The Marble Theory of Cognition
By K.C. Dignan
Texas School for the Blind
Although I don't work at a university, I talk to a lot of students, and future students. A lot. The subject of braille comes up. A lot. This is what I tell them.
I subscribeto (and possibly modified) the "marble theory of cognition" as defined by Jane Erin, Ph.D. That is: all of these bits of information are like marbles that tumble down a big pachinko machine, into a bowl, preferably the right bowl, a bowl with lots of similar marbles. The bowl can only hold so many marbles, and then it overflows, and there is no telling which marbles will flow out: the braille information; the location of your car, your address.
Well, last month you didn't have any "braille marbles," and you certainly didn't have a braille bowl. So you started learning braille. The marbles came tumbling down. Your brain said, "What? No bowl? I guess I'll just land .... oh... here. And here.... and this one looks nice." (possibly dislodging the marble with your children's names -- oh dear).
Meanwhile, because your brain likes to keep like things together, it started building a bowl. First, it goes and gets the clay. Assess the size needed. Shapes a nice bowl and puts it into be fired. Then it gets a glaze.... "hmmmm.... the one I used for the print alphabet was nice, but I think I'll make a bit of a different one.... yes... this will be perfect." Then the bowl gets fired again. And properly cooled.
Meanwhile, all of the braille marbles keep sliding down the chute. Every day. Every day.
Eventually the marbles will have a nice home, made just for them. Typically that is around week 3 or 4.
So don't worry. It is a challenge. And different. And important. But you WILL get a nice bowl for your braille marbles, and it won't seem so foreign.
One other message:
Measure fingers carefully at the start of the class. Then at the end, just to see if you really "brailled your fingers off".
So what is the message behind all of this nonsense? This: 1) This is a change and a transition. As such there is a "process." What you're feeling is part of the transition process. Don't worry. It will pass. 2) It is a tough process whose stakes can be high. So feelings of concern are not surprising. 3).This will pass. It will all starts to make sense--- or as much sense as braille ever does