The Hawkes Edge

Less time figuring out the platform means more time teaching. Valerie Kramer Bahl sits down with Hawkes Learning UX Designer Brandy Anninos to go behind the scenes of simplicity: how design decisions make course setup easier, navigation more intuitive, and the student experience less distracting. Hear how instructor and student feedback shapes the platform and where UX is headed in higher ed!

After 10 years in the classroom, veteran math instructor Hunter Chandler has learned a thing or two about helping students succeed. In this episode of The Hawkes Edge, Hunter reflects on his teaching journey, shares advice for instructors just getting started, and discusses why an intuitive, easy-to-use learning experience matters for both educators and students. Tune in for practical insights from a decade of teaching—and lessons that can help make the classroom experience simpler and more effective.

What if the future of education wasn't defined by educators alone, but by the students living it? In this episode, host Valerie Kramer Bahl sits down with student and entrepreneur Crystal Yang, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and founder of Audemy. You won't want to miss this student's-eye view on AI, innovation, and accessibility in higher education.

Artificial intelligence is changing higher education—but thoughtful innovation requires more than simply adding the latest technology.

In this episode of The Hawkes Edge, host Valerie Kramer Bahl sits down with Hawkes Learning's Chief Product Officer for a behind-the-scenes look at how products are thoughtfully designed to support instructors and empower student success. Together, they explore the philosophy that guides every product decision at Hawkes—from listening to customer feedback and identifying meaningful challenges to determining when AI is the right solution... and when it isn't.

Whether discussing responsible AI, product strategy, or the future of educational technology, this conversation highlights a simple but powerful idea: great learning tools aren't built to chase trends—they're built with purpose.

A successful semester starts long before the first class begins.

This episode of The Hawkes Edge, kicks off a short behind-the-scenes Back-to-School series with your host Valerie Kramer Bahl. Hear from a Hawkes Learning Customer Success Representative on how thoughtful onboarding and personalized support help instructors feel confident from day one. 

Whether you're adopting new technology for the first time or looking to get more from your technology, this conversation highlights why great support isn't just part of the experience. It's the foundation. 

Generative AI isn't going anywhere. How do instructors help students keep their own voice, think critically, and keep their identity intact while using it? In this episode, Dr. Genevieve Condon and Dr. Kimberly Derryberry, faculty members in the psychology department at Colorado Technical University, revisit their Innovative Educators Summit presentation, "Supporting Students in an Era of AI." They dig into what happens neurologically when students lean on AI to write (including new MIT brain-scan research), why writing functions as identity formation and emotional processing, and how CTU is building AI into real coursework, like a leadership course assignment that has students compare their own writing to an AI-generated version. It's a practical, research-backed look at using AI as a tool for learning rather than a substitute for thinking.

In this episode of The Hawkes Edge Podcast, we explore how AI is reshaping higher education far beyond productivity tools and classroom policies. Joined by Louis NeJame, co-founder of Bevel, the conversation dives into the evolving role of curriculum in an AI-driven world and what it means for instructors, students, and the future of learning. 

Together, we discuss how AI has the potential to make course design faster and curriculum more adaptive, personalized, and responsive to student needs. This episode challenges higher education to rethink not just the tools we use, but the purpose and structure of learning itself. 

From Graphs to Insight-Using Technology to Deepen Student Understanding with Emily Carpenter

We recently chatted with Trenton Jeffers, a senior at Prairie View A&M University, who shared how AI shifted his approach to studying.

In his first year, he relied on basic tools like YouTube and calculators, but AI wasn’t even in the picture then. Fast forward to now, and AI has become his instant tutor—answering questions at any hour, helping him understand complex topics, and even aiding in building a gaming PC! What stood out? The way AI offers immediate, personalized support without replacing the critical thinking he values. Trenton is cautious about overreliance (using AI as a guide, not a crutch) and recognizes its dual edge: great for learning, but a temptation to cheat. This honesty helps us see that AI isn’t about cheating; it’s about finding new ways to learn smarter!

This conversation dives into practical, in-the-classroom strategies that are making a real impact. Jesse Melvin, PhD (Rowan University), shares how he’s experimenting with course design to see higher student engagement and some of the unique uses of AI.

Valerie and Jesse together challenge the hype around AI and refocus the conversation on what matters most: creating intentional, human-centered learning experiences that meet students where they are.