On October 16th, students from 64 schools across 24 states united by a passion for digital storytelling, gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska, and virtually for the fifth annual Content Generation Workshop (CGW). It’s a unique, student-centered event, aimed at equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to create impactful social media content.
Hosted by school social media management platform, Class Intercom, and broadcast from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s main campus, the workshop offered a full day of expert insights, hands-on challenges, and collaborative learning. Attendees tuned in to hear from accomplished speakers and join in real-time content creation activities, fostering a unique connection among students.
Students from Kearney High school work together to create content for a Quick Hit Challenge.
Learning from the Experts
This year’s workshop featured an impressive speaker lineup of industry leaders and skilled storytellers. From practical tips to overarching social media strategy, each session provided students with insights they could immediately put into practice.
Keynote speaker Akwi Nji, renowned communications strategist and artist, set the stage with powerful techniques for crafting stories that don’t just resonate but actively build community connections. Later, Sydney Long, an accomplished marketing leader in tourism and hospitality, led a practical session with hands-on demos of short-form video editing and Instagram optimization, equipping students with tools for more engaging content.
Mike Smith, co-founder of Rabble Mill and The Bay, quickly became a crowd favorite, captivating students with his introspective storytelling approach. His session on using personal narratives to foster authentic connections inspired students to see their stories as powerful engagement tools. Dr. Charlena Miller followed with a forward-thinking session on emerging technologies, guiding students through the world of generative AI in content creation. Her message balanced practical application with an important discussion on ethics, encouraging students to harness AI’s potential, responsibly.
Social entrepreneur and storyteller, Mike Smith, asks CGW attendees, “Who do you want to be next?”.
Putting Learning into Action
Following each expert-led session, students jumped into quick-hit social media challenges, applying their new knowledge in real-time. Each challenge was based on Class Intercom’s pillars of pedagogy: storytelling, skill-building, student voice, digital citizenship, and community—keeping activities rooted in bigger-picture concepts.
Students interview their peers during the lunch break at the Muchachos food truck, sponsored by Edward Jones.
This hands-on approach is what makes CGW truly unique. While many attendees had prior experience creating social media content for their schools, for some, this was their first opportunity to create and share stories in real-time.
In past years, teams of 8 to 10 student content creators collaborated to create photos, videos, and graphics based on the event’s Quick Hit Challenges, and submitted them through their school’s social media channels for judging. This year, students published their work Class Intercom’s Content Generation Workshop social pages.
“We’re always encouraging schools to let students take the lead as storytellers, and we know we have to lead by example,” explains Class Intercom President Dr. Jill Johnson, whose 30-plus years of experience as a teacher and administrator inform her approach to engaging students in content creation and school social media. Now working with schools nationwide, Dr. Jill aims to help them involve students in social media in ways that build their skills, develop their understanding of new platforms, and create responsible digital citizens.
“We genuinely value student perspectives and creativity,” adds Dr. Jill, noting the Class Intercom team was intentional about wanting to show student work on its company social pages. It’s part of a broader practice that aims to provide students with real-world opportunities, and aligns closely with Class Intercom’s overarching mission. “We’ve previously invited students to write educational and storytelling content for our company blog, be guests on our podcast, and even have an area of our website dedicated specifically to showcasing student work. Now, having social media spaces intentionally committed to spotlighting student creativity is something we’re incredibly proud of. We’re excited to continue using it to showcase student talent for years to come and in ways far and beyond the workshop.”
Connecting Students & Schools
This year, CGW saw remarkable growth, with thousands of registered students from schools in more than half of the states in the U.S. With a limit of 200 in-person students, the ability to attend virtually makes the experience accessible to a diverse cohort of students and schools. Thanks to a high-quality broadcast produced by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln audio-visual team, remote attendees enjoyed a truly immersive experience that included speaker sessions and the ability to participate real-time in Quick Hit Challenges.
Students tuning in virtually donned their CGW swag, sent to them in advance, and were ready for an action-packed day of learning. Throughout the day, the CGW social pages came alive with a dynamic mix of posts from the on-site event and from students across the country who captured standout content on their own campuses.
Looking Ahead
With this year’s CGW in the rearview mirror, the Class Intercom team is eagerly looking ahead for new ways of involving students in content creation projects. Participants from this year’s workshop have been invited to apply for Quill & Scroll membership through the Class Intercom chapter, with more opportunities on the horizon, including a student ambassador initiative and collaborations with state education associations committed to providing schools and students with the technology and support they need to cultivate new skills and passions.
Stay tuned for an announcement this spring with details about the 2025 Content Generation Workshop. In the meantime, if you’re interested in empowering student content creators to tell your school’s story, get in touch at the link below. We’d be happy to share more Class Intercom and the work we do with schools and students.
