PhD Student · Learning Sciences · Northwestern University
Chelsi R. Miller
I study how people learn, create, and collaborate in digital environments — examining the intersection of cognition, STEAM education, and equitable educational design.
About
I'm a first-year PhD student in the Learning Sciences program at Northwestern University. My research sits at the intersection of music/arts education, computer science education, human-computer interaction, and design-based research.
I am currently open to collaborative research projects regarding collaboration and digital-learning in STEAM environments.
Research Interests
Affiliations
Publications
Coding Music Together: How Elementary Computer Science Students Collaboratively Translate Musical Ideas into Code
American Educational Research Association (AERA 2026) · Miller, C. R., Roberts, C. L., Horn, M. S.
MusicLogo 2.0: A New Computational Representation for Music Learning
International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS 2026) · Roberts, C. L., Miller, C. R., Horn, M. S.
Research Projects
Ongoing · 2025–present
Collaboration in Creative Computing Education
Collaboration with a local K-8 school district to investigate how children collaborate when participating in open-ended music+coding programming.
Data collection/analysis
Ongoing · 2026-present
Art-Making and Nonjudgemental Pedagogy
TBA
Data analysis
Completed · Jun 2025
Exploring the Cognitive and Affective Landscape of Computational Music-Making
Examined the role of distributed cognition and affective engagement in a collaborative, software-based learning environment to investigate how the integration of computer science and music education can address systemic inequities in access and participation..
Submitted
CV
Education
PhD, Learning Sciences
Northwestern University · Cognitive Science Fellow
MS in Education, Learning Sciences and Technologies
Northwestern University
BS, Music Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology
The University of the Arts · Magna Cum Laude; 2023 DEIA Thesis Fellow; Deans' List
Experience
Research Intern
TIDAL Lab, Northwestern University
Music Teacher
Overture Games
AmeriCorps College Access Coach
College Possible
Digital Music Instructor
IdTech
UI/UX Research & Design Intern
Next Play Games
Music Intern
ESPN
Music Rights & Content Operations Intern
Studio 71
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Lisa's Learning Ladder
Volunteer
Arts and Music Programming for Education in Detention Centers (AMPED)
Center for Civic Engagement at Northwestern University
Graduate Research Volunteer
Office of Community Education Partnerships at Northwestern University
AI Research Volunteer
AnitaB.org
Contact
I'm happy to connect about research collaborations, speaking invitations, or general questions.