Charles Wedemeyer proposed 10 guidelines for independent study based on his theory. The guidelines include: (1) making instruction available anytime and anywhere; (2) increasing student responsibility for learning; (3) freeing faculty from non-educational tasks; (4) offering wider choices in subjects, formats and methods. The guidelines also recommend: (5) using proven teaching media and methods; (6) combining media and methods effectively per subject; and (7) ensuring media and technology reinforce each other and the subject matter. Additionally, the guidelines suggest: (8) preserving adaptation to individual differences; (9) evaluating achievement based on goals rather than methods/pace of learning; and (10) allowing students to start

1. Charles Wedemeyer’s Theory of
Independent Study
New Guidelines for Instruction
EDACE 886
Wiki Group 1

2. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#1
Instruction should be available any
place where there are students – or
even only one student – whether or
not there are teachers at the same
place at the same time.

3. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#2
Instruction should place greater
responsibility for learning on the
student.

4. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#3
The instructional plan should free faculty
members from custodial duties so that
more of the teacher’s and learner’s time
can be given to truly educational tasks.

5. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#4
The instructional system should offer
learners wider choices in
subjects, formats, and
methodologies.

6. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#5
The instructional system should
use, as appropriate, all the
teaching media and methods that
have been proven to be effective.

7. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#6
The instructional system should mix
and combine media and methods
so that each subject or unit within a
subject is taught in the most
effective way.

8. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#7
The media and technology employed
should be articulated in design and use;
that is they should reinforce each other
and the structure of the subject matter
and teaching plan.

9. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#8
The instructional system should preserve
and enhance opportunities for
adaptation to difference among
individual learners as well as among
teachers.

10. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#9
The instructional system should evaluate student
achievement not by raising barriers concerning
the place where the student studies, the rate at
which he studies, the method by which he
studies, or even the sequence in which he
studies, but instead by evaluating as directly as
possible the achievement of learning goals.

11. Wedemeyer’s
10 New Guidelines for Instruction
#10
The system should permit students to
start, stop and learn at their own
paces, consistent with learner short- and
long-range goals, situations, and
characteristics.

12. References
Wedemeyer, C. A. (1981). Learning at
the back door: Reflections on non-
traditional learning in the lifespan.
Madison: University of Wisconsin
Press.