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- Interprofessional Baby Lab: A Collaborative Learning Experience in Developmental Observation and Family Engagement
Clinical Trial
Interprofessional Baby Lab: A Collaborative Learning Experience in Developmental Observation and Family Engagement
The first 18 months of a child?s life are full of rapid growth?babies are learning to move, communicate, and interact with the world around them. Families and healthcare professionals often work together during this time to make sure children are meeting important milestones. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), physical therapists (PTs), and occupational therapists (OTs) each bring a unique perspective, and when they collaborate, children and families benefit from more complete and supportive care. The Baby Lab was created to give graduate students in these fields a hands-on, team-based learning experience. In the Baby Lab, students observe infants between 3 and 18 months of age, both those developing typically and those with developmental differences. They also interact with caregivers to learn about family routines, challenges, and strengths. After observing, students share their professional perspectives with one another, practicing the teamwork skills they will need in real healthcare settings. This experience helps future clinicians sharpen their ability to recognize developmental milestones, deepen their understanding of how children grow, and learn how to work together across disciplines. Families who participate benefit too: they can share their child?s story, gain resources about developmental milestones, and support the training of the next generation of professionals. Ultimately, the Baby Lab is designed to improve how future therapists collaborate, strengthen their confidence in developmental observation, and create positive, meaningful experiences for both students and families.
Eligibility Criteria
- Inclusion Criteria Currently enrolled in an OT, PT, or SLP program at Augusta university. Completed required baby-lab orientation/training (e.g., safety, observation procedures, confidentiality/HIPAA, infection control) as part of their classwork. Able to attend scheduled baby-lab observation sessions. Able and willing to complete the post-experience survey, reflection, or interview. Exclusion Criteria Students unable to attend the observation session(s). Students unable to complete required reflections, surveys, or interviews. Students with a medical condition that prevents participation in baby-lab activities (e.g., immunocompromised if the lab requires infant-contact precautions). Students currently ill or unable to comply with infection-control guidelines. Students who do not complete the mandatory lab training or fail to follow safety and confidentiality procedures as part of their classwork.