Wearing the ‘Student Hat’

Working to understand the students’ experience of the class gives teachers a way to see where they can make improvements.

By Crystal Uhiren

Edutopia

May 9, 2025

Wearing the ‘Student Hat’: A Perspective Shift for More Effective Teaching By Crystal Uhiren | Published May 9, 2025 | Edutopia Article Link

Crystal Uhiren’s article “Wearing the ‘Student Hat’” advocates for a transformative shift in how teachers perceive and evaluate their classroom environments and instructional practices—by intentionally seeing the learning experience through their students’ eyes. This reflective practice, which she calls putting on the "student hat," helps educators build empathy, identify barriers, and refine strategies to foster engagement and learning.

Uhiren begins by acknowledging that educators juggle many roles—teacher, parent, mentor, colleague—often simultaneously. However, trying on the "student hat" is a conscious act of empathy that requires stepping back to examine the physical and instructional space from the learner’s perspective.

Evaluating the Physical Environment

Teachers can begin by assessing the classroom environment. Uhiren suggests recording a video walkthrough of the classroom and watching it with fresh eyes. Is the space cluttered or inviting? Is the lighting comfortable? Can students easily see instructional displays from every desk? Such insights can lead to small but meaningful improvements in seating arrangements, lighting, or materials placement.

She also recommends spending time in a student’s seat—especially when a student is absent—to experience the room from their point of view. Can they move easily? Can they see the board or screen clearly? In another creative practice, Uhiren uses sticky notes to track where she stands or walks during a lesson, checking whether she's unintentionally favoring one side of the room or neglecting certain students.

Evaluating Assignments and Assessments

The student experience also includes how students interact with content. Uhiren advises teachers to ask themselves critical questions about their assignments: What is the purpose of this task? What skills is it targeting? Is it accessible and engaging? Reflecting on the answers helps refine tasks to align with learning goals while reducing student frustration.

To experience assignments authentically, she recommends teachers complete the task using a student device. How many clicks does it take to find the assignment in a learning management system like Canvas? Is the platform intuitive, or does it deter learning? Are there hidden technological barriers that make the work harder than it needs to be?

Educators can also preemptively identify tech problems by asking AI tools to generate troubleshooting guides or by testing whether rubrics work clearly and fairly using sample student submissions. These measures reduce confusion and make expectations transparent.

The Role of AI

With students increasingly turning to AI tools, Uhiren suggests teachers do the same—run their own assignments through AI platforms to anticipate how students might use them. By analyzing the quality of AI-generated responses, teachers can revise prompts to encourage critical thinking and original work rather than surface-level answers.

The Importance of Feedback and Student Voice

Equally essential is seeking feedback from students themselves. When teachers listen and make adjustments based on that input, students feel respected, which builds relational trust and a more positive classroom culture. Uhiren recommends reflecting daily: Were students curious today? Did they feel supported, or overwhelmed? Regular reflection enhances instructional decisions and student engagement.

A Mindset Shift

Ultimately, wearing the student hat is not a gimmick but a mindset. It encourages teachers to slow down, observe, empathize, and adjust. By sharing their own struggles and perspectives, educators invite students to do the same, deepening connection and mutual respect.

Uhiren’s call to action is simple but powerful: Next time you walk into your classroom, pause and ask, “If I were a student today, what would I need to thrive?”

Citation: Uhiren, C. (2025, May 9). Wearing the ‘Student Hat’. Edutopia. 

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com