Individualized learning by distance education is discussed, with examples from Lincoln College, New Zealand. After identifying advantages and disadvantages of this approach for students, five degrees of freedom in learning encompassed by this mode are covered that involve content, method, pace, assessment, and sequence. Freedom of content allows students to choose what they learn within a particular part of the course. Students can also choose the learning methods that they find most suitable, work at their own pace, and learn at times and places that they choose. Students can choose whether or not they are to be assessed, and if so, what form assessment takes. In addition, students can choose in what order they wish to study the material. Individualization requires that the content and the objectives relating to the content be adopted to meet the learner's needs and abilities. A task-based distance education course (Diploma in Agriculture) at Lincoln College uses a learning package. Based on a task-analysis of framing systems, standardized skills specific to each task have been identified. In addition to task-related assessment sheets in the learning packages, students write two farm reports. (SW)