Instruction is the work of the person who helps individual learners convert course content prepared for a general audience into personal knowledge. The instructor may be the same person who designed the course, but more often is a specialist (sometimes referred to as a tutor) who works with course materials designed by others. After the materials have been distributed, perhaps by broadcast or recorded technologies, the instructor communicates by audio, video or computer conference or by correspondence. These are the technologies of interaction without which there cannot be education.

In all media, the instructors' responsibilities include:

• discussing course content
• providing feedback on progress
• grading assignments and tests
• motivating the student
• keeping student records

The instructor may occasionally meet with students in tutorial groups, in study centers, for example, or even in residential sessions.