancing and expressing herself through the art of painting. Her diverse interests and commitments to academic excellence showcase a well-rounded individual ready to make meaningful contributions in both the analytics field and her creative pursuits. Jamie Stiver, University of Olivet Jamie Stiver is a junior studying Business at the University of Olivet. She runs on the Cross-Country team and is involved in C3 (Christian Comets Connect) on campus. Her favorite class is currently Financial Management, and she is also part of the President’s Leadership Institute. In her free time, Jamie enjoys playing piano, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Trenton Jeffers, Prairie View A&M University Trenton Jeffers is a sophomore at Prairie View A&M University, where he majors in Mathematics. He hopes to graduate with a teacher certification to begin teaching his favorite subject, Algebra. In his spare time, he tutors his peers in different math subjects. He also enjoys playing video games and basketball with his friends. Ammy Mwasambu, West Virginia State University Ammy Mwasambu is currently a junior at West Virginia State University, where she is majoring in applied mathematics. Originally from the coastal region of Kenya, Ammy plans to pursue a career in mathematical modeling for epidemiology after graduation. Known by the nickname “SpeedyMuscles,” Ammy enjoys soccer, board games, and finding inspiration in her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 23. Ammy is very passionate about mathematics as she refers to it as the simple art of playing with numbers. As she works toward becoming an epidemiological modeler, Ammy draws on her mathematical talents and coastal Kenyan culture to help guide her bright future. Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, University of North Texas Lakshmi Nikhitha Tellakula, an MBA student at the University of North Texas specializing in Business Analytics, is recognized for her unique blend of analytical prowess and business acumen. With a focus on enhancing student experiences through data-driven insights, she aspires to become a senior business analyst post-graduation. Actively engaged in campus activities such as the Asian Student Association, and Public Relations Club, and serving as a Volunteer Social Media Coordinator, she demonstrates dedication to both academic and extracurricular excellence. In her leisure time, she finds enjoyment in playing chess and badminton, reflecting her varied interests. Matthew McAra, Marietta College Matthew McAra is a freshman at Marietta College where he is majoring in Computer Science with a minor in History. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity on campus and is Director of Communications for his chapter. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing video games, and reading. After graduation Matthew hopes to work in software development or cybersecurity in the tech field. His dream job is to work for a large technology company like Apple or Microsoft. Savannah Townsend, College of Southern Maryland Savannah is a student at the College of Southern Maryland. She majors in business administration. She also works full-time as a Business Assistant at a local dentist’s office, along with being a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. After graduation, Savannah plans on transferring to a four-year university to complete her bachelor’s in business administration and to one day work towards becoming a Wedding Planner. Outside of school, Savannah enjoys crafting, hanging out with friends/family, and going to the gym. Lean Madarang, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lean is currently a sophomore student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Having been born in the Philippines, the flights between there and the United States sparked his interest in aviation. This led him to pursue a degree in Aviation Science with the ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot upon graduation. Before attending UMES, he took dual enrollment courses at Prince George’s Community College and graduated with an associate degree. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, studying geography, and, even outside of the classroom, learning more about aviation. Interested in being a Student Ambassador? Click here to learn more and see when applications are open!
February 19, 2024
We’re excited to once again partner with students from colleges and...
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As a seasoned student or dedicated tutor, you understand the importance of effective study habits. These habits can be the key to academic success and personal growth. Whether you’re a freshman eager to start your college journey or someone looking to enhance their study skills, the following best practices can help you make the most of every study session. Set Clear Goals Before you begin studying, establish clear objectives for the session. Knowing what you want to accomplish will keep you focused and motivated. By incorporating Hawkes’ Learn feature, you can let the goals set themselves by focusing less on what you already know and devoting most of your time to topics and ideas you have yet to master. Create a Dedicated Study Space Find a quiet, well-lit space where you can concentrate without distractions. A consistent study environment helps signal to your brain that it’s time to work. I love to utilize the library at my university! Prioritize and Plan Organize your study time by creating a schedule or to-do list. Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and complexity, tackling the most important subjects first. Active Learning Techniques Engage with and use your Hawkes study material actively. Utilize the Hawkes Quizlet flashcards, create custom practice tests, and message your instructors as needed. These methods reinforce your understanding and are always available for you to use! Minimize Distractions Turn off your phone, limit social media use, and create a study playlist with soothing music if that helps. Minimizing distractions will help you stay on track. Don’t forget to take breaks when needed! Regular Review Avoid cramming by scheduling regular review sessions. Spacing out your studies over time enhances long-term retention. Hawkes’ Learn, Practice & Certify modes are designed to help you space out your mastery. Healthy Lifestyle Maintain a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. A healthy body and mind are essential for effective studying! Seek Help When Needed Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance when you encounter challenging topics. Professors, tutors, and academic ambassadors are there to support your learning journey, and Hawkes makes it easy to get in touch with them. Stay Positive A positive attitude can go a long way. Believe in your abilities, stay motivated, and remember that learning is a continuous process. By incorporating these best practices into your study routine, you can significantly improve your study sessions. Each session becomes a building block in your academic success. Whether you’re starting college as a freshman or continuing your educational journey, these habits will help you study effectively and achieve your academic goals. Author: Samuel Brumley, Ball State University
Keys to Success When It Comes to Studying for Exams Studying for an exam can be difficult for students; there’s only a certain amount of time each day, plus other activities, organizations, and classes! I have taken a variety of tests throughout the years as a student, and I have created an effective study plan that helps produce successful results on exams. Time Management A key factor when it comes to studying is proper preparation. I like to begin studying for an exam about a week and a half before the test date. This gives me time to spread out the content and feel most prepared once the test day arrives. It also gives my head time to process the information that I have been reviewing. Trying to cram a whole unit’s worth of information in a day before a test does not work out well for most students. Starting to study early helps students learn in a timely manner without worrying about losing study time because of other activities that arise during testing week. Repetition Another effective study tactic is repetition. Going over a concept multiple times helps embed information into your head, which makes tests run smoothly. Sometimes, lots of repetition and practice are needed to gain a proper understanding of a concept. I like to use the Practice and Learn modes of Hawkes’ software. Hawkes does a great job of taking a concept and explaining it to you, and it corrects your mistakes and takes you step-by-step through them. Repeating these useful steps on Hawkes has helped me exponentially. Relax It is just as important to relax as it is to manage your time and work hard to understand the material for an exam. Take time off in between study sessions. Let your brain have a break. Study hard early on so that the day or two before the exam, you do not need to put so much stress on yourself. Strategies such as time management, repetition, and relaxation are great ways to prepare and be successful on exam day! Author: Dylan Dietz, University of Mississippi
November 28, 2023
Keys to Success When It Comes to Studying for Exams
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As a student using Hawkes, you have access to a robust set of tools and features designed to improve your educational experience. We’ll examine some helpful hints and techniques in this blog article to maximize your study sessions and get the most out of Hawkes. We’ve got you covered on everything from utilizing Practice mode to coping with test anxiety! Mastering Practice Mode and the Explain Error Feature | Take advantage of Hawkes’ Practice mode to rehearse and solidify your comprehension of the course material. Use the Explain Error function, which offers thorough justifications for incorrect responses. This function facilitates a deeper comprehension of the concepts by assisting you in identifying and addressing areas of weakness. Designing Successful Study Sessions | Consider the following best strategies to have a productive study session. Establish precise objectives. This will help you stay motivated and focused during each study session. Simplify: Separate your reading material into manageable portions. Information is easier to absorb and retain using this method. Practice self-evaluation: Utilize Hawkes’ feature that allows you to design your own practice exams. You can assess your knowledge and find areas that require more study by creating and taking practice exams. Effective Approaches to Note-Taking for Exam Preparation | The act of taking comprehensive notes is of utmost importance in the context of preparing for examinations. Please take into account the following recommendations: Foster Active Engagement: Demonstrate active listening skills during lectures or when engaging with course materials. It is advisable to engage in the practice of note-taking, wherein one records essential elements such as key concepts, illustrative instances, and clarifying explanations. Note Organization: Utilize headings, bullet points, and highlighting techniques to establish a structured and prioritized format for your notes. This arrangement will facilitate subsequent review and study. Review and Integrate: Consistently engage in the process of reviewing your notes and integrating them with other study materials, such as condensed summaries from textbooks or internet resources. Utilizing the Instructional Videos at the Lesson Level in Learn Mode | These videos offer further explanations and insights pertaining to the subject matter of the course, hence augmenting one’s comprehension and ability to retain the information. Integrate them into your study regimen to enhance the consolidation of knowledge. By implementing these tactics and utilizing the functionalities provided by Hawkes, one can enhance their study sessions and get exceptional results in their academic pursuits. Hawkes offers a holistic learning experience using several strategies such as utilizing Practice mode, employing appropriate note-taking techniques, reducing test anxiety, and utilizing 24/7 chat support. Utilizing these strategies will make the most of Hawkes’ resources in order to attain your academic objectives. Wishing you a productive and enjoyable study session! Author: Jay Jain, University of North Carolina Charlotte
November 17, 2023
As a student using Hawkes, you have access to a robust set of tools and...
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Ace Every Exam: My Top Study Tips for College Success Starting college is an exciting new chapter, but it can also be intimidating if you don’t know how to study effectively for challenging college courses. As a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador at West Virginia State University, I want to share some of my best tips and tricks for how to use Hawkes’ courseware to master key concepts and ace every exam! ❖ Take Advantage of Practice Mode One of the best features of Hawkes Learning’s software is Practice mode. Instead of just passively reading notes, you can immediately test yourself on concepts through practice problems. Practice mode is a risk-free environment where you can work through as many questions as you need until you feel comfortable with the material. Make sure to use the Explain Error feature whenever you get stuck; this gives you targeted feedback on where you went wrong so you can learn from your mistakes. I also recommend creating custom practice tests on topics you really need to drill. The immediate feedback and explanation of Practice mode is a super effective study technique. ❖ Review, Don’t Just Reread When studying for a big exam, it’s important to actively review the material rather than just rereading your notes. Create study tools like flashcards, diagrams, and summaries that distill key information. Test yourself by trying to answer questions from memory. The more you can engage with the content, the better it will stick. I like to go through my Hawkes lesson videos again and redo the lesson quizzes I struggled with the first time to reinforce tough concepts. Then, I’ll go through the chapter tests and the practice problems using Explain Error. ❖ Make a Study Schedule Don’t leave all the studying until the night before! Cramming increases stress and rarely leads to long-term retention. Make a realistic schedule that splits your study sessions into manageable chunks. Study a little bit each day leading up to the exam. Use the Hawkes personalized Learning Path to focus your study plan on priority topics. I block out at least an hour a day for Hawkes coursework review based on my Learning Path recommendations. Staying on top of the material prevents pre-test panic. With the right preparation powered by Hawkes Learning’s tools, you can master challenging material and succeed on any exam. Author: Esther Diarmo, West Virginia State University
November 9, 2023
Ace Every Exam: My Top Study Tips for College Success
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As we approach midterms, I often take this time to reflect on my study habits and create a plan as to how I can best prepare for my exams. Frequently I implement the same study tactics, but it can differ from class to class. As a general rule, I suggest focusing on three concepts: Practice with study questions. Review your mistakes and focus on the areas that feel less comfortable. If there is vocabulary, become as familiar as possible. Practice! First, practice using study questions. If there are practice tests made available by your professors, be sure to make use of them! Practicing with study questions can be productive as they simulate the test experience and can help you focus your studying. Professors may also create study guides that can contain questions that apply to the concepts learned in class. Professors craft both practice tests and/or study guides with the concepts that are expected to be understood for the test. After all, professors want to see you succeed! Luckily, classes using Hawkes Learning have access to Practice mode. This is a great tool to use when studying, in part due to the Explain Error feature. When questions are presented, Practice provides the Tutor button at the bottom left. If you are confused, Tutor can provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete that question or a hint. The Learn button can also refer you to the textbook to review the concept before answering. If you still aren’t sure, you can click on ‘Solution’ to see the answer and get an explanation; this can be a great feature for reviewing topics and relearning skills or concepts that you may have forgotten. Review Your Mistakes After completing a study guide or Practice mode, you may realize you are confident in one topic and struggling in another. In my experience, focusing on the areas where you struggle may be a better use of your time – especially as a busy college student. By going over your answers, you can see which lessons should be reviewed and revisited. Whether you review notes from lectures or watch videos to better understand the material, try to focus on these areas and then retry the questions once you feel more confident. With this in mind, another valuable tool offered by Hawkes Learning is the Practice Test feature. This can be found under the WebTest section. By pressing ‘Create Practice WebTest’, students can choose topics by the lesson that they want to include in their own practice test. These provide a number of practice questions to complete that are only based on the chosen topics. Once the test is done, Hawkes Learning presents a bar graph with the number of correct and incorrect answers per topic. This instant feedback can be valuable in helping to further focus your studying. Learn more in the video below. Learn the Vocabulary Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming trying to find a place to start studying. One way to begin is by finding key terms or concepts from lectures and creating a Quizlet. Quizlet is an online resource that hosts virtual flashcards/study sets and allows for reviewing terms in engaging ways. After creating a set, I usually use the “Learn” or “Test” feature to match terms with their definition. For every lesson within a chapter, Hawkes Learning has its own study set. Since these sets are verified, students can feel confident that they provide accurate definitions. It also saves time that would be used creating your own Quizlet and allows for studying right away. Overall, Hawkes Learning provides a number of resources to help me achieve my study goals. This saves time and effort in looking for or creating valid resources and provides instant feedback. By using Hawkes Learning to assist with studying, students can apply their knowledge and be prepared for potential concepts or questions that may appear on tests. Author: Matthew Albert, Long Island University – Post
November 1, 2023
As we approach midterms, I often take this time to reflect on my study habits...
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We’re excited to once again partner with students from colleges and universities across the country for an exciting internship program we call our Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors! Each semester, selected students offer guidance and one-on-one assistance with all things Hawkes to fellow students on campus, helping them to find homework assignments, create practice tests, learn best practices for using Hawkes’ courseware, and more. Read below to get acquainted with this semester’s team of bright and talented ambassadors. Kandice Smith, Prairie View A&M University Kandice is currently a sophomore at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), where she is passionately pursuing a major in Nursing along with a minor in Health. PVAMU has a rich history of producing many STEM majors, and Kandice is thrilled to be a part of this legacy. She is actively involved in various organizations, including Women of H.E.R., Purple Jackets, the Honors Program, and PALS, all of which she believes will provide valuable insights into bedside manners, a skill she aspires to perfect on her journey to becoming a Pediatrician. Beyond her academic pursuits and extracurricular activities, Kandice enjoys meeting new people and trying new restaurants. Here’s to Kandice and her exciting journey ahead! Lillie Justice, University of North Carolina – Charlotte Lillie Justice is a Junior at UNC Charlotte where she is studying English and Secondary Education. In her free time, she channels her creativity by playing guitar, scrapbooking, reading, and baking. Alongside being a Hawkes Ambassador, Lillie is involved with Team Teach, a recruiting program within UNC Charlotte’s Cato College of Education. In her hometown, of Asheboro, North Carolina, Lillie generously volunteers with the Randolph County Public Library and Randolph Arts Guild where she helps organize events for families and children. Looking beyond graduation, she aspires to share her passion for English by becoming a high school teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district or its neighboring areas post-graduation. Dylan Dietz, University of Mississippi Dylan is currently a devoted sophomore at the University of Mississippi where he maintains a remarkable 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in business. Before college, Dylan was an avid athlete in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, making his role as the Ole Miss football team’s equipment manager the perfect match. Looking to the future, he aspires to build a career within a professional sports team, leveraging his knowledge and experience in both business and athletics. Matthew Albert, Long Island University Matthew Albert is a sophomore at Long Island University – Post, majoring in psychology with plans to pursue a career as a guidance counselor. His lifelong passion for helping others is deeply rooted in the profound impact his own high school counselor had on his high school years. In high school, he proudly showcased his passion by giving back to his peers and community through organizations such as the Pay It Forward Club and the Buddy Program. Matthew is excited to continue supporting his fellow students in his role as the Hawkes Student Ambassador for LIU Post. In his free time, Matthew finds joy in watching basketball games, listening to music, and spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys attending Broadway shows whenever possible. Margaret Weimer, College of Charleston Margaret Weimer is a senior Finance major at the College of Charleston. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Margaret was raised alongside her three brothers by her loving parents. Margaret is an active member of Chi Omega Fraternity on campus and in her free time she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family. Upon graduation in spring 2024, Margaret aspires to secure a rewarding career in the financial sector. Jay Jain, University of North Carolina – Charlotte Jay Jain, born in Gujarat, India, brings a rich cultural background and global perspective to his endeavors. Growing up in Gujarat instilled in him a strong sense of community, resilience, and an appreciation for diverse cultures. Currently a junior at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Jay is pursuing a major in Business Analytics. His roots in Gujarat, known for its entrepreneurial spirit, significantly influenced his passion for business and analytics. Jay’s multicultural background and exposure to different ways of thinking have shaped his perspective and drive for success. With his unique blend of cultural heritage and academic ambitions, Jay is well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the field of business analytics. Aside from academics, Jay has a deep passion for cricket, a sport that holds a special place in his heart. As an avid player, he finds joy and excitement in the strategic and competitive nature of the game. Jalecia Claytor, Wilberforce University Jalecia, a sophomore at Wilberforce University, is pursuing a major in Political Science. She is from Cleveland, Ohio and proudly graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. Maintaining an impressive GPA of 3.9 at Wilberforce, she has set her sights on attending law school to pursue a career as an attorney. Among her peers, she is affectionately known as the “mom of the group”, always considering their well-being and nursing them back to health when they’re unwell. She is known for being very optimistic, outgoing, independent, and having strong interpersonal skills. Esther Dhiramo, West Virginia State University In addition to being a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador, Esther is a senior at West Virginia State University majoring in computer science. Beyond her academic endeavors, Esther plays forward for the women’s soccer team and her contributions have helped her team win accolades such as 1st Team All-Conference. In her free time, Esther enjoys coding and watching movies. Esther’s commitment to both her studies and her role as a mentor exemplifies her outstanding leadership qualities and her unwavering commitment to the betterment of her university community. Sara Al-hachami, Wayne State University “Each person has their own definition of peace; therefore, life is a puzzle that you must solve to find your own peace.” Sara Al-hachami is a sophomore at Wayne State University where she is pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Statistics. Sara is a very outgoing individual who hopes to one day work in the cybersecurity field. When she’s not at school or work, she spends her time doing a variety of hobbies such as writing music, singing, reading, working out, and more. Sara’s favorite subject is math and credits Hawkes’ mastery-based software with helping her persevere through tough Statistics courses. She takes pride in being a Hawkes Ambassador and feels honored to help her fellow students adapt to new methods of learning thanks to Hawkes. Ahsanur Rahman, West Virginia State University Ahsanur Rahman thrives on embracing fresh challenges and activities. His role as a Hawkes Learning Student Ambassador aligns perfectly with his enthusiasm for tackling new tasks, offering opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement. As a student of science, he understands the demands of balancing academic pressures with personal life. Because of this, he appreciates the Student Ambassador program because it lets him draw upon his own experiences to help other students achieve academic success. In Ahsanur’s free time, he enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and working on coding projects as these activities help him learn new things and gain real-life, practical experience. Cari Meeks, Lyon College “I enjoy helping others and spreading knowledge. If I’m able to be a helping hand for others, then I will always take the task.” Cari is a sophomore at Lyon College with an impressive 3.9 GPA. She is heavily involved at her college taking on the role of a Lyon College ambassador/tour guide, a math tutor, and an Apple mentor. Her involvement also extends to the gardening club, SPECTRA, her role as a TKE sweetheart, and membership in the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. Although Cari’s major is not officially declared, she envisions pursuing a psychology degree and ultimately earning a doctorate. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her cat, Zeppelin. Samuel Brumley, Ball State University Samuel Brumley, a Computer and Information Technology sophomore at Ball State University, originally hails from Tampa, Florida, and launched his educational journey at Yorktown High School in Indiana. His academic focus is on IT and systems administration, where his exceptional coursework performance reflects his genuine passion. However, it’s his role as a Student Ambassador for Hawkes Learning that truly distinguishes him. Samuel’s commitment to fellow students is unwavering, offering invaluable support, motivation, and insights to nurture a vibrant learning community. This dedication mirrors his deeply rooted values. In addition to his ambassadorship, Samuel serves as a Computer Service Technician for Ball State University’s Housing and Residence Life department, where he plays a pivotal role in maintaining the seamless operation of computer systems, further enriching his practical IT experience. Beyond academics and work, he actively participates in various activities, ensuring a well-rounded life that fuels his personal and professional growth. As Samuel continues to navigate the IT landscape, his bright aspirations drive him toward a future where he can make a profound and lasting impact in the field while inspiring others on their educational journeys. Cassandra Berry, Guilford College Cassandra Berry is a junior at Guilford College, pursuing a double major in Biology and Health Sciences. She is currently working toward attending Pharmacy school, with plans of acquiring her PharmD. In the upcoming semester, she will also begin working as an intern in a local, small-town pharmacy in addition to her Student Ambassador internship. She enjoys playing soccer, reading, and being outside in nature whenever she has the chance. While she stays busy with school, Cassie makes it a priority to visit her dogs back home as often as possible. Aaliyah Whyte, Mississippi Valley State University Aaliyah Whyte, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, is currently a sophomore at Mississippi Valley State University. She is majoring in Accounting with a minor in Pre-Law. Aaliyah finds joy in dancing and cherishing moments with her family. Her future plans involve obtaining a law degree with a focus on corporate law post-graduation. In addition to her academic pursuits, Aaliyah is an active member of the track & field team at her university and is an active member of the Student Government Association. She is deeply honored to serve as a Hawkes Ambassador for the current semester. Christian Barksdale, Mississippi Valley State University Christian Barksdale is a sophomore at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS where he majors in Biology. Christian hopes to someday enter the nursing field and become a nurse practitioner. He is from a small city named Cleveland, Mississippi, where he grew up with both parents and three siblings. Christian is a member of the Mississippi Valley State University’s band where he is a part of the percussion section as he plays bass drum. He is also a part of the University Innovation Fellows team. He plans to continue his academic success and is very thankful for the opportunities he has been given. Interested in being a Student Ambassador? Click here to learn more and see when applications are open!
September 29, 2023
We’re excited to once again partner with students from colleges and...
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After a semester full of learning it’s time to finish your courses strong by acing the final exams! Having healthy study habits is key to being able to retain and apply all the knowledge of the term not only to the test but to the next semester’s courses and beyond. So, we asked our helpful Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors to share their best study practices– here are 3 of their top tips for academic success: 1. Practice, Practice, Practice! “When doing work, such as math, tools, and software are very useful for the student when it comes to practicing, which practice makes perfect.” Hawkes allows you to “review the lesson you are practicing and can even help you work through the equation step-by-step. In addition to that, you can use the practice feature as many times as you would like before moving on to certify. When I use the program, I complete the practice feature at least twice before certifying.” Logan, College of Coastal Georgia & Maggie, Belmont University “I have always been a big fan of both the practice tests and practice sections on Hawkes Learning.“ – Ben, Seminole State College 2. Set Goals & Reward Yourself Whether your goals are overarching or targeted per class, “setting goals is a key element to improving performance and developing good study habits.” Once you’ve determined what your goals are for a study session you can better strategize and “Rewarding yourself is a way of taking care of yourself after a long week or many exams. It refreshes you as a student and helps you recharge your energy to keep going. Rewards could be donuts, a drink from your favorite coffee shop, an episode from a TV Show, or getting your favorite meal. Other ways of taking care of yourself are getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, going for a walk, and going out with friends.” Ashley, Butler Community College 3. Learn from Your Mistakes Rather than continuing to study the topics you’ve already mastered, you can create practice tests on only the sections that need more work. Error-specific feedback helps explain common mistakes and why your answer is incorrect while the step-by-step tutor walks students through the problem-solving process. With a program like Hawkes, when you get a problem wrong, it will show you a step-by-step on how to do the problem, which helps me understand what I did wrong and how to go back and fix it.” – Kerrigan, Seminole State College
April 5, 2023
After a semester full of learning it’s time to finish your courses strong by...
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We are so excited to introduce our Spring 2023 Student Ambassadors! Each semester, Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country for an internship focused on assisting those who are new to our online software platform. Ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance and answer any questions they may have about Hawkes, such as where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and helpful Hawkes tools to boost those grades! Read below to meet some of our bright and talented ambassadors from schools across the country. Mikayla Woodward Butler Community College Mikayla is a junior at Butler Community College. She plays volleyball and recently transferred from Minot State University. Mikayla holds a 3.9 GPA in all 5 semesters of college and is a math tutor for her peers. Mikayla plans to graduate with a computer science degree and wishes to pursue a career in cybersecurity or software engineering and will be transferring to Western Colorado University in the fall. She enjoys spending time with her team and helping her peers succeed in their studies. Mikayla was born and raised in rural northern Saskatchewan, Canada, and came to the U.S. to pursue her volleyball career. Ben Parker Seminole State College Ben Parker and his twin sister were born in a small town of roughly 10,000 people in the panhandle of Oklahoma right at the turn of the 20th century. At a young age, Ben was always outside riding his bike or getting involved in something he probably shouldn’t have. When Ben and his twin were entering kindergarten, their family moved from the panhandle to central Oklahoma for his father’s work. Ben had the good fortune of graduating from the same school system he began kindergarten at. Shortly after graduating from high school, Ben began working in the public school system while taking some time off from his own schooling. Most of his time working in public schools has been spent working as a para-professional in various settings. The work Ben does is highly rewarding to him and has led him to pursue his ambitions of attending law school to stick up for the most vulnerable in our population. Maggie Woodward Belmont University Maggie Woodward is a sophomore at Belmont University majoring in theatre directing. Her skills include teamwork, a strong work ethic, and perseverance. Maggie is also a National Theatre Honor Society Alpha Psi Omega member. Maggie enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, watching movies, and learning Korean. Upon graduation in 2025, Maggie hopes to put her feet on the ground running in the professional theatre world. Her dream is to become a professional stage manager. Nayla McClure Tougaloo College Nayla McClure is a freshman Political Science major Pre-Law Minor at the prestigious Tougaloo College. She is from the small town of Utica, Mississippi where she resides with her parents and two younger siblings. Nayla is an active member in school and in her community. At Tougaloo, Nayla serves as the Chief of Staff for the freshman magazine, the Chief of Staff for the freshman planning committee, the Treasurer for the American Association of College Women, and is a Reuben V. Anderson Pre-Law society member as well as a member of the Strada H.B.C.U Initiative. In her community, Nayla serves as a tutor at Noel Gladys Bates Elementary and she is a choir member at the Greater White Oak Missionary Baptist Church. In her free time, Nayla enjoys reading, trying out new restaurants in Jackson, and helping others. Nayla’s favorite quote: “If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou Ashley Camacho Aranguren Butler Community College Ashley is a sophomore at Butler Community College where she is majoring in Accounting and works in Accounts Receivable. In her free time, she loves taking landscape or portrait pictures, drawing, and cooking. She eventually wants to work as a Certified Public Accountant, and her dream job is to become Public Accountant for a consulting firm in Kansas City. Ashley’s favorite classes are accounting, math, statistics and computing. She loves God, her family and enjoys helping people. Ashley is a Venezuelan girl, who is passionate about businesses, traveling and encouraging people. Logan Zimmerman College of Coastal Georgia Logan Zimmerman is a 2nd-semester freshman at the College of Coastal Georgia. He is majoring in Environmental Science, studying Chemistry and Geology. Logan participates in many extracurricular activities, such as being the President of the College’s Band and Environmental Club and a member of the Student Government Senate Board while juggling being a full-time student, taking on 20 credit hours, and still having time for himself. Logan loves tutoring College Algebra and is the Hawkes Ambassador for the entire college, helping students in need. Madhava Aditya Bharadwaj Pinapati University of North Carolina at Charlotte Aditya is a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a freshman, he has big plans for his future education, including earning a Master’s and Ph.D. Some of Aditya’s accomplishments are, winning a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), submitting a project to NASA, and completing a summer course with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Adding to this list is the Internship experience with Hawkes. Aditya aspires to work for esteemed automobile firms like Ferrari and Lamborghini, motorsports teams like Red Bull Racing, or a space research group like ISRO. In his leisure time, Aditya enjoys watching Formula One races, playing badminton, riding motorcycles, taking long drives, traveling, and spending time with his family. Kerrigan Vass Seminole State College I grew up in a very small town in Oklahoma– around four hundred and fifty people where everyone knows everyone. I have played sports my whole life, softball and basketball and have always loved being active and being outside. I knew since I was little that I wanted to play either softball or basketball at the collegiate level and am currently on the basketball team here at Seminole State College where I am working towards getting into the nursing program. Interested in being a Student Ambassador? Click here to learn more and see when applications are open!
February 23, 2023
We are so excited to introduce our Spring 2023 Student Ambassadors!
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Final exams can be daunting; it’s time to put all the knowledge you’ve gained throughout the semester to the test…literally. Healthy study habits are essential for success in the final stretch of the semester. We asked our helpful Hawkes Learning Student Ambassadors to share their tried and true study practices– here are a few of their top tips for academic success: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute Studying for a test is most effective when you have absorbed the material over the course of several days with at least 8 hours of rest in between days. Give yourself time to learn the material, understand it, and apply it! Cramming the material the night before/day of will not only overwhelm your brain, you’re less likely to retain much (if any) of the information you studied once the test is over. Alyssa, Radford University Use Campus Resources A lot of students do not take full advantage of the resources provided by their university. Many universities offer general tutors for certain subjects. Along with this go to office hours hosted by your teacher, this is a great opportunity to get to know them and ask questions that you may not feel comfortable asking in class. Harder subjects even offer supplemental instruction which is a great way to learn material that you need a deeper explanation on. Isabelle, University of Mississippi Teach Someone Else I found being able to teach someone else the content you are learning in class helps you understand the information better. It also makes your comprehension of the material longer-lasting; you become more of an expert on the information instead of just a recipient of it. Teaching someone else the content also allows you to see what you still need to work on and see what information you have already mastered. Sophia, University of North Carolina Charlotte Utilize Hawkes’ Practice Tests One of the most popular features of the student software among our Student Ambassadors is the ability to create their own Practice Tests! In the software, students can generate as many practice tests as they need to master content and can customize them with their desired number of questions, a time limit, and which topics they want to be included. Upon submitting the practice test, Hawkes’ intelligent software provides meaningful feedback and the ability to review missed questions, complete with the Tutor tool, solutions, and links to the Learn screens for immediate remediation. From Our Ambassadors “Hawkes Learning also has many resources that really help solidify material, such as the ability to make practice tests with unique problems to make sure you really know it!” “When you are unsure of a topic or get some answers wrong, the program provides different explanations to help you work through what you are struggling with. This was one of my favorite studying habits because it felt more dynamic and hands-on, giving you better practice with answering questions based on the course material.” The “learn” button within Practice mode explains step-by-step how to work through problems. And when I found I still did not understand how to work through it, it offers a solution that I can use to work backward from and see how the answer is found. Hawkes also allows you to create your own practice tests!” Watch this short video to learn more about creating and using Practice Tests in Hawkes Learning’s student software. Learn More About the Student Ambassador Internship
December 5, 2022
Final exams can be daunting; it’s time to put all the knowledge you’ve gained...
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We are so excited to introduce our Fall 2022 Student Ambassadors! Each semester, Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country for an internship focused on assisting those who are new to our online software platform. Ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance and answer any questions they may have about Hawkes, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and which tools are the most helpful in boosting those grades! Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with. Payton – College of Coastal Georgia Payton is a sophomore at the College of Coastal Georgia majoring in hospitality and tourism management. After graduation Payton aims to work within the hotel industry. Some of their hobbies include reading and being active in on-campus clubs like Gender Sexuality Alliance and Student Government. Alyssa – Radford University Alyssa is a sophomore at Radford University. She initially was a criminal justice pre-major, but she is considering changing her major this year to either biology or psychology. This is Alyssa’s first year being a Resident Advisor on campus. Following college, she hopes to pursue some sort of further education. Although she is not sure what she wants to do as a career yet, Alyssa hopes to work in a job that will enable her to do something she loves while traveling the world! Victoria – University of Mississippi Victoria is a junior at the University of Mississippi, where she is pursuing a BA in psychology and a chemistry minor on the pre-medicinal track. She hopes to attend medical school in the fall of 2025 after graduation! Victoria spends her free time at the gym, as well as at home crocheting and cooking. In addition to being a Hawkes Ambassador, she also is a member of Oxford Helping Hands, a group that connects students in Oxford with tutors. Carley – Seminole State College Carley is a senior at Holdenville High School and currently attends Seminole State College in Seminole, Oklahoma. Carley is going to college to get her health science degree to help her eventually become an orthodontist. This has been her end goal for as long as she can remember and she has always loved being able to help others feel better. Some of Carley’s hobbies include make-up, fashion, doing nails, and photography; she has enjoyed these hobbies since she was a little girl. Jessie – Snow College Jessie is a sophomore at Snow College and is currently working toward a major in forensic science. Jessie enjoys the outdoors and being around her fellow peers. She thrives on learning new things and picking up new hobbies. A cool fun fact about Jessie is she is half Colombian, so she speaks the Spanish language and got a minor in Spanish from the University of Utah while she was in high school. She is a part of three clubs: Latinos in Action, Baile Latino club, and the book club. She loves to read, so book club helps her set time aside for herself to find new books and talk to other people about them who enjoy it the same way she does. She hopes that after graduation she will be able to start her career in forensics and can help those who need some form of comfort during the messy and hard times in their lives. Faith – Belmont University Faith is a junior at Belmont University, double majoring in music business and audio engineering technology. In her free time, she enjoys songwriting, writing poetry, and playing guitar. Her dream job is to be a Society of European Stage Authors and Composers country songwriter and independent artist. Isabelle – University of Mississippi Isabelle is a sophomore at The University of Mississippi pursuing a double major in accounting and Spanish. Her goal after graduation is to become a certified public accountant and work in an auditing firm. She is involved in Phi Mu where she serves as the alumnae chair and helps with philanthropy events. In her free time, Isabelle enjoys riding her horse, taking her dog for walks, learning how to cook, and playing intramural sports. Mia – Guilford College Mia is a junior at Guilford College and is double majoring in biology and health sciences. She is a member of the honors program and plans on attending PA school after she graduates. In Mia’s free time, she enjoys watching Modern Family, hanging out with her friends, and riding her bike. Mia is easy to talk to and enjoys meeting new people. Alexandria – San Juan College Alexandria is a sophomore at San Juan College, where she is majoring in health information technology. She is a mother to a five-year-old son and is also expecting a second son. In her family’s free time they enjoy attending Monster Jam events and going camping. She is working to obtain her associate’s and eventually plans to receive her bachelor’s degree. Alexandria’s favorite class so far is Legal and Ethical Issues in HIT. She is currently undecided on what specific field of work she will get into after she graduates but is leaning toward becoming a Medical Assistant. Sophia – University of North Carolina Charlotte Sophia is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she is on a pre-communication track with a concentration in mass media. She enjoys going to the gym, watching movies, and hanging out with her friends. She is also the secretary for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter on campus. After graduation, Sophia hopes to pursue a career in the film industry and travel the world. She is excited to take on this role as a Hawkes Learning Ambassador. Devin – Texas Tech University Devin is a student at Texas Tech University majoring in Electrical Engineering. Devin was born and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico. He wishes to graduate in the top percentile of his class and hopes of working with a large company in a big city, or even a startup of his own! Devin also loves to play sports and hang out with his friends. He is enjoying meeting new friends since he just moved to a new city. Devin likes to encourage those around him to never stop following their dreams.
September 27, 2022
We are so excited to introduce our Fall 2022 Student Ambassadors!
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Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are new to using Hawkes. Through this internship, ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance to answer many Hawkes questions, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and what tools are the most helpful to get a good grade. Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with! Hank—Belmont University: Hank is a freshman biology major at Belmont University. His favorite class is biology, and he currently holds a 3.97 GPA. Hank’s main goal after graduation is to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. Outside of class, he is a member of St. Jude Up ‘Til Dawn, as well as Best Buddies and UCAT. Some of Hank’s hobbies include road trips with friends, fishing, working out, and spending time with family. Rasha—Butler Community College: Rasha is a sophomore pre-nursing major at Butler Community College. Her favorite classes are anatomy and math. She currently holds a 4.0 GPA. After finishing her nursing program, she would like to complete a midwifery program. She ultimately seeks to one day help women in need get through pregnancy and childbirth without any complications. Outside of class, Rasha works with her father in his alteration shop. Some of her hobbies include reading, crochet, and sewing. Caitlyn—University of Mississippi: Caitlyn is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, where she currently holds a 4.0 GPA. She is a double major in accounting & banking and finance, and her favorite class so far is Business Calculus 2. Caitlyn’s main goal after graduating is to start a full-time job at the Deloitte Accounting Firm. Outside of class, Caitlyn is a member of several clubs on campus like NABA and Black Student Union. Some of her hobbies include singing, painting, working out, and reading books. Alyssa—Delta State University: Alyssa is a junior mathematics major at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. Her favorite classes are college algebra and trigonometry. She currently holds a 3.7 GPA while balancing work and being a student athlete. Her main goal after college is to find a job that will help her travel more and connect with different cultures. Outside of the classroom, Alyssa enjoys traveling and spending time on the beach with family and friends. Some of her hobbies include reading, making/ learning TikToks, and swimming. Catherine—Nassau Community College: Catherine is in her final semester at Nassau Community College completing her liberal arts degree and has been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA up to this point. She is hoping to pursue an English major when she transfers to Colorado Christian University in the Fall of 2021 and is excited to be near the mountains! When she graduates, she will seek a job in editing and also work or volunteer part-time as an emergency medical technician, for which she is currently finishing her training; however, her ultimate goal is to leave the work force in order to be a full-time homemaker and pour her energy and talent into raising a family and homeschooling her future kids. In her free time (which is often few and far between!), Catherine loves to write, make pottery, rock-climb, and swing dance. Toi—Piedmont College: Toi is a mass communications major at Piedmont College. She most enjoys classes that inspire constructive conversation and creativity. Some of her hobbies include writing, teaching kids’ workshops, acting, traveling, and language. *Some of our Ambassador team members have a different role where they do not work directly with students, but rather contribute to the team by focusing on social media projects.
March 2, 2021
Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are...
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Hawkes Student Ambassador applications for Spring 2021 have been extended to December 11th, 2020! We’re looking for student leaders interested in our one-semester ambassador program. Do you have a student who you think would be a perfect fit? Share the application with them. Hawkes Ambassadors have previously taken a class using the courseware. They serve as a resource to students by introducing them to the Hawkes platform and providing tips and best practices for utilizing Hawkes in their course throughout the term. They are available through a weekly virtual office hour for peers and they also complete projects ranging from interviews with students and faculty to blog posts on study tips. Students receive: $250 stipend Letter of recommendation from Hawkes Learning Meaningful training for future use in the workforce Valuable experience to add to their resume Here’s what our Fall 2020 Student Ambassadors had to say about the program: “Thankful for all the support I’ve received from Hawkes during my time as a Student Ambassador! They really care about each one of us as people and not just as employees!” – Meleah, University of North Alabama “As I reflect on my semester with Hawkes, I am so grateful to have learned professional skills and met supportive and kind people throughout the country during my time as a Hawkes Ambassador!” – Maggie, Millikin University “Finishing out my Hawkes internship is bittersweet. I had such an amazing time working with students and the Hawkes Team and will miss them! I loved getting the opportunity to improve on my presentation skills and create content for the first time, and now I am excited to apply what I learned during my time with Hawkes!” – Quetzal, Utah Valley University “Hawkes has given me the opportunity to work for and with them. It has been amazing to see the people behind the software I use in school, and now I’m a part of the family as well! I’m extremely grateful, to say the least” – Kay, Belmont University Be a part of the Hawkes Team! Apply to be a Spring 2021 Hawkes Student Ambassador.
November 23, 2020
Hawkes Student Ambassador applications for Spring 2021 have been extended to...
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As many schools are adjusting to distance learning in response to COVID-19, students have encountered new challenges as they adapt to new surroundings and learning environments. We recently asked our Student Ambassadors if they had any tips for online learning, and they shared many helpful pieces of advice. Here’s what they had to share: Keep Yourself Motivated – Even though classes have switched to online, you should still push yourself as if you were physically in the classroom. Motivation comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether you feel driven by dressing up or rewarding yourself with quality break time, you should have some type of encouraging mechanism to keep you going in online classes. It’s important to remember that even though you’re not under the same circumstances as you would be at your physical college campus, your best is still expected. Find some good music to listen to while you work on assignments. Consider playing classical music to create a calming environment. Manage your Time – Balancing projects, studying for tests, and class meetings…it can get overwhelming. Set aside a specific amount of time each day so that you can feel productive on all of your schoolwork! Try to do the work for your classes during the time you would normally have gone to class. “I find it best to listen to my lectures at their normal meeting time and then do some homework immediately after.” Realize that working from home is not a vacation! You are still a student and working toward your degree. Don’t let the illusion of “more free time” cause you stumble and forget important obligations. Avoid distractions and stay focused. Work ahead if you are able. If your instructor has posted all the class materials and opened the assignments for you to turn in. Take advantage of the time you have and try working ahead of schedule, so you will have extra time if something comes up later Use a Planner – “I do not know what I would do if I did not have my planner to write down all of my assignments and meeting times for my classes!” Write down ALL due dates in a planner! It can become difficult to keep due dates straight when everything is due online and you aren’t going to class to hear reminders. “Personally, I like to use a planner to lay out things that I need to get done every day. I sit down each Sunday and set my planner for each day of the upcoming week so that I know when I need to work on things and on which day my assignments are due.” Keep a Schedule. One of the most important things for taking online classes is to make sure you show up to those classes! Get a head start by having your schedule planned out and ready beforehand so that once your classes start, you don’t find yourself distracted by other things. Keep a positive study space – Set up your desk space with the things that will keep you productive. This includes on your computer as well! Don’t leave tempting tabs like videos or instant messaging open while you’re doing work. Turn your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode so that notifications don’t interrupt you. Minimize distractions and create a space that is most rewarding to you. Backup everything you can on your computer. The last thing you want is to lose hours of work, such as typed essays, because of unforeseen computer problems. Keep a Consistent Routine – Before you were taking classes online, did you have a certain time of day that you usually woke up or went to bed? Did you always have breakfast at a certain time? Think of the routine you had in place before and do your best to keep it. Your brain likes routines and breaking the ones you already naturally had could be detrimental to your performance in classes. You may think it’s a good idea to sleep in until 1pm and still get everything done, but it’s not going to produce your best work! Stay in Touch with Your Instructors – Stay connected! Just because you are studying at home online doesn’t mean you are alone. You can always try to find remote tutoring or email your instructor. Take advantage of resources that your school has in place when you need help. Honest effort communicates to your professors that circumstances do not define you as a student. Do not let anything block your goals or vision for the semester. Finish strong! Check your school email and school platform where all of your instructors post assignments. You do not want to miss something! Explore new study outlets – One positive aspect of online courses is the new opportunity to utilize programs like Hawkes Learning to assist you in your classes. The Hawkes Learning online program has a learning module to help you become comfortable in subjects you might be covering in your classes. This section is present to teach you at your own pace. Additionally, there is a “practice” module to refresh your memory on what you have learned. Implementing the knowledge you have gained will assure that you are prepared for what is to come in the final module titled “Certify.” In this section, you will put your studies to the ultimate test. After all three steps of the Recommended Learning Path, class subjects should feel more familiar. Being confident in what you are learning is just as important as intaking the information. Choosing to learn efficiently is the most important step to excelling in your online courses.
April 14, 2020
As many schools are adjusting to distance learning in response to COVID-19,...
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Anthony at Butler Community College: In my several years of schooling, I have picked up some good study habits and have learned a few things along the way that have contributed towards my success in getting good grades. I used to perform poorly in math in High School. I felt like I just couldn’t quite understand the concepts taught and that the subject just wasn’t for me and would avoid it at all costs. I used to feel like “I wasn’t a math person.” Fortunately for me, my current school offers math module classes in a 3-course breakdown of 5-week modules, utilizing Hawkes Learning software. I feel like the class structure and some best study practices, as well as Hawkes courseware has helped me to be a successful student and earn A’s in all my math classes since. I will share some of my best study habits that have helped to get me where I am today. Start your studying early – This has been a big adjustment for me, but I have grown to see how it can help make you better prepared for class, and allowing yourself more time for studies and assignments greatly increases your retention of the information and manages your time more effectively to complete assignments on time. In my math module courses, there is a rule that you cannot start the module exam on the last day of class until all your course certifies in Hawkes are completed. This sets the expectation of turning everything in on time, so you need to manage your time wisely. I find that the Hawkes practice test and study guide help to prepare me for my module exam if I am conducting it ahead of time and preparing early. Find a quiet area away from distractions – For me, finding a place I can concentrate and is free of distractions is a major method of allowing me to dedicate my time specifically to my goal in mind. I would recommend putting your phone out of reach and avoiding distracting websites or social media. This way, you can fully concentrate on the task at hand. While I am focusing on my work, I like to go back and double check my missed question to see what I did wrong. I like that Hawkes allows the opportunity to see what you missed in your certification. Allow yourself adequate work time – Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to complete what you are wanting to achieve. Sometimes I will just try to focus on spending a short time (30 minutes to 1 hour) on something that could require a lot more of my time, and then take a short break to reward myself. This way, even if you only have a short amount of time, you still accomplish part of your work and can split it up over periods of time and come back to it if needed. I like to complete my practices for a math module in Hawkes as soon as possible and then try to finish the certifications the next day. This way, you are not overloaded with work and having to complete it all at once. Hopefully, my tips and best practices can help you achieve success in finding what works best for you. Lauren of Christian Brothers University: Stay on task – When studying, it can be so tempting to get off track. From the television to your cellphone, it may seem very challenging to stay focused on the task at hand. Often times when prepping for tests or quizzes, people do not realize how much time they waste. The best route I have found to avoiding wasted study time is to turn off all electronics and set timers for myself. This allows me to put part of my day aside for studying while creating a productive study environment. Take breaks – Learning new information can be tiring. Depending on the amount of information you must learn for your test or quiz, it can feel overwhelming if you do not incorporate break times into your study routine. Your overall performance is best when you are at your best. Therefore, you have to study in a way that will benefit both your mental state and physical state. When setting my study timers, I leave room for a break after my alarm rings. During this time, I stretch, listen to music, or do something else to relax my mind. After my break of a few minutes, I go back to focusing on my studies. Utilize all the resources you have – The great thing about school is that there is always a helping hand to assist you in class. Whether that is your teacher, a tutor, or classmate, you should always feel like you have an outlet to go to when studying. Sometimes students are embarrassed about needing help on a particular subject. It is important to remember that your question might be someone else’s and that school is a learning experience. If you knew everything, you would not need any schooling! Going for help is part of being a good student. Extra study sessions with other people along with individual study time can increase your chances of getting the grade you want. Devote real effort – You should always try to study actively. It is easy to make flashcards and Quizlet’s but the real challenge is honestly knowing the information. Getting an A requires effort and dedication. As a Biology major, a lot of my homework is to simply study. Because of this, I have to understand information and build on it with each class. Finding ways to effectively learn is individual to your learning style. A tip I use is to speak my newly learned information aloud so that it can become ingrained into my head. In result of this, knowing the information like the back of my hand allows taking quizzes/tests to feel effortless. You got this – Negativity has no place in your head when studying. There is no information too complicated that you cannot learn and master. Your mindset controls the efficiency of your study sessions. It is imperative that you tell yourself positive things so that studying will not seem impossible. Although it may be a lot, you are more than capable of achieving excellent grades. Believe in yourself! Alyssa at University of Mississippi: When it comes to studying, it can be really easy to get intimidated and not know where to start. I totally understand this, so to try and help I’ve compiled a list of five tips that I have used throughout my time in school that have definitely worked for me to make studying a bit less daunting. Set up a good space – Throughout my time in college, I’ve done a lot of online courses. One of the biggest things that I quickly noticed when I started trying to work at home was that my typical space wasn’t going to work for me. I kept trying to do my work on my laptop with too many distractions around me. Find some way to change up your environment. For me, I have to clear my desk every time I try to do my schoolwork. If you set up the space around you for success, you already have a great start! Make a list – I have a habit of making a checklist for nearly everything! Before I do anything in the morning, I try to make a list of all of the things I have to get done that day. I also make sure that as I complete these tasks, I cross them off. Visually seeing the list being completed helps me feel more accomplished and motivated to finish the list. This is definitely a strategy that I cling to throughout the semester and especially when it comes time to study for exams. Have some music, but no lyrics! – This one is definitely up to your own preference. Personally, I have never been able to be productive in complete silence. I always have to have some kind of background noise. The key here is to find some kind of music that you can enjoy while still focusing. Whatever you listen to, make sure that it doesn’t have lyrics as it can take your mind away from the things that you are working on, especially if you’re reading! Test yourself (Hawkes can help!) – I always like to have a concrete way to know if I am actually studying properly and retaining the material. For me, this is best learned by using different ways to test myself. This includes flashcards, but Hawkes also has a great tool that can help you to test yourself. You can decide what you are struggling the most with and create your own personalized practice test to help you see what you need to work on and how much more you might need to study prior to an exam. It’s always good to know where you are, and I definitely think that testing yourself is a great way to gauge that. Find what works for you and stick to it – Throughout life, you’re going to be given a million different ways to study. My ultimate best advice to you would be to take in as many tips as you can, try them out, and stick with what has worked best for you. Don’t give up on a new strategy too soon, but know when to give it up if it’s not working for you. I really hope that these tips have been helpful to you and I wish you luck in all of your classes! Chris from Greenville Technical College: To say I had terrible study habits when I was in high school would be inaccurate. I didn’t have any study habits, and as you can imagine, my grades weren’t the best as a result. When I made the decision to go back to school, I knew I needed to buckle down and come up with some good study habits that would get me through school. After a few weeks, I settled into a routine which would lead me to a straight A-record for my first semester of school. The first part of my routine is to have something to eat before beginning on my homework. It might seem like an odd thing to consider as part of studying, but getting hungry while in the middle of working on your homework can be rather distracting. You don’t necessarily need to eat a full course meal before you work, a light snack will also suffice. When deciding on what homework I want to do for the day, I relate the assignments to the classes I have done that same day. By doing the homework once the content has been covered in class, it became easier for me to retain what I had learned that day. Plus getting it done quickly means that I don’t have to worry about forgetting to do the assignments until the very last minute. I don’t rely on just the homework to help me with my learning. I also used flashcards to supplement the homework. I would write out questions, definitions, etc. on one side of a small notecard, and on the other side I would put the answer. Once I had done that, I would shuffle my cards around, and then begin trying to answer as many of them as I could. For each one I got correct, I would put it in one stack. The ones I got wrong were placed in another stack. Once I went through the entire deck, I would go back and go through the stack of wrong cards until they all ended up in the correct pile. Then I would shuffle the deck again, and repeat the process all over again until I ended up with no cards in the ‘Wrong’ deck. The repetition involved with this process helped a lot with memorizing what I needed to know. Finally, Hawkes Learning also features a handy way to prepare for an upcoming test. You can create your own pretest which covers the material you’re expecting to see on your upcoming test. Or if you’re having struggles with certain parts of the lessons, you can also craft a pretest to help you better understand the material in question. Using this system gave me a good way to refresh myself on what I needed to do before I went in to take my math tests. School can seem like a wild beast when it comes to studying. In addition to the amount of homework that must be done for several different classes, students are also expected to spend even more time studying on their own. Combine that with real life responsibilities, and it can be overwhelming. But it is not an untamable beast. With good study habits, getting through school will be as easy as pie. Jacob of Goodwin University: Hello everyone! I believe there are a lot of ways to keep up with your studies and here are some tips that I, myself, use on a day to day basis. When I am feeling stressed, it is always good to take a break! Also, you should utilize that free time you have and think of ideas for what you want in your work when you are not working. Take a day in between long study sessions to go for a walk or a run or do exercise. When you are working you should try leaving your environment. Go to a café or a library to get some quiet studying done. Listening to music can be helpful, but make sure it is at a low enough volume that it is not distracting. Utilize your notes, or else you took them for no reason. Make sure to rewrite your notes after class so you can read them more efficiently! I like to drink tea when I work on long assignments to put my mind at ease. Turning my phone off when I work is another great way to focus. Struggling with procrastination? The best way to beat procrastination is to just do it. If you get stuck on one problem, work on another problem or another project entirely. Do not rush yourself! Start projects early and get easy ones out of the way so you aren’t overwhelmed! Take breaks! After an hour of work, do a bit of exercise or make a snack. Don’t eat a full meal or you may fall asleep when you come back! Only make your breaks five to fifteen minutes or you may get tired and not want to do the project anymore. Do not study late at night! If you study too late your vision may start to get blurry or you may doze off. Instead set a good start time and stick to it when the time comes. Make a schedule for your days and you will not find yourself sleeping so much with nothing to do. If you do make a schedule, make sure to follow it! Highlight important notes! Mark which sections are useful for what questions so you can reference them later! Use different colors for different thoughts! When you go back afterwards you will notice it is much easier to find what you are looking for and will not be as overwhelming. These are all good ways to keep up your grades and focus on your studies! Having a routine is very good for school, because school in and of itself is a routine! The more you practice these routines, the easier it becomes to do them and you will find yourself doing them more frequently and more naturally. I hope everyone makes use of these study tips and starts getting better grades in school! People like others who are intelligent! Kaela at Piedmont College: As a newbie to the college scene, I have learned lots of new things that I think could be very beneficial to new college students like me! My time management has probably improved most over the course of this year and that is directly related to learning how to study! At first, I felt incredibly overwhelmed with sports, work, and classes with homework. A few things I learned to help reduce some of the stress I was feeling were: Keeping up with a Planner School email notifications on my iPhone A mentor My planner has been a major life saver. I take it with me to all my classes so that as my professors assign dates for tests and assignments, I can write them down in my planner right away. I then use different colored pens (writing with a pencil to make different shapes works too!) to label each assignment with their significance according to how time consuming and how soon the due date is. Software that help keep upcoming assignments and test dates organized are incredibly helpful as well. For example, Hawkes Learning would email me in advance to the final due date of when I had assignments due. I never missed an assignment because of my planner and the informational emails that Hawkes Learning would send. It is also super helpful to have the notifications from my school email pop up on my phone. This way, I do not always have to have immediate access to my laptop in order to see necessary emails. Additionally, I highly recommend a mentor. This can vary from a coach, a professor, or a spiritual life leader. I was able seek guidance and advice from them on different scenarios that I encountered. I was very fortunate to have a dedicated coach that strived to help her athletes succeed. I also got involved in campus ministry and the spiritual leaders were consistently there for not only me, but all the students at my college. Candace at University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Practice, practice, practice – Especially in math courses! When I was in high school, and even community college, I was one of the people who did not study very much, but would still get by with As and Bs. I quickly learned that I could not do this in a university though. I did not really know how I studied best because I never had to do it much other than just vocabulary words or something. The first course that I used Hawkes for was last semester and it was College Algebra. Before each test I would log onto Hawkes and practice all of the problems provided at least twice and the type of problems that I struggled with I would do more. I really do think that Hawkes is what helped me be successful in that course because I was able to practice a large amount of problems over and over. I could also learn how to do problems through Hawkes. I am currently using Hawkes for my Business Calculus class and it has helped me to succeed in there so far as well. I pull out my whiteboard and practice problems until I know how to do them. I have also found that I enjoy studying more with a whiteboard also, I just find it more fun than practicing on paper. Find the environment that works best for you. I have found that I cannot work in a completely silent environment. I think the silence is actually a distraction to me, oddly enough. I met my friend in the silent study hall in the library one time and I could not focus. She thought it was funny because she is the complete opposite of me and struggles to focus when there is background noise. Background noise? For some people, background noise is needed to focus. I would rather sit in the library surrounded by people talking. As long as I do not try to listen to the conversations, I am usually focused. I just don’t like to sit in complete silence anytime. Music? I think I study most effectively when I am listening to music with lyrics. Honestly if I am in the library alone studying, I put on headphones and listen to music. It seems to be what keeps me the most focused and I have found that I get more work done that way. Everyone is different though, one of my friends and I always joke with each other because she listens to classical music while studying because lyrics distract her, but I get too relaxed when listening to classical music and don’t work as well. Eventually it makes me want to go to sleep. Sometimes you have to miss out on things with your friends. Your grades with thank you though. In college there is always something that you can be doing with your friends, but grades should come first because that is the main reason you went to college, right? I have had to miss out on things with my friends or showed up late because of homework and studying. It is just important to look at the big picture in the end. Everyone that I know has had to miss something at some point for school.
April 6, 2020
Anthony at Butler Community College: In my several years of schooling, I have...
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Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are new to using Hawkes. Through this internship, ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance to answer many Hawkes questions, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and what tools are the most helpful to get a good grade. Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with! Kaela is a freshman at LaGrange College and is an Early Childhood Education major. Her favorite class is Human Growth & Development, and she currently holds a 3.75 GPA. Kaela’s main goal after graduating is to obtain her master’s degree. Outside of class, Kaela is a member of the women’s indoor and beach volleyball team. Some of Kaela’s hobbies include reading, volleyball, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. Imani is a freshman at Piedmont College and is a forensics science major. Her favorite class is psychology, and she currently holds a 3.714 GPA. Imani’s main goal after graduating is to work in a lab locally in Georgia studying diseases and analyzing data. Outside of class, Imani plays on the Piedmont College Tennis Team. Some of her hobbies include reading, writing, running, and listening to music. Candace is a sophomore at UNC Charlotte. She likes to spend her free time staying active by hiking, doing Zumba, and cardio exercise. Candace plans to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with a minor in Exercise Science. She currently works at Coach Outlet and enjoys helping people. Some of Candace’s free time is also spent tutoring others in math, since that is her favorite subject. Anthony is a sophomore at Butler Community College and is majoring in Cyber Security. He will be graduating with an Associate of Applied Sciences in May and currently has a 3.63 GPA. He spends his time between classes working at the Butler Service desk, assisting faculty and staff, as well as students with a wide range of issues. Anthony’s main goal after graduation is to find work in his career field and furthering his education. Outside of school and work, he enjoys spending time with his family and two children at home. Some of Anthony’s hobbies include catching up with friends, reading, gaming, listening to music, and enjoying the outdoors. Miguel is a freshman at South Louisiana Community College, majoring in Information Technology. His favorite class is Introduction to Networking, and he currently holds a 3.80 GPA. Miguel’s primary goal is to continue his education after his Associate’s degree and pursue his Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degree. Outside of class, Miguel serves as the Secretary for the IT Club and is a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Pi. Some of Miguel’s hobbies include hosting weekly board game events, building computers, and painting. Lauren is a freshman Biology major at Christian Brothers University. Her favorite class happens to be her Biology Lab. She currently holds a 3.8 GPA. Lauren’s plans after graduating include attending the Southern College of Optometry, and then starting her own Optometry practice. Aside from being a student, Lauren is a praise dancer, a praise team choir member and an artist at heart. Her hobbies include actively participating in ministries at her church as well as artistically illustrating anything space related! Alyssa is a junior Psychology major at the University of Mississippi. She has a 3.94 resident GPA and her favorite class she’s taken so far is Learning. Aside from class, Alyssa is also involved in the campus organization UM Pride, which works to provide support and raise awareness for LGBTQ+ individuals on campus. In her free time, she likes to write, cook, and play video games with friends. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for either clinical psychology or mental health counseling. Ayah is freshman at National Louis University, and she is a Criminal Justice major. She favors her English class the most and the debates that occur in the course. Ayah currently holds a 4.0 GPA. Her primary goal is to pursue a career in law after graduating by attending law school. She wishes to become a prosecutor one day. While she’s not on campus, her hobbies include writing poems, discovering new music and drawing. Christopher* is currently in his second semester at Greenville Tech, where he is working towards a Computer Programming degree. He had an impressive 4.0 GPA for his first semester. During his free time, he enjoys playing video games, and he hopes to build a career in the video game industry after finishing school. He also enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes. Jacob* is a freshman at Goodwin University, and he is a Human Services major. His favorite class is English, and he currently holds a 3.0 GPA. Jacob’s main goal after finishing college is to find a job as a state mental health worker, then continue his education. Outside of class, Jacob is a writer and hopes to become a published author one day. Some of Jacob’s hobbies include playing guitar, singing, drawing, listening to music, and reading. *Some of our Ambassador team members have a different role where they do not work directly with students, but rather contribute to the team by focusing on social media projects.
March 4, 2020
Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are...
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Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are new to using Hawkes. Through this internship, ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance to answer many Hawkes questions, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and what tools are the most helpful to get a good grade. Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with! Austin is a sophomore at Virginia Tech and he is a Business Information Technology major. His favorite class is Business Modeling and he currently holds a 3.79 GPA. Austin’s main goal after graduating is to commission into the United States Army as a logistics officer. Outside of class, Austin is a member of the Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC; he also is a class officer. Some of Austin’s hobbies include hiking, Hokie football, listening to country music and reading. Brooke is a junior at the College of Charleston studying French and Biology. Outside of class, Brooke works as an EMT on campus and is the vice president of her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. Following graduation, Brooke plans to attend Physician Assistant school. In 5 years, Brooke hopes to be involved in a program like Doctors without Borders, serving those with limited healthcare access. Chloe is a freshman at Northeastern Junior College, majoring in Emergency Medical Services. She has a 4.0 GPA and her favorite class is her EMT class. Chloe’s goal is to finish her Associates in Applied Science and get her paramedic license. In her free time, she is involved in the tutoring program at her school, the book club and is a barista at a local coffee shop. She is passionate about EMS and is excited about what’s to come. Delaney is a sophomore at Sandhills Community College. She currently holds a 3.8 GPA. In her free time, she loves working as a CNA at the local hospital. A goal of hers after she graduates is to go to graduate school to become a midwife. Elizabeth is a sophomore at Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia. She will be transferring to James Madison University for the Fall 2020 semester majoring in Psychology with a minor in Communication. She currently holds a 3.34 GPA. Elizabeth currently serves as a mathematics teacher’s assistant and tutor at her school. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to attain a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology and her goal is to help students and young adults with mental health concerns that inhibit their daily lives. Niasia is a senior at Mississippi Valley State University majoring in Chemistry. She currently holds a 3.2 GPA and her favorite class is Plant Physiology. Outside of class, Niasia is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority where she has served as both Secretary and Vice President. In addition, she has served as the Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Student Government Association at her school. After graduation, Niasia plans on attending Chiropractic school. Pal is a sophomore finance major at the University of Mississippi. Her favorite class is Accounting Principles I. Despite being busy with classes while holding a 3.86 GPA, Pal is involved in many organizations throughout campus. Some of her favorites are Chief Emissary Officer, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and Women in Business. After graduation, Pal plans to attend graduate school and become a Financial Analyst.
October 21, 2019
Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are...
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Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com Need advice on how to study well? Here are some tips from our Student Ambassadors based on what they’ve found helpful: 1. Start early. Time management is one of the biggest obstacles college students face. Many students are juggling classwork, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs, leaving little time to focus on studying. The best way to combat this is to start studying early, preferably at least a week before. Studying ahead of time gives you more time to absorb the material and saves you from cramming the night before. 2. Keep a planner. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you’re swamped with homework, quizzes, essays, exams, and more. Using a planner to write down assignments and due dates is essential to guarantee that you don’t miss any deadlines. Planning out your schedule also allows you to block off time to study in order to hold yourself accountable when the time comes. 3. Practice. Doing practice problems is very effective for studying since you have to apply what you’ve learned to different situations. Practicing can be helpful for any subject, especially in math or science-based classes. Within Hawkes courses, there are plenty of practice questions and the option to create your own practice tests to ensure you know the material. 4. Use flashcards. Flashcards can be a handy tool for studying key terms, concepts, or events. The process of physically making the flashcards and then quizzing yourself with them helps to solidify the information. Colorful flashcards can be helpful for categorizing by subject, topic, or even time period to keep you organized. 5. Find a study group. Study groups can be a great resource, especially for a class you might struggle in. When you have other students to study with, you can share information and fill in any potential gaps in your notes. Study groups are great for collaborating on difficult assignments and to discuss confusing concepts when studying for an exam. 6. Mix it up. It’s good to find a default study space you can always go to for getting work done, but sometimes it can feel like you’re trapped if you stay in the same place for long periods of time. In situations like these, finding a new location to study can be a refreshing change. A park, a coffee shop, or even a different spot in the library can make for an energizing change of scenery to get you back in the right mindset. 7. Reward yourself. Studying for long periods of time often tires students out. One way to prevent this is to take a quick break and walk around or get a snack every now and then. On the other hand, it’s easy to get carried away with a break and quit altogether, so try to set a time limit or maximum number of breaks at the beginning of your study session to stay on track. 8. Ask for help. Never be afraid to ask for help! Your professors want to help you. Take advantage of their office hours so you can learn the material better and improve your relationships with them. Try to ask questions in class as well —chances are, someone else has the same question as you, so you’ll be helping them out too. Have another tip that you didn’t see on the list? Share it in the comments below!
July 9, 2019
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com
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Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are new to using Hawkes. Through this internship, ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance to answer many Hawkes questions, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and what tools are the most helpful to get a good grade. Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with! Kayla is a nursing major who studies at Bowie State University. She currently secured a 4.0 GPA for the first semester of her freshman year. She also enjoys music, mathematics, and intellectual conversations on current political issues. This devoted and ambitious individual hopes to gain an abundance of knowledge in the medical field so she can help others. Adam is a sophomore at Virginia Tech and he is a double major in Accounting and Business Information Technology. His favorite class is Intermediate Accounting and he currently holds a 3.96 GPA. Adam’s main goal after graduating is to earn his CPA certification and work at a CPA firm in Norfolk, VA. Outside of class, Adam is a brother of the international business fraternity Sigma Omega Upsilon; he also enjoys volunteering with his friends over in Circle K International. Some of Adam’s hobbies include PC gaming, Hokie football, listening to classic rock and collecting antiques. Lacy is a freshman at Potomac State College who is majoring in Elementary Education. She is planning on attending West Virginia University in the fall of 2019 and planning to graduate in the Spring of 2022. Her favorite class is Education Colloquium and she currently holds a 3.81 GPA. Outside of school, she is very involved in her hometown’s 4-H club where she enjoys helping the younger members, showing and caring for animals, and interacting with anyone who may have a question. After graduation, she hopes to find a job in an elementary school in her hometown as a kindergarten or first-grade teacher. Kaitlin is a sophomore finance major at the University of Mississippi. Although she is very busy with her studies, demonstrated by her 3.8 GPA, Kaitlin is involved in many organizations throughout campus. Some of her favorites include Alpha Omicron Pi, Associated Student Body, Students Activities Association, and Reformed University Fellowship, and Ole Miss Diamond Girls. This semester she is really enjoying her Business Calculus class. Upon graduating, Kaitlin plans to attend graduate school and become an external business consultant.
February 19, 2019
Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are...
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Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are new to using Hawkes. Through this internship, ambassadors meet with their peers to provide one-on-one guidance to answer many Hawkes questions, such as how to register a license number, where to go to complete homework, how to create a practice test, and what tools are the most helpful to get a good grade. Below are a few of the bright and talented students we work with! Loredana attends Bowie State University and is part of the class of 2021. She is a nursing major with a current GPA of 3.34. Her favorite class so far is College Algebra. Loredana likes to participate in many on-campus activities such as sporting events and DJ Battle. She plans to be a travel nurse. Lyza is a nursing major at Potomac State University who will graduate in spring 2022. Her favorite class is Nutrition, and she currently holds a 3.0 GPA. Outside of school, Lyza enjoys hanging out with friends and working at a nursing home. This caring, loving, and hardworking individual wants to earn her BSN in nursing and become a flight nurse after graduation. Likhita is an Economics and Management double major at Clemson University, planning to graduate in the Fall of 2020. Her favorite class is Accounting, and she holds a 4.0 GPA. When she is not in class, she loves to dance and attend Clemson football games. She also holds leadership positions in several organizations across campus, including Indian Cultural Exchange, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Management Student Advisory Board. After graduation, she wants to work in either finance or business analytics. Likhita would like to go to graduate school and get an MBA. Ryan is a Business Information Technology and Accounting Double Major at the Virginia Tech who will graduate in the spring of 2021. His favorite class is Principles of Accounting and he has a 3.94 GPA. Outside of the classroom, Ryan enjoys running, playing intramural sports, and attending Hokie Football and Basketball Games. After graduation, Ryan hopes to begin a career as an FBI Forensic Accountant. Amanda attends Morehead State University, where she is a chemistry major. Amanda has a 3.9 GPA. Outside of working as a Hawkes Ambassador, she plans to join the school’s chemistry club this semester. Her favorite class is Human Anatomy. After she graduates, she plans to get a graduate degree and become a pharmacist. Kaitlin is a sophomore finance major at the University of Mississippi. Although she is very busy with her studies, demonstrated by her 3.7 GPA, Kaitlin is involved in many organizations throughout campus. Some of her favorites include Alpha Omicron Pi, Associated Student Body, Students Activities Association, and Reformed University Fellowship. This semester she is really enjoying her Business Calculus class. Upon graduating, Kaitlin plans to attend graduate school and become an external business consultant.
September 20, 2018
Hawkes Learning teams up with students across the country to help those who are...
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Finals are here! (That statement is exclaimed more in sheer panic than happy excitement.) Around this time of year, finding a good spot to review your materials before heading into that final exam or finishing that paper looming over your head is as difficult as imagining finally being done for the term. Remember to ask yourself a few questions when choosing a study spot: Can I easily get help if I get stuck on a problem or concept I’m studying? Is it quiet and easy for me to concentrate on my work? Am I comfortable here? How far away is this space from where I live? From my next class? From snacks? (That last one is especially important.) What resources are available to me here? Do I have access to whiteboards, computers, books, etc.? We asked two of our Student Ambassadors what their favorite study spots are on their campuses. Take notice of where they choose! We hope you have a similar place to which you can retreat for some last-minute studying. From Kayla at Navarro College: This is the QEP Teams Center, where I work at on Navarro Campus. It’s a place where you can get help with a specific class and use your time to study here. While working here, I’ve had students tell me that their one-on-one time with me has helped them tremendously because I can easily break down each problem with them individually. I also find it useful studying here as well. I am here three to five times a week studying. From Austin at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania: Sometimes finding the right spot on campus to study is a challenge. The perfect spot that I have found for myself, though, is our project room. Located in the same building as the professors’ offices makes it a perfect place for being able to step out of the room and ask your professor a quick question. The project room is also for upperclassmen, so normally it is a quiet place to study away from distractions. With white boards all around the room, it makes it easy to write up ideas or even write out some long problems. Perhaps these favorite study spots from peers have inspired you to find a great place!
December 8, 2016
Finals are here! (That statement is exclaimed more in sheer panic than happy...
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Here’s a guest post from UNC Charlotte’s Student Ambassador, Valeria! She provides some study tips during stressful midterms. Take it away, Valeria! Study Tips for College Students from a College Student Valeria Suárez Hey, guys! Here are some study tips that will help you do better in school. Sometimes, it’s good to try new things if you aren’t getting the results you wanted regarding your grades. So, what’s better than trying a few tips below that have worked for others? Probably nothing. Just try them out and see the results: 1. Have study groups! For me, studying with my friends is one of the most helpful things for all my classes because you can help them, and they can help you. It’s a win-win situation, and it’s also fun! 2. BE ORGANIZED. This should be your mantra if you are a college student. Have calendars, a planner, and schedules. Do your best to keep them updated and accurate. 3. Create a study plan. When you feel that your week is too full and you are overwhelmed, write down everything you have to do and all the places you have to be in and make some kind of special schedule for that (or those) week(s). This will help you feel less stressed and will also give you the chance of making sure that you didn’t miss anything! 4. Find your study place. It is hard to study if you are in an environment that doesn’t suit you. Some people study in their rooms, while some people study in the library or in public places. It all depends on where you feel more comfortable/ Once you have found that spot, you will see the difference. 5. Feel confident when you start an exam. Some people say that if you get into that classroom thinking that you will get a score of 100, the probability of actually getting a good grade is higher. 6. Don’t study 10 minutes before the test. It won’t help you because you know what you already know and you won’t learn it 10 minutes before staring the test if you didn’t learned it before. So, prepare yourself to start studying with enough time before your test.
October 19, 2015
Here’s a guest post from UNC Charlotte’s Student Ambassador, Valeria! She...
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Need some help for midterms? Follow the advice from UNLV’s Student Ambassador, Melanie! She lists some quick tips out below. Study Tips Melanie Arslanian 1. Find a peaceful and quiet place outdoors where you can study and look up on your breaks to enjoy the nature and de-stress. 2. Get healthy bite-sized snacks such as berries, nuts, and/or granola to keep your mind energized during long hours of studying. 3. Turn your cell phone off so you do not get distracted by unnecessary notifications. 4. Take breaks when you are studying and reward yourself. For example, after studying for thirty minutes, take a five-minute break. Do this throughout the day. 5. Try to make mnemonics to help you remember information when you’re studying. For example, a mnemonic device for the colors of the rainbow is Roy G. BIV.
October 19, 2015
Need some help for midterms? Follow the advice from UNLV’s Student Ambassador,...
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