ABSTRACT. Four collaborative learning activities were implemented in a lifespan development course. We explored 35 undergraduates' experiences with collaborative activities designed to promote breadth and depth of students' understanding of developmental theories. The findings of this study attest to students' satisfaction with collaborative learning experiences. Five themes emerged from the study: application of theory, learning/teaching one another, personal growth, engagement, and theory acquisition. The undergraduates' positive accounts suggest that they applied theory to practice, strengthened their own understanding of theory, experienced personal growth, and were engaged in the class as a result of the collaborative learning activities focused on developmental theories.