X is for Xanadu

We have finally reached "X." Haven't you been curious about what word I would select? Xanadu fits online schooling perfectly. The word originated in a Coleridge poem in the late 19th Century and means "a beautiful place."

We work hard for our students, teaching them new things as we too learn the newest ways to reach and teach. The connections made despite the distance and view-blocking computer screens (when the webcam is off) are amazing. We are people-to-people, caring and working together. Hard work most days, but also a complete educator's joy.

Those early years as a virtual teacher remind me of a treadmill. I was always creating accountability tools so I could track incoming and outgoing calls; noting how my students worked and mastered their subjects; and capturing details on activities, strengths, and background. It was hard work each day to know how to prioritize and make a decision on who needed me first and most.

I have learned that even though everything about management systems, accountability tools, creativity tools, and more have moved through ongoing and unlimited iterations, teachers still face decisions on how and who to prioritize. All of the needs are still there and always will be no matter the sophistication. Can we see this as a beautiful place in spite of the stress and usual long teacher hours? Indeed I believe we can!

Students at every age come to us with diverse needs which, for many, can best be met in the security of their own homes in front of a laptop. We craft and deliver learning approaches, mold accountability levels, and reinforce personal responsibility. We develop memories in live conferencing sessions which become reference points for the students, just as those types of conversations did in the on-the-ground classrooms.

We answer hundreds of emails, many the seed of a future conversation with these same students. We make mistakes as we run the webinar and the emoticons fly into the chat area - our students are laughing with us! We forget to hit the "record" button and one of our students private-messages us as a reminder. That's collaboration!

Connections may look or feel different, but at the center, the education is the same, molded to 21st Century expectations. Our classrooms are a beautiful place, a virtual Xanadu. Hopefully, this classroom experience is a good fit for you at this point in your career. Just know that your commitment and presence is one of the reasons this new education model is truly, simply, Xanadu.

Reflection: Spend time reflecting on what brought you to virtual teaching, what the benefits are for you and your students, and how being part of the online Team just makes the virtual experience stronger. Do not choose to work in isolation, but instead, join the team connection and start the conversation.