The most recent bad experience I had with technology was last Fall with an app called Mind Miester: https://www.mindmeister.com/

I found this tool via Google search, it was an activity we completed as a class. We were seeking a tool to help us create mind maps live without someone having to physically write or draw and keep up with the speed of the conversation. At first, it felt somewhat intuitive, but I felt nervous using a tool that was new to me live with so many others. I didn’t want to be seen as tech inadept, embarrassing! I want to feel approachable to my students and value boundaried transparency, so I was honest when I didn’t know how to use the tool well or asked if anyone could help us utilize it better. It was a valuable exercise for the class and helped us build rapport with one another early in the class. Upon reflection, I think the tool did meet the needs we had, but we could’ve used it differently in the class exercise.

I spent some time later that evening tidying up the mindmap we made to define and grow the class’ understanding of Sexual Violence. This was my difficulty sitting with the “messy.”