Defined as ‘networks of learning relationships among students and significant others’, peer assisted learning takes a bewildering array of forms in higher education. A useful way to conceptualise these is to draw from ideas of communities of practice and communicative rationality, with the degree of student autonomy a third key element. We illustrate this approach with a study of Kuppi, an example of peer assisted learning initiated and organised entirely by students. We interviewed undergraduate participants from six state universities in Sri Lanka and found strong support for this model of peer assisted learning from student learners and student tutors. These classes are characterised by informality and discussion, flexibility in timing and location and a focus on assessments. Students determine the content and who teaches, whilst tutors give their time without payment, out of fraternity and to improve their own learning and skills. The theory of communicative rationality helped explain much of the attraction of this form of peer assisted learning. There was evidence for a strong community of practice; however apart from peer tutors aspiring to become academics, this involved mostly reinforcement of student identity rather than transformation into emerging roles. The high levels of engagement and student autonomy shown by Kuppi challenge suggestions that peer assisted learning must be organised by tutors if it is to be effective.

同伴辅助学习被定义为“学生与重要他人之间的学习关系网络”，在高等教育中采用了令人困惑的形式。将这些概念化的一种有用方法是从实践社区和交际理性的观念中汲取灵感，而学生自主权的程度则是第三个关键要素。我们通过对Kuppi的研究来说明这种方法，Kuppi是完全由学生发起和组织的同伴辅助学习的示例。我们采访了斯里兰卡六所州立大学的本科生，并发现这种学习者和导师对同伴辅助学习模式的大力支持。这些课程的特点是非正式和讨论，时间和地点的灵活性以及评估的重点。学生决定内容，由谁教书，而导师则出于友情而无偿提供时间，并提高了自己的学习和技能。交际理性理论帮助解释了这种形式的同伴辅助学习的吸引力。有证据表明有很强的实践社区。但是，除了希望成为学者的同伴导师之外，这主要涉及加强学生的身份，而不是转变成新兴的角色。Kuppi展现出高度的参与性和学生自主性，这挑战了这样的建议：同伴辅助学习必须由导师组织才能有效。有证据表明有很强的实践社区。但是，除了希望成为学者的同伴导师之外，这主要涉及加强学生的身份，而不是转变成新兴的角色。Kuppi展现出高度的参与性和学生自主性，这挑战了这样的建议：同伴辅助学习必须由导师组织才能有效。有证据表明有很强的实践社区。但是，除了希望成为学者的同伴导师之外，这主要涉及加强学生的身份，而不是转变成新兴的角色。Kuppi展现出高度的参与性和学生自主性，这挑战了这样的建议：同伴辅助学习必须由导师组织才能有效。