This study applies partial least squares (PLS) to examine the effects of interactions and instructor feedback and facilitation on the students' satisfaction and their perceived learning outcomes in the context of university online courses. Independent variables included in the study are course structure, self-motivation, learning style, and interaction. A total of 397 valid unduplicated responses from students who have completed at least one online course at a university in the Midwest U.S. are used to examine the structural model. Four of the five antecedent constructs hypothesized to directly affect student/instructor interaction are significant. This research makes a critical contribution in e-learning empirical research by identifying two critical human factors that make e-learning a superior mode of instruction.