CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Morgantown elementary school is being honored Tuesday for inspiring an international technology movement.

The Alliance for Excellent Education used Mountainview Elementary School's efforts to embrace technology in the classroom as the basis for Digital Learning Day, an initiative that spotlights teachers who effectively use innovative teaching strategies.

Mountainview held a No Paper, No Pencils Day to encourage hands-on digital technology-based activities, and the Alliance used the event as the foundation for its Digital Learning Day movement.

"I'm eager to share with Mountainview students and educators how their original thinking sparked an effort that reached around the globe. It's important that students understand in this digital world there are no limits to how far a good idea can go," former state Gov. Bob Wise said in a release.

Wise heads the D.C.-based education organization.

Nearly 40 states celebrated the first Digital Learning Day last year, as well as teachers and students in several other countries. About 2 million students and 18,000 teachers participated, according to the Alliance.

Barbara Parsons, president of the Monongalia County Board of Education, said more schools need to embrace technology in everyday use.

"It is certainly a challenge, but technology will play a big role in the delivery of education in the future," she said. "School systems need to make sure teachers are able to adapt appropriately to meet individual student needs. What Mountainview is doing has caught on and received the attention it deserves."

Wise, Parsons and others will visit Mountainview Tuesday to commend them on their progress.

The second annual Digital Learning Day will be held Feb. 6. For more information, visit www.digitallearningday.org.

Reach Mackenzie Mays at mackenzie.m...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4814.