As technology continues to transform classrooms, educators rely on organizations like ITEC (Iowa Technology & Education Connection) to lead the way in helping schools and educators integrate tech in meaningful ways. This year’s ITEC fall conference in Des Moines did just that, showcasing cutting-edge EdTech solutions, hosting insightful presentations, and providing exciting new student-focused events. The event’s big addition this year—a live student social media competition—emphasized the power of content creation and empowering students through authentic learning.
Leaders Share Innovations in Education Technology
One of the main draws of the ITEC Fall Conference is the opportunity for educators to learn directly from leaders in EdTech. This year’s lineup featured energizing sessions from experts dedicated to empowering schools and student learning.
Kyleigh Kumm, a STEM/Technology Integrationist at Harlan Community School District, led a session on how her district empowers students to be storytellers on social media. She shared student-created content from her district and demonstrated the impact of giving students a platform to explore and distribute their skills and work. She also offered actionable strategies for other schools interested in doing the same.
Dr. Jill Johnson, President of Class Intercom, led three different sessions—each with a full audience—aimed at helping schools leverage social media. With over 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator, Dr. Jill has seen firsthand how student-led content can transform a school’s digital presence and positively impact students. She shared practical insights on how schools can build and develop student social media teams, capture high-quality photos and videos, and create strategic social media content plans that serve both students and schools.
Dr. Jill Johnson presents to a room of educators at the ITEC Fall Conference.
Creating Opportunities for Student Engagement
One of the most exciting aspects of the conference was the ITEC Student Social Media Competition, where students competed in sweepstakes-style social media challenges. Five teams from four schools participated, using Class Intercom’s school social media platform to submit, review, and share student-created content. The competition was a unique opportunity for students to experience the responsibility and excitement of managing social media content for a professional brand in real-time.
Students work together to create content during the ITEC Student Social Media Competition, powered by Class Intercom.
Attendees and exhibitors embraced the energy, enthusiastically engaging with students as they snapped photos, recorded videos, and shared updates from the event floor. By offering students this kind of hands-on, real-world learning opportunity, the competition demonstrated the growing importance of digital citizenship lessons in preparing students for careers beyond high school.
Class Intercom’s Content Generation Workshop (CGW) social media pages served as the platform for sharing student-created content during the competition. Dr. Jill noted that the CGW social pages reflect Class Intercom’s commitment to spotlighting student creativity and perspectives. “We’re always encouraging schools to let students take the lead as storytellers, and we know we have to lead by example,” Dr. Jill explained. “Having social media spaces dedicated to student voices allows us to showcase their talent and innovation, which we’re incredibly proud of.”
Authentic Learning in Action
Authentic learning is an important initiative throughout Iowa’s education sector, reflecting a statewide commitment to preparing K-12 students for their futures while growing the state’s workforce. Through authentic learning, students are encouraged to pursue their passions, gain insights into career opportunities, and develop essential skills such as communication, problem-solving, and digital literacy—all of which help bridge the gap between education and future career readiness.
At the ITEC fall conference, the live student social media competition embodied this authentic learning philosophy by giving students a hands-on opportunity to create, collaborate, and publish content on professional social media channels. By creating photos, graphics, videos, and blogs, students gained experience in content creation and learned about the nuances of branding and audience engagement in a real-world setting. With student-created content on display for attendees not involved in the competition, the event fostered an interest in the impact of student-led social media on school communities.
Looking Ahead
The ITEC Fall Conference demonstrated that when students are given a platform to share their talents, they rise to the occasion. The event’s emphasis on authentic learning, student voice, and digital storytelling showcased how technology can empower students to make a positive impact on their community. We look forward to seeing how Iowa schools—and others across the country—will continue to grow their student-led content initiatives.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Class Intercom can support your school’s digital storytelling efforts, reach out using the link below.
