Engager and avoider behaviour in types of activities performed by out-of-class learning groups

This study examines the out-of-class learningactivities undertaken, at the students'volition, by groups of students. Data weregathered through 57 individual and 15 focusgroup interviews with university students inHong Kong. Group activities reported included:copying, sharing material, consulting peers,consulting teachers, studying and workingtogether, revising together beforeexaminations, discussing, collaborating acrossyears, forming study groups and participatingin extracurricular activities. Activities couldbe placed on a spectrum from low to high task-involvement. Some activities, such as copying,occurred at only one end of the spectrum. Mostoccurred in somewhat different forms across thespectrum. It was possible to categorise theseactivities into two categories labelled avoiderand engager behaviour. Avoider behaviour wasdisplayed by those who collaborated to minimisethe time individual members spent on assignedtasks. Engager behaviour was characterised byseeking to reach a communal understanding ofcourse content. Adoption of either behaviourwas influenced by the teaching and learningenvironment.