This study investigates how 15 Design & Technology (D&T) students (aged 15 years) participated in three stages of the design process in a technology mediated environment. The three stages are named Situation, Ideation and Development. The learning process is mediated by Knowledge Forum (KF), an asynchronous online discussion tool. The students' online messages and participation were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using a self developed coding scheme. Findings showed that discussions among students were not evident in the Situation stage but were evident in the Ideation and Development stages. Participation levels from one of the three groups of students in the three design stages were very different from the other two groups. Generally, a relatively high level of in depth information processing as compared to surface level of information processing was observed in the three design stages.

<span>This research investigates students' peer interactions in the Design and Technology (D&amp;T) environment supported by</span><em>Knowledge Forum</em><span>. The sample comprised of 15 students who had no prior experience in using </span><em>Knowledge Forum</em><span>to mediate their D&amp;T learning. Their interaction with peers occurred in three stages: design situation, ideation and development. Data was collected mainly from students' online discussion transcripts, with reference to hardcopy of students' reflection logs and design briefs which were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings showed unequal participation by the students throughout their weekly online discussion activities. In terms of students' interaction with their peers, the frequency of students' reading of notes far exceeded their frequency of building upon notes, as evidenced by their social network of notes.</span>