School of Communication

Community Outreach

NEUROEDUCATION PROJECTS

We have partnered with schools around the country to study the impact of educational enrichment on neural development and learning in children ages 8 to 18.

Enrichment in Under-Served Populations:

High School

In conjunction with charter schools in the Chicago Public School system, we are undertaking a longitudinal study that investigates the impact of music and physical education on adolescent brain development. If you are interested in participating in this project, please call 847-491-2457.

Harmony Project

The Harmony Project, winner of the nation’s top honor for an arts program targeting high-need youth, provides music-based mentoring programs for high-need youth attending schools in Los Angeles neighborhoods. We are collaborating with the Harmony project to study learning, communication abilities, and biological development in grade-school children in LA participating in the mentoring program.

Classroom assistive listening devices

Our joint project with the Hyde Park Day Schools in Chicago (private institutions for children with reading impairments) strives to identify the effects of classroom assistive listening devices on reading and communication abilities and their neural correlates in children with reading difficulties.

 

 

 

 

Community Connections

Kraus N. Scientific Advisory Board, Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, McGill University

Kraus N. Scientific Advisory Board Member; National Public Radio (WBEZ)

Kraus N. Board of Directors; The Musical Offering

Kraus N. Harmony Project Expansion Task Force, a national expansion plan to replicate Harmony Project's model in (at least) 20 communities outside Los Angeles over ten years

Chan K, Krizman J, Slater J, Kraus N. Guest editors for Music Cogntion U, a website that makes the latest findings from music research accessible to the public

To facilitate the dissemination of our biological approach, we provide ongoing technical support to laboratories by:

Young Scientist Mentorship Program

2012

Camilla Zecker, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

John Hruska, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

Sarah Latimer, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

Steven Medina, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

Adam Rubman, Evanston Township High School

Jenya Rubman, Evanston Township High School

2010

Justin Pituch, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

2009 and earlier

Maddie Reiches, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

Dawna Bagherian, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) Program

Rachael Schastok, Evanston Township High School's Biology Honors Internship Program

In the news

2011

Chicago Tribune, November 18, 2011
Remarkable Woman: Kate Johnston, inner-city teacher helps kids unleash the star within.

Margaret Martin, Harmony Project Founder, Featured on NBC Nightly News
Margaret Martin awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for her work with children from the city's gang-infested neighborhoods

PBS' Turning Point, October 17, 2011
The Harmony Project: promoting positive development for at-risk youth through on-going, year-round music lessons and ensemble participation.

Tour Groups

2012

Science in Action: Tour and seminar given to music teachers from UIC College Prepartory High School and Walter Payton Prepartory High School from Chicao, IL.

2011

Music in the classroom: Tour and seminar given to 20 high school and grade school music teachers from Cook County, IL.

Participating schools: New Trier H.S.; Joseph Sears School; Middelfork School; Highcrest MS; Marie Murphy School; Sunset Ridge School

Tour and seminar given to the Psychology Club of the College of Lake County. "What is a science laboratory? A closer look into the Auditory Neuroscience Lab."

Tour and seminar given to 30 national and international educators as a satellite event for the Learning and the Brain Conference. "The Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Music Education and Child Learning."

 

Community and School-based outreach activities

2013

Strait DL, Kraus N. Listening, learning and the brain: identifying early biomarkers of reading ability in preschoolers. Hyde Park Day School, Chicago, IL and Deerfield, IL.

Strait DL, Kraus N. How music-making shapes neurodevelopment during childhood. Oakton Elementary School PTA.

2012

Slater J, Kraus N. Tuning up the Brain, Biological Benefits of Music Education. The Musical Offering, Faculty and parent orientation for fall events, Evanston, IL.

Kraus N. How to make a better learner: Does music education help? Evanston Township School Board and PTA, hosted by The Musical Offering, Evanston, IL.

Strait D, Kraus N. Biological Benefits of Music-Making for Developing Brains. Presentation to the staff, board, students & supporters of the Harmony Project (www.harmony-project.org), a not-for-profit music mentoring organization working in LA's gang-reduction zones.

Kraus N. How to make a better learner: Does music education help? Evanston Township School Board and PTA, hosted by The Musical Offering, Evanston, IL.

Hornickel J, Krizman J, Kraus N. Hearing and the Brain: Talk given to 1st through 5th grades. North Shore Country Day. Winnetka, IL.

2011

The Auditory Neuroscience Lab and our Students: a Research Update. In-service training for educators and administrators of UIC College Preparatory School and Senn High School.

The Auditory Neuroscience Lab and our Students: a Research Update. In-service training for educators and administrators of Pritzker College Preparatory School.

Kraus N. The Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory. Foundation for Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Chan, K. Practice Makes Perfect: the Effect of Musical Training on Music Perception and Neural Encoding of Sound. Presentation for Illinois State Day, sponsored by Sigma Alpha Iota. Northwestern University. Evanston, IL.

Strait DL. How making music shapes brain development. University of Chicago Lab High School, Chicago, IL.

2010

Kraus N, & Anderson S. Infant hearing and neural development. Seminar given to the engineering class at the Institute of Design. Chicago, IL.

Kraus N, & Anderson S. Training your brain to hear better. Seminar series presented to Chicago-area community hosted by the Audiology Clinic, Northwestern University. Evanston, IL.

Kraus N. Effects of musical experience on the nervous system. Audio Engineering Society, Chicago Chapter. Niles, IL.

Chan, K. Practice Makes Perfect: the Effect of Musical Training on Music Perception. Presentation to the Northwestern University Cognitive Science Society. Northwestern University. Evanston, IL.

2009 and earlier

Anderson S, & Kraus N. Neurobiology of speech and music and effects of training. Xeta Phi Eta Meeting (a Communication Arts and Sciences professional society). Evanston, IL.

Anderson S, Skoe E, & Kraus N. Hearing with you brain...not just your ears. Northshore Senior Center. Evanston, IL.