Bruce Holladay

Bruce Holladay creates a classroom environment for students to truly experience what it really means to be part of a team.  As if that weren't enough of an accomplishment, he also; owns his own production company, provides consultation for local television stations and school districts, and he is a producer/director at WDIV channel 4

The story of a team

Digital media is storytelling. In the classroom of Bruce Holladay, the story is teamwork.  Bruce presents much of the foundational class content as team building exercises. Students collaborate, share and combine ideas to bring out the best concept. Bruce goes on to explain his process, “Sometimes the productions are bigger than one person can do”.  So, he teaches students to watch how people work and to really look at  what others are doing.  He advises students to look for work that matches their vision for their project. Then, build their team with those creators who will use their skills to realize that vision. Team members in Holladay's class show respect for the opinions and feelings of their teammates. This respect is by design of the course.  Students adhere to the policy that no project is complete unless every team member signs off on the project. If after seeing the work, a student is not happy with their contribution for any reason, the teammates agree not to submit it or publish the work until everyone agrees it is their best.

Without question Holladay designs much of his classroom experiences around building a team. Who keeps the team motivated? The cheerleader!  When asked to describe his teaching in terms of another profession Bruce states that he is always a teacher but specifically in his  classroom he is more of a cheerleader. Holladay says.  “It takes time to get to the point where you are proficient and you are proud of your work.  It is all about being brave and trusting in yourself.  It really comes down to the environment in the classroom.  Im very careful to  foster an environment where everyone feels like they can  give their idea,  and that everyone will receive that idea.”

“I don't think I  teach creativity” He clarified. “ I just hope I create an environment where it can flow out of the students.”  He goes on to explain,“I think everyone is creative to a certain extent. They just may not have had the opportunity to practice it.””I don't teach ‘Creative 101.’ But I do have a comfortable and safe environment for you to try new things.” It takes a while before you are proficient and trying again takes courage.”Bruce recalled a conversation he had about “the gap” with radio personality Ira Glass. Holladay recalled the conversation this way.   “Your abilities are here”, plotting an invisible point with his finger.  “Your expectations are here”, plotting a much higher point.   The reality is your work is here, pointing back to the initial lower point.   The only way to close the gap is to keep trying and learn from your mistakes and try again. Holladay says to his students “It’s Ok. You have to work through the ugly to get to where you want to be”.”It really comes down to encouraging them that they can do it and try new things.”  When considering incomplete or failed attempts Holladay will ask a student “Did you still learn as much or more from your mistake?”  The answer is always yes!  

From corporate to classroom

While he was still a student at Michigan State University, Bruce “fell into” a career in broadcasting, as he puts it.  He worked at Lansing area television stations before finally landing his dream job as a director at Channel 4 in Detroit.  That is where Bruce heard about a school that was looking for an AV tech teacher.He took the job but soon changed the title of the program to Digital Media Arts.  Taking the teaching position has given him the opportunity to do what he has always wanted to do which is work with students and staff. Teaching how to use digital media tools to tell stories and share information. Bruce recalls, “It was the staff especially who knew that digital media was becoming an important part of the education landscape.”   When he started teaching he spent time with staff recording lectures and demonstrations for students who had missed class.  “I found myself using a lot of the skills I learned in the broadcast industry.  They were a natural fit in education.”

Real world experience. The best teacher

Bruce keeps current on learning by doing freelance jobs in digital media in the professional realm.  Freelancing enables him to give instruction and feedback based on how the technology is currently being used. He is still a producer/director at WDIV channel 4 in Detroit where he directs newscasts, talk shows, and other special events. He has a production company and he does consulting for community television stations. Holladay is also an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University where he teaches broadcasting. And, if you didn't think that was enough,  he manages networks and websites as well.  Holladay states “ My hobbies revolve around doing work other places” but teaching is his real job.  His students know that digital media production is his hobby in his free time and they value his input on their learning.  You might presume that a teacher who lives his subject would insist on students following only one prescribed method.  Bruce doesn't insist on one approach when it comes to student work though.   He simply says “I can tell you this is how this is currently being done in the industry right now.”   “I definitely have street cred” Holladay says.  “It is an amazing opportunity for teachers to work in their discipline.” Bruce also stays informed on the latest news in  digital media in education statewide  through his involvement with the non profit Michigan  Interscholastic Press  Association and the Digital Arts, Film, and Television association.

Written by: Sam Huff 2016