The International Conference on Mathematics/Science Education and Technology (M/SET 99) is an annual conference focused on current research, theory, issues, classroom applications, developments, and trends related to the use of information technologies in mathematics, science, and computer science education. The M/SET 99 Program Committee accepted 111 papers from 21 nations addressing these topics across a wide range of educational levels and settings. These Proceedings of the International Conference on Mathematics/Science Education and Technology provide a basis for on-going reflection and discussion of M/SET 99 conference themes and issues. The following thoughts are offered as a catalyst for such dialogues.

From primary school to graduate school, information technologies play an increasingly important role in mathematics and science education. The significance of information technologies in professional practice is now recognized by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the US Department of Education advocate training in the use of these technologies in teacher education programs. Winning the support of these organizations has not been easy. Information technologies have never been in the mainstream of such organizations. The credibility that we enjoy today has been earned on the basis of years of hard work by researchers, teachers, and technologists unafraid to "go against the flow."

At M/SET 99, information technologies in mathematics and science education are the mainstream. We are the people who have developed, validated, and disseminated many of the most significant advances in mathematics and science education over the last 20 years. Let's take time to meet one another, to learn from one another, to celebrate our common interests and achievements, and to share our dreams for the future.

While high-level policy statements are useful in some contexts, common beliefs about the nature of mathematics and science education often work against a general adoption of information technologies at the local level. Overcoming resistance to the use of information technologies will require more than research findings and policy statements. It will require effective demonstrations at the local level of the power and value of these technologies in the lives of teachers, students and adult learners. As researchers, teachers, technologists, and leaders, we have a stake in the outcomes of those demonstrations. Without our direct involvement, who will represent our interests? Do we really want to leave this to NCTM and NSTA? M/SET and its sponsoring organization, the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), can speak directly to our interests while collaborating with other organizations. We have earned a "place at the table." Let's occupy it and deliver a clear and consistent message.

In the emerging global community, information technologies will transform education, the economy, politics, and popular culture and empower those who have the knowledge and skills to use them productively. Schools, libraries, communities, and universities have been asked to create and support information technology infrastructures and professional development environments that provide

- Teachers access to computer and Internet technologies appropriate to their professional assignments and the training necessary to use these technologies to enhance their teaching and professional development;

- Students access to computer and Internet technologies appropriate to their grade levels, academic needs, and interests and the training to use these technologies to enhance their education and long term career opportunities; and

- Adult learners access to computer and Internet technologies used in the delivery of information services and distance education courses and the training to use these technologies to their enhance life-long-learning and long term career opportunities.

To help lay a foundation for a continuing dialogue, three keynote speakers have been invited to provide perspectives on different aspects of the challenges we all face.

- Nora Sabelli, National Science Foundation, USA
"Education Research on Cognition, Content, Practice, Systemic Change: What Constitutes an Appropriate Research Balance?"

- Robby Robson, Oregon State Univ., USA
"Putting Pedagogy On-line"

- Elliot Soloway, Univ. of Michigan & Cathie Norris, Univ. of North Texas, USA
"From NetDay to NextDay: Are We Up to That Challenge?"

In addition to the M/SET 99 keynote speakers, thanks are offered to the Program Committee, listed below, for their service and to all the authors for submitting and presenting their work.

Robert Biddle, Victoria Univ. of Wellington, New Zealand
Lisa Bievenue, NCSA, Univ. of Illinois USA
Francois-Marie Blondel, Institut National de Recherche Pedagogique, France
Ed Dubinsky, JCMST & Georgia State Univ., USA
Joe Garofalo, Univ. of Virginia, USA
Susan R.Goldman, Vanderbilt Univ., USA
Andy Gray, Education Queensland, Open Access Unit, Australia
Johan Groth, National Agency for Education, Sweden
Susan Holmes, Stanford Univ., USA
Nicholas Jackiw, KCP Technologies, Inc., USA
Gary Marks, AACE, USA
Jean-François Nicaud, IRIN, Univ of Nantes, France
Robby Robson, Oregon State Univ., USA
Jeremy Roschelle, SRI International, USA
William Sandoval, Univ. of California-LA, USA
Norbert M. Seel, Univ. of Freiburg, Germany
Elliot Soloway, Univ. of Michigan, USA
David A. Thomas, Montana State Univ., USA
Janice Woodrow, Univ. of British Columbia, Canada
Raul Zaritsky, NCSA, Univ. of Illinois, USA

The International Conference on Mathematics/Science Education and Technology (M/SET 99) is sponsored by the Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching (JCMST), organized by AACE, and hosted by the Univ. of Houston and the Univ. of Texas-San Antonio; March 1-4, 1999, at the San Antonio Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas.

David A. Thomas, Program Chair
International Conference on Mathematics/Science Education & Technology
Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State Univ., USA
dave@math.montana.edu