Woodland Elementary Celebrates Digital Learning Day with "How to Train Your Dragon" Theme

Students engage in tech-infused activities, decode Viking runes, and retrain "dragons" to reinforce academic lessons.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Woodland Elementary School in Johnson City, Tennessee, hosted its annual Digital Learning Day with a "How to Train Your Dragon" theme. Students participated in a variety of tech-infused activities, including decoding Viking runes, earning pieces of a larger code, and "retraining dragons" to reinforce academic standards. The event was designed to showcase the evolution of digital learning beyond just device access, focusing on more intentional and creative uses of technology to improve student outcomes.

Why it matters

Digital Learning Day is a national initiative aimed at helping schools effectively integrate technology to enhance student learning. Woodland Elementary's themed approach reflects a broader shift in education toward using technology in more collaborative and creative ways, rather than just having students sit passively in front of screens. The event also highlights the district's commitment to empowering teacher leadership and building a strong school community around the use of technology.

The details

Throughout the day, students completed activities tied to academic standards, with each classroom "retraining" its own dragon. Students decoded Viking runes posted in the hallways, which were connected to the school's core values, and earned pieces of a larger code as they finished assignments. The activities incorporated both high-tech and low-tech tools, such as "magic boards" that allowed first-graders to practice handwriting while participating in digital lessons. The event was organized by third-grade teacher and District Teacher Leader Jordan Dison, who said the theme was inspired by the film "How to Train Your Dragon."

  • Digital Learning Day was held on February 12, 2026 at Woodland Elementary School in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The players

Jordan Dison

A third-grade teacher and District Teacher Leader at Woodland Elementary School, who organized the Digital Learning Day event with a "How to Train Your Dragon" theme.

Woodland Elementary School

A public elementary school in Johnson City, Tennessee, that hosted the annual Digital Learning Day celebration.

Johnson City Schools

The school district in Johnson City, Tennessee, that has participated in the national Digital Learning Day initiative for the past decade and provided support for the event at Woodland Elementary.

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What they’re saying

“The school is currently working to retrain dragons, as there is a learning curse over the island. Each classroom has to retrain their dragon, which is training linked to educational standards in class.”

— Jordan Dison, Third grade teacher and District Teacher Leader

“Digital learning has taken an evolution, so this is to showcase different technologies. The Teacher Leader cohort dream is to bring kids together and build the school community toward a common goal.”

— Jordan Dison, Third grade teacher and District Teacher Leader

“We really want to focus on the collaboration and creation piece and teach them to use that in really responsible ways.”

— Jordan Dison, Third grade teacher and District Teacher Leader

What’s next

Woodland Elementary plans to continue hosting themed Digital Learning Day events in the future, with students and the community eager to see what the next theme will be.

The takeaway

Woodland Elementary's Digital Learning Day showcases how schools can move beyond simply providing device access to students, and instead focus on using technology in more intentional, collaborative, and creative ways to enhance learning outcomes. The event highlights the district's commitment to empowering teacher leadership and building a strong school community around digital literacy.