Of course ... in our university instructor, lead instructor, lecturer, senior lecturer and professor! Differences in responsibilities knowledge and experience

Jan Jansen ,

Thank you for being the first participant in the launching of this thread! I am grateful for your unique contribution.

Best regards,

Nancy Ann Watanabe

Teaching by profession is similar in all places but the designations and responsibilities and the structure is different. In some structure people in teaching are called Teacher and at some places these teaching professional are called Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate professor and Full professor even with the same name they have different ranks as allotted by the government while same in the responsibilities. Teacher is not a name of the designation somewhere they are called Instructor and senior instructor while somewhere they are called Subject Specialist and Senior Subject Specialist but not the teacher. Same like that in some places the people in research are called Research assistant and Research Associate while somewhere they have to make both the work like to teach as well as to research.

Irshad Ullah ,

Thank you very much for your detailed contribution to this thread.

Best regards,

Nancy Ann Watanabe

Professor or Prof. is an academic rank at universities, other tertiary institutions, and research institutions in many countries.

A teacher is one who helps individuals to learn. A teacher usually works in a classroom. There are various kinds of teachers.

On the other hand, an instructor is a teacher. Anyone can be an instructor of just anything, although it often applies to teaching hands-on skills, such as playing tennis, swimming skiing, etc.

All of them impact or transfer knowledge

All impact and transfer knowledge

Professors are teachers and researchers

Chinaza Godswill Awuchi ,

Thanks very much for contributing to this thread!

Hussien Al-Deeky ,

Yes, I agree: "Professors are teachers and researchers"!

Reuben Tamakloe ,

Thanks for following!

Professors do research and make publications as required by their profession

My experience with the professional criteria defined by the credentialing and university commissions for the titles is:

a) teachers are credentialed by their state's credentialing commission which is bound by the federal guidelines established by the Office of Education, and may teach students age 0-22. There are various credentials for specializations within those guidelines.

b) instructors are typically credentialed teachers who have the professional experience to teach at the college or university level, and who are hired as such, but who are non-tenured and typically paid by the hour or the course they are teaching. These are often referred to as 'adjunct' staff, but they are not professors.

c) professors are college or university employees, typically with a doctorate. Assistant professors work at the pleasure of the dean, but do not have tenure. Associate professors are tenured and help to design university programs and operate at a higher administrative level than do Assistant professors. Full professors work at the university level, are lifetime tenured, and are often assigned research or administrative roles.

I think you should clarify your question as to whether you are discussing professional titles or social/colloquial terms that may vary according to the populace. For example, 'profesora' is a colloquial ethnically-derived term that does not define professional levels or responsibilities defined by the Federal Office of Education. It is, however, a respectful and meaningful term for teachers, and is used in many areas of the world.

Ananda Aspen ,

Thank you, Ananda, for your detailed reply to my question, which I purposely made as generalized as I possibly could. Each noun, "teacher," "instructor," and "professor" carries different connotations, or associations. They are often used interchangeably. In America, as you indicate, each state requires its own stipulated certification, including education and experience. Thus, my answer to your question is that I want to encourage discussion of any and all designations, titles, and terms! Since this is not a technical question, but, as you note, a discussion, the question offers more latitude and invites anyone and everyone to participate. Thanks!

These terms altogether refer to a person aiming to help knowledge seekers to get information or acquire a skill. A teacher provides knowledge while a trainer shows people how to do things perfectly and administer their performance. An instructor is more authoritative while a coach is more of a guide

I agree with Ananda Aspen

Ananda Aspen , Chinaza Godswill Awuchi ,

As I indicated in my previous clarification, your enunciation of the major college and university categories, from instructor up to professor, is both concise and comprehensive; however, geographical location is a factor. For example, you state that the Associate Professor rank and title signify an individual who is accorded tenure upon being advanced to Associate Professor. While this may be true in the state of California, other states have different criteria, such that promotion to Associate Professor pertains only to rank or only to title, and not at all to tenure status. At conferences, I have met full-time faculty members from different colleges and universities in America who are associate professors both with tenure and without tenure. Even if I had stipulated specific guidelines, in my view, I would only have been inviting controversy. I did consider requesting contributors to this thread to specify their geographical location (country and school).

Your supplementary inclusion of "profesora" as a colloquial form of social recognition, in addition to your catalogue-like definitions, are certainly most welcome!

Thank you so much for your interest in the question.

Best regards,

Nancy Ann Watanabe

Judy Korir ,

I really appreciate your enhancing the discussion by contributing such new terms as "coach" and "trainer" to this thread. Thank you very much!

Best regards,

Nancy

These links will be insightful

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-instructor-and-professor

https://tophat.com/blog/instructor-vs-professor/

https://www.educationdegree.com/articles/difference-between-teachers-and-professors/

Dear Prof. Dr. Nancy Ann Watanabe,

List of some similarities and differences between being a "teacher," an "instructor," and a "professor".

01. Teacher:

Normally, One who teaches in a school is a Teacher. Mostly deals with the theoretical work of a subject and teaches what to do? Is an educator and is supposed to groom his/her students in all the aspects. Normally, the teacher has a permanent position with a variety of duties and subjects in a school or college.

02. Instructor:

Mostly deals with the practical work of a subject and tells how to do? Is a coach and is supposed to tell about the subject he is appointed for. The instructor is appointed for a special task. E.g., For gym, swimming, teaching computer, a game, vocational trade, etc. Instructor refers to a person who gives instructions. Therefore, we have an instructor when we go to the gym, swimming, learning computer, horse riding and skydiving diving or any other adventure activity outdoors. In all such activities, the role of an instructor is to keep participants away from dangers by avoiding certain actions and activities. Thus, the instructor is not just a person giving practical training, but he also performs the role of a person who keeps those he gives training safe and secure through his instructions. However, the word instructor is not limited to outdoor and thrilling activities, as a simple teacher in an elementary class in a school is also referred to as an instructor. In India, Trade Instructor duty is to take Practical Classes in respected Trade (Trade Instructor (practical) for Electrician Trade in ITI) and has to Conduct Demonstrations in Workshop. Again at some places you can see that a very senior faculty in a college or a university being referred to as an instructor. Thus, a professor, which is a very senior rank and title for a teacher in a college, can be called an instructor. Thus, the instructor is a generic term for anyone who guides or instructs.

03. Professor:

Professor is the highest possible rank or title for a faculty in a college or university.

In simple words, the teacher is a broader version of instructor. The professor is more specific word of the teacher, as it is used when referring to a teacher of the highest rank in a college or university. Informally, the professor is used to refer to any instructor, especially the specialized ones. Jobs of teachers and professors have similar educational elements, but there are differences. Teachers focus more on the overall well-being and progress of students, while professors also give career advice and perform original research for publication.

I hope the information will help you.

With Best Wishes,

Samir G Pandya

Samir G Pandya ,

I thank you very much for your excellent detailed answer to my question!

Very best regards.

Chinaza Godswill Awuchi ,

I appreciate your taking time to find links pertaining to this discussion thread!

Thank you so much.

Professor is more specific of teacher, as it is used when referring to a teacher of the highest rank in a college or university. Informally, professor is used to refer to any instructor, especially the specialized ones.

What's the difference between "teacher" and "professor ...

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/13187/whats-the-difference-between-teacher-and-professor

instructor types...

Kendall, K. D., & Schussler, E. E. (2012). Does instructor type matter? Undergraduate student perception of graduate teaching assistants and professors. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 11(2), 187-199.

Are tenure track professors better teachers???

Figlio, D. N., Schapiro, M. O., & Soter, K. B. (2015). Are tenure track professors better teachers?. Review of Economics and Statistics, 97(4), 715-724.

evaluations of teaching: Perceptions of faculty based on position, rank n etc.

Kogan, L. R., Schoenfeld-Tacher, R., & Hellyer, P. W. (2010). Student evaluations of teaching: Perceptions of faculty based on gender, position, and rank. Teaching in Higher Education, 15(6), 623-636.

That is good elaboration from Samir G Pandya you have said it all!

Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe

The term of a teacher is used in classic learning approach, in this model of learning the teacher is the center of learning and he/she every thing in the class.

but the term of instructor (Advisor, Guider) is now use with those teachers are using student centered approach, in this modern method (pedagogy) the teacher are instruct student to learn.

The title of Professor is given to people that have a PhD and are teachers at any academic level. A Full Professor is a senior-level professor.

Peshawa O. Hama ,

Thank you very much for your answers on this thread!

Also, I greatly appreciate your recommendation of this discussion.

Best wishes.

Dear D A Gayan Nayanajith ,

I am grateful to you for your answers and links, which are welcome contributions to the discussion!

Best regards.

It's my pleasure...Many thanks for initiating the discussion...

You well come Dear Nancy Ann Watanabe

Ofcourse there is a difference provided level of knowledge and intelligence marks their height !

In my country, the positions of teacher, instructor, professor are different positions that differ in degrees and titles. The professor is the highest academic title, the teacher has a professional master's degree, the instructor is a university position.