WeChat dual-group (mis-)use: a qualitative exploration of Chinese undergraduate students' use of mobile social media applications and its pedagogical implications.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although WeChat is widely adopted in Chinese higher-education English-translation programmes, little is known about how students actually use its group-chat function for collaborative learning or what problems arise. This study explores the dual-group phenomenon-parallel instructor including inclusive and student-only WeChat groups, to uncover both the merits and the challenges of this informal digital ecology.

Methods

An interpretivist, qualitative design was employed. Twenty-eight undergraduates from a Chinese technology-focused public university were recruited through course announcements, email and flyers. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted, transcribed, translated and analysed inductively using thematic analysis.

Results

All part

SUBMITTER: Tan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12728073 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature