Call model-class from view

[eluser]Dam1an[/eluser]
The function name is just get_instance, the '&' just means reference instead of creating a new instance. Its valid to have =& get_instance as well as = &get;_instance

As for learning about how CI is built, have you read the introduction and general sections in the user guide?

Also, you can browse through the source code, starting with index.php, and then following off various calls to see what happens
If you want to find out how a specific function works, what it calls etc, just browse through the library code for it