Traci Williams, an instructor at Gaylord College, has received the Innovation in Teaching Award from the Broadcast Education Association (BEA).
The Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual's ability to showcase innovation in their pedagogy. Successful awardees stand out as media educators through their teaching style. Their assignments demonstrate that their courses are not just lecture-based. The innovative educator brings the joy of learning into the classroom, or wherever the learning takes place.
According to the BEA announcement, “Her innovative pedagogical approach and unique teaching style set her apart as an exemplary media educator. Her ability to design and implement assignments that move beyond traditional lectures, like the Film Bible assignment, fosters a dynamic and participatory learning environment. They were also impressed by her hands-on, community-based project, Greenlight Creative Productions, that bridges academia and the media industry.”
The committee added, “Your contributions reflect the very essence of this award—reshaping the educational landscape through ingenuity, engagement, and inspiration.”
Williams was instrumental in creating Greenlight Creative Productions, a class that gives students hands-on experience in writing, pitching, filming and premiering original short films and feature-length films. She currently serves as the course’s faculty adviser. The practicum blends classroom instruction with real-world production workflows, helping students develop the technical and creative skills needed for careers in film and media production.
What sets the course apart is its immersive, collaborative environment. Students don’t just learn about filmmaking; they become filmmakers. The class includes interactive lectures, guest speakers from across the film industry and hands-on set experience that prepares students to take on professional roles in the media industry.
Williams received the award at the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts, BEA’s showcase for faculty and student work in digital media and broadcasting, where Gaylord College recently earned more than 30 awards across multiple categories.
