How Generative AI Affects Team Communication in Secondary Education: A Qualitative Investigation.

Background: The integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into collaborative learning in secondary education has created new possibilities for this pedagogical approach. It has also raised concerns about its impact on team communication, particularly, for adolescent learners whose collaborative competenc...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1 - 15
Autores principales: Hu, Wenjie, Chan, Cecilia Ka Yuk
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Aug2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2026
      vid: 42
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1002/jcal.70270
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        atl: How Generative AI Affects Team Communication in Secondary Education: A Qualitative Investigation.
      aug:
        au:
          Hu, Wenjie
          Chan, Cecilia Ka Yuk
        affil: Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre/Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Artificial Intelligence, Generative
          Communication Methods
          Schools, Secondary
          Peer Group
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Child, Preschool
          Child
          Adolescence
          Hong Kong
          Multimethod Studies
          Thematic Analysis
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Questionnaires
          Learning Methods
          Collaboration
          Students, High School
          Health Policy
          Descriptive Statistics
          Conceptual Framework
          Child, Preschool: 2-5 years
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: The integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into collaborative learning in secondary education has created new possibilities for this pedagogical approach. It has also raised concerns about its impact on team communication, particularly, for adolescent learners whose collaborative competencies are still developing. Current research offers limited understanding of how GenAI shapes team communication in educational settings. Objectives: This study explores how GenAI influences team communication during group tasks and identifies key factors shaping these dynamics in secondary education. Methods: A mixed‐methods design was employed with 24 secondary students (Grades 9–12) from two Hong Kong secondary schools. Data collection included written reflections from all participants and semistructured interviews with 10 students. Thematic analysis addressed GenAI's impacts on communication frequency, timeliness and quality (RQ1), while activity theory guided analysis of influencing factors (RQ2). Results and Conclusions: Findings underscore GenAI's dual role as both a facilitator and a potential disruptor of team interaction in secondary education. First, the introduction of GenAI tools improves communication quality by fostering deeper understanding, generating new ideas and resolving disagreements. However, generative AI tools also significantly reduce communication frequency among team members and may introduce delays in team exchanges. Moreover, this study identifies six factors influencing the use of GenAI in team communication as perceived by students, including the perceived value of discussions, task interdependence, team familiarity, attitudes towards AI, guidelines for AI use and role clarity. Lay Summary: What is currently known about this topic? ○GenAI is increasingly used in secondary education, yet concerns persist about its potential disruption to team communication.○Effective team communication remains critical for successful collaborative learning outcomes.What does this paper add? ○Reveals GenAI's dual role as both a facilitator and a disruptor of team communication.○Identifies six student‐perceived factors influencing the use of GenAI in team communication.Implications for practice or policy ○Develop clear guidelines that specify appropriate contexts and boundaries for GenAI use in collaborative learning.○Incorporate socioemotional team‐building activities (e.g., icebreakers) to strengthen team familiarity and trust.○Maximise task interdependence in group design to ensure students have meaningful opportunities for direct communication.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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