Information Technology and Group Work in Physics.

It is now widely accepted that the cost of computers means that work around them will usually be in group's work. Hence, the question is raised of whether the group context should be explicitly recognized in the software design. The present paper outlines a study which was intended to contribute to an answer. The study addressed the consequences of exchanging ideas while making joint decisions about the paths followed by falling objects. Based on results from 12–15-year-old pupils who responded to computer-presented problems, the study indicates that benefits are to be gained, but that constraints additional to joint decision making may be necessary for optimal outcomes.