Technology is revolutionizing the system of education. It has emerged as a game changer in creating a more engaging learning environment, boosting student’s motivation and improving learning outcomes by harnessing modern educational techniques.
Hawkes Learning is a trailblazing educational software company that recognizes the role of technology in revolutionizing the learning process. For over four decades, Hawkes has been a trusted partner of the educational community, offering reliable and innovative learning experiences in shared pursuit of student success.
Hawkes‘ inception stems from the vision of its founding father Dr. James Hawkes, who thrived to enhance the learning experience of students by leveraging technology. The mission from the outset has been to innovate the highered classroom, combining cutting–edge technology with unwavering customer support, and empowering students and educators alike.
“The market is full of book publishers who view technology as a service to their core publishing organization- the difference with Hawkes is that we are a technology company first, committed to servicing the evolving needs of today’s higher education classroom.”
Hawkes Learning provides digital learning solutions through adaptive courseware designed for higher education instructors to seamlessly adopt into their classes. Today, Hawkes Learning offers over forty course products at more than 1,000 campuses across the U.S., enhancing the learning experience for all.
Incredible Journey Over Decades
Hawkes began as a mathematics software company that quickly transitioned to the EdTech trailblazer it is today, driven by a commitment to enhancing the educational landscape. With these technology roots, Hawkes positioned itself as a unique provider in the market, combining its proprietary artificial intelligence with a mastery–based pedagogical approach to drive student success.
Today, Hawkes Learning offers a diverse array of mastery–based course materials for nine different disciplines, with the most recent addition being an introductory Biology title. In addition to diversifying course offerings, Hawkes has introduced a comprehensive course management system, test generator, diagnostic tools, assessment builder, educational community engagement opportunities and more.
This journey has been punctuated by continuous evolution, adapting to the ever–changing educational landscape with an unwavering dedication to top–notch, family–style service and support. Dr. Hawkes has now passed baton onto the next generation. He continues to be an investor in the company but has brought on additional investors to set the company up for growth. This group brought in an EdTech veteran executive, Scott Virkler, to lead the company in these next stages of its journey.
Customer–Centric Approach: Cornerstone of Innovation
While staying abreast of technological advancements, Hawkes Learning places an even greater emphasis on understanding customers and their pain points.
This customer–centric approach serves as the cornerstone of their innovation strategy, tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs of educators, administrators, and students.
By integrating Al technology, Hawkes not only helps students recognize alternative answers but also diagnoses and explains common errors in real–time, providing a personalized and intelligent learning experience. By actively monitoring industry developments and incorporating user feedback, Hawkes ensures that all course solutions align with the evolving needs of instructors and students alike. It remains at the forefront of innovation by actively seeking information about current educational trends and maintaining continuous communication with educators. This active “always learning” mentality allows Hawkes to better anticipate challenges and proactively address them, reinforcing its position as a pioneer in educational technology.
Hawkes Learning places an even greater emphasis on understanding customers and their pain points. This customer-centric approach serves as the cornerstone of their innovation strategy.
Harnessing the Power of Technology
Too often tech companies come into education without a true understanding of the dynamics of running a classroom, trying to make their technology the sole solution. Hawkes draws on their founders‘ classroom experience to integrate technology into the learning environment, without disrupting the existing rhythm of teaching and learning, respecting classroom dynamics and allowing instructors to adapt technology accordingly rather than force it in ways it does not fit.
“Our courseware is designed to support the way instructors teach, not dictate it. At Hawkes we take the time to understand instructor’s and students‘ unique pain points, then apply the technology to address them.” says Dr. James Hawkes. Unlike other models where students can simply depend on the technology to give them the correct answer and move on, Hawkes uses technology to guide students through the learning process, fostering genuine learning and comprehension.
Navigating through Challenges
Easy access to sites that enable cheating such as Chegg, CourseHero, and Bartleby among many others, is a major concern in the industry. Instructors are becoming increasingly frustrated by the use of these ‘learning sites‘ and the growth of new Al platforms that simply provide answers and do little to nothing to enhance learning.
To combat this, Hawkes Learning provides courseware that proactively addresses common errors and immediately explains them in a way that makes sense to students, discouraging shortcuts while promoting a more thorough learning experience.
Another key challenge is student motivation. Hawkes‘ approach to homework not only supports genuine learning but also cultivates a sense of accountability and confidence, empowering students to persist through challenges rather than taking the easy way out- an important lesson in academia and beyond.
Future: Trends and Opportunities
COVID has accelerated the move to digital learning and players who prioritise digital–first approach are gaining prominence. The education industry is typically slow to adopt big changes like this, but the big publishers who fail to invest appropriately in their technical teams and platforms stand on the back foot. This creates an opportunity for providers like Hawkes to step in and fill that void.
In the coming years, Hawkes plans to capitalize on this opportunity and stay at the forefront of innovation in education by further enhancing its platform’s Al capabilities, improving accessibility, and continuing to provide affordable, innovative solutions for various courses and disciplines, and the best customer support in the industry.
This emphasis on technological advancement coupled with a commitment to the evolving needs of learners and educators positions Hawkes as a key player in the digital learning landscape.
