CDL Information for Faculty

Campus Collaboration

The MU Child Development Lab (CDL) partners with faculty across campus to enrich course instruction through tours, guided observations, hands-on learning across campus disciplines, and integrated class projects. Collaborating with students and faculty from 19 departments, the CDL fosters multidisciplinary engagement, supports innovative teaching and learning, and advances academic discovery and excellence.

Opportunities for groups

OBSERVATION

The CDL also welcomes community groups for classroom observations. In the past, the CDL has hosted groups such as the Parents as Teachers Teen Parent Group, 4‑H students, AmeriCorps volunteers, and high school child development students.

The CDL provides designated observation booths equipped with one‑way mirrors and headsets to support classroom observations and course projects. Students may also observe from the benches located in the play yard. Class lists and photographs, including the names and birthdates of enrolled children, are available in the observation booths to assist observers.

A woman with short brown hair wears a striped sweater and sits in an observation booth listening to the classroom through headphones.

A Vital Resource For Researchers

Research & Innovation

Dr. Rachel Thibodeau-Nielsen

Associate Professor-Human Development and Family Science

"The dedicated space to conduct research assessments with children ensures a standardized process for high-quality data collection and the state-of-the-art audiovisual technology in each classroom allows for fine-grained analyses of behaviors and experiences."

A woman with long brown hair wearing a red sweater.

MORE INFORMATION

Tour the CDL

Class Projects

Student Projects