Saint Xavier University students stepped out of the classroom and into a hands-on learning environment this fall, gaining a firsthand look at child development at the Oak Lawn Children’s Museum.
Two psychology courses participated in the field study. The Lifespan Development course visited on Oct. 1 with 34 students, while the Child Development course attended on Oct. 16 with 28 students. Participants represented a variety of majors, including nursing, psychology, speech-language pathology, and exercise science.
LaTreese V. Hall, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and director of the GLAD Lab, said the field study was designed to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.
“I intentionally incorporate high-impact practices into my courses, and field studies like this allow students to step outside the classroom and apply what they are learning,” Hall said. “Many of my students shared that they had never participated in a field study during college, and experiences like this are powerful ways to foster deeper learning while breaking up the monotony of traditional lecture-based instruction.”
During the visits, students received a guided tour from Hedy Hendrickson, director of educational experience at the museum. Hendrickson explained the purpose of the exhibits and how children typically interact with them at different developmental stages. Afterward, students had time to explore independently.
They observed infants, toddlers, and young children at play, noting fine and gross motor development at activities such as the water table, art center, and climbing structures. Students also engaged with the exhibits themselves, trying on costumes in the pretend-play theater, building with large foam blocks, and exploring an interactive drum exhibit that syncs with a person’s pulse.
“The greatest benefit was the opportunity to apply developmental theories and concepts in a real-world context,” Hall said. “Students also explored the exhibits through the lens of a child, which helped them better understand how learning environments are designed to support development.”
Even a campus-wide power outage on one of the field study days did not dampen enthusiasm. “We still had 100 percent attendance, which speaks volumes about the students’ commitment and interest in experiential learning,” Hall said.
Some students also found the visit personally meaningful. One student stayed after the session to reflect on memories from childhood visits to the museum, describing the experience as nostalgic and impactful.
“Moments like that show how impactful these field studies can be for students, both academically and personally,” Hall said.