Study Tech

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Study technology, or study tech, is a methodology for learning developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Hubbard's "Study Tech" is used by Church of Scientology members as part of their training, and is also promoted outside the church by a church-affiliated corporation known as Applied Scholastics, which presents study tech as a universally applicable method to enhance the comprehension of any student, studying any topic.

Study tech primarily describes and addresses what it calls "the three barriers to study"; misunderstood words (MUs), lack of mass, and too steep a gradient. These "barriers" are addressed in study tech by finding and "clearing" (i.e. fully understanding) misunderstood words as they are encountered, obtaining the actual physical presence ("mass") of subject, and by making sure the student is not proceeding through course materials too quickly (without full understanding of the previous concepts).[1]

Though both Applied Scholastics and the Church of Scientology say that Hubbard's study tech is tremendously effective, practically no supporting data has appeared in educational journals or other third-party publications. The study tech materials have gained little acceptance among public school administrators or scholars of educational theory.

Hubbard wrote that study tech is part of the "Tech of Scientology[2]," and stated in a policy letter the "Study Tech is our primary bridge to Society."[3]

Contents

[edit] The Three Barriers to Study

Hubbard states that there are three principal barriers to study: misunderstood words, lack of mass, and too steep of a gradient.[4]

[edit] Misunderstood Word

A misunderstood word (often abbreviated as "MU") is any word that the student doesn't understand correctly. One of Hubbard's theories is that once a student passes a misunderstood word he won't be able to use the information that follows.

According to Hubbard, symptoms of the MU are:

  • Wanting to stop studying.
  • Not remembering what was just read.
  • Feeling tired, bored or exasperated.

[edit] Lack of Mass

A lack of Mass occurs when a student does not have access to the masses of a subject. For example, if a student is studying trains then he should have access to actual, physical trains. If a student is studying the enumeration of objects (arithmetic) then he should have access to masses which he could enumerate.

Hubbard says that a student suffering from lack of mass will tend to bend over his desk and often have headaches. The remedy would be for a student to have access to the masses of the subject. Failing that, a student might have access to models of trains, or view a photograph or a movie of a train. Clay might be used by a student to demonstrate the ideas of trains.

[edit] Too steep of a gradient

According to the Church of Scientology, "A gradient is a gradual approach to something taken step by step, level by level, each step or level being, of itself, easily attainable – so that finally, complicated and difficult activities can be achieved with relative ease. When one hits too steep a gradient in studying a subject, a sort of confusion or reelingness (a state of mental swaying or unsteadiness) results."[4]

This gradient, or learning curve, can be plotted with cumulative effort on the vertical axis and achievement on the horizontal axis. The steeper the curve at any given point, the more difficult the material is at that point, and the more effort is required for a given level of achievement.

An example of an overly steep gradient is when a student tries to study a subject without first studying the prerequisite materials, such as a student who studies algebra before he fully understands arithmetic. The symptom of a too steep a gradient is a student who is overwhelmed by the course material.

[edit] Procedures and Techniques

Though many instructional practices stress building vocabulary, experiential education, and proper pacing, Study Tech has its own procedures for accomplishing these.

[edit] Word Clearing

Word Clearing is the Scientology term for getting a definition of a misunderstood word (MU). Study Technology spells out ten ways in which a word can be misunderstood including "an invented definition" and spells out how to clear a word to full conceptual understanding.

[edit] Spot Check

A Spot Check is performed for a student who is exhibiting MU symptoms (commonly referred to as "MU phenomena"). It is done to help a student find his misunderstood words.

[edit] Clay demonstration

A Clay Demo consists of using clay to demonstrate concepts in physical form.

[edit] Course supervisor

The Course Supervisor, commonly abbreviated as Sup (pronounced soup), runs a courseroom and ensures study technology is employed by the students in a courseroom. Using study tech, he helps students get through their courses. A courseroom can have more than one sup.

[edit] Acceptance Outside of Scientology

Applied Scholastics programs, based on Hubbard's Study Tech, have received some limited acceptance by governmental education agencies. For example, Applied Scholastics received accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Education in 2005 as an organisation that Italian teachers can choose to attend, rather than a state University, for their continuing education requirement.[5][6] In the United States, the Literacy, Education and Ability Program (LEAP) of Memphis, Tennessee[1], an Applied Scholastics member organization, received a grant of $250,000 from the US government's Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) in 2005.[7]

Delphi Schools, runs a number of primary, middle, and secondary schools throughout the country which utilize the Study Tech; the founding Delphian School in Oregon, and seven other Delphi Academy campuses. The Oregon and Los Angeles schools offer a full secondary education and award high school diplomas to graduates. The founding Delphian School in Oregon is registered with the State of Oregon Department of Education and is listed as "privately accredited".[8] It is a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS). According to PNAIS, "Candidate Members are schools the PNAIS Board of Governors have approved as being able to meet the PNAIS Major Standards within a five-year period."[9] The Los Angeles Delphi Academy, along with the remaining Delphi schools are listed with their respective state education departments but none carry accreditation from their respective regional or national acceditation bodies.

Study Tech is used at Hubbard College of Administration International, an unaccredited post-secondary school that grants a specialized associates degree.

[edit] References

Note: HCOB refers to "Hubbard Communications Office Bulletins", HCOPL refers to "Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letters", and SHSBC refers to "Saint Hill Special Briefing Courses". All have been made publicly available by the Church of Scientology in the past, both as individual documents or in bound volumes.

  1. ^ Church of Scientology International studytechnology.org (accessed 5/31/06)
  2. ^ "The Tech of Study," LRH Executive Directive 11 EU of 20 July 1974
  3. ^ Hubbard, Ethics and Study Tech, HCOPL of 4 April 1972
  4. ^ a b Church of Scientology International. "Study Trouble". Scientology Handbook, 2005
  5. ^ Announcement and copies of the letter of accreditation in Italian and English
  6. ^ Details on the Minstry of Education site
  7. ^ US Library of Congress Thomas accessed Oct 2, 2006 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&sid=cp1083xOTt&refer=&r_n=hr792.108&db_id=108&item=&sel=TOC_3611258&
  8. ^ http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/specialty/private/rptSchoolListingByCountyPrivate.pdf accessed 2006-10-22
  9. ^ http://www.pnais.org/membership/faqs.aspx You can also use the search function to verify the membership status. accessed 2006-10-22

[edit] External links

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