By Kelli Gile
Walnut – Alice Chen, a Suzanne Middle School Language Arts teacher and Technology Coach, has been selected as one of the top 16 PBS Learning Media Digital Innovators for 2014.
An impressive group of 100 educators from across the country was named to the program in an announcement made April 7. In addition, the top 16 applicants will serve as leads of the program and will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, on June 19 and 20, to participate in a digital education summit.
“I’m honored to have been selected, and I look forward to all the learning and collaboration that this opportunity will provide,” said Chen, who is also a Google Certified Teacher and a Microsoft Partners in Learning 2012 U.S. Forum Finalist.
The congratulatory letter from PBS Learning Media stated that Chen “stood out above the rest of the applicants for the nationwide program.” She was chosen as a program leader due to her overwhelming tech-savvy skills and passion for integrating digital media and technology in the classroom.
Chen’s favorite PBS Learning Media resource is the Global Learning and Diplomacy Collection. Her students used this rich resource during their Global Awareness Speech Unit when they researched, wrote, and delivered a TED-style talk about pressing global issues in today’s world.
PBS Learning Media received hundreds of applications from leading K-12 teachers throughout the U.S. and its territories. An esteemed group of judges selected the 100 educators based on submissions of videos and written essays that addressed how they are leading innovation in digital teaching in their classrooms and schools. As a 2014 PBS Learning Media Digital Innovator, Chen becomes a member in a robust professional learning community with access to exclusive resources.
