Chapter 1: Introduction: Instructor Competencies

With any area of study, terminology and a common understanding of its use are needed. For example, using the terms teacher and instructor interchangeably suggests that thtalicese important roles in instructional settings are viewed as the same. If we look at the definition of a teacher—“A person who teaches, especially in a school”—and then look at the definition of an instructor—“A person who teaches something”—it is hard to make much of a distinction. It is when we look at the different roles, rank, and levels of those who teach, however, that we can more clearly differentiate. While international differences in the use of these terms may exist, in looking at the United States’ use of these terms, we find that teachers are educators who work with students in primary and secondary settings. The terms professor, instructor, and lecturer designate those teaching primarily in higher education or in informal sdeducation settings. In this book, “instructor” is used because it is synonymous with numerous types of educators including, for example, trainers, professors, mentors, or tutors.