This paper addresses the faculty and student perception on web-based instruction in order to explain the nature of learning and instruction in this setting. Using a mixed method approach, the research studied a sample of 62 University Faculty and 163 students in University of Payam-e-noor Kurdistan. The research tools were interview and questionnaire. The results of Exploratory Factor Analysis suggested that five basic components could explain the nature of learning and instruction of web-based instruction in distance education: the lack of authentic learning, autonomy in learning tasks, the weakness of faculty role in instruction, technical skills in web-based instruction and infrastructure and policy-making. These five components could explicate two more fundamental themes: the overall nature of learning and teaching in web-based instruction and web-based obstacles.
