The focus of PEG throughout its twelve year history [1985-1997] has been the concept of the real world application of intelligent computing to teaching and learning. Implicit is the model of the computer in some significant way replicating/mirroring human intelligence and allowing interaction between man and machine so as to progress human understanding. This, of course, leads us into the philosophical, psychological, sociological and ethnographical dimensions of working with an intelligently interactive medium. Over the twelve years of PEG we have moved from the original area of learning to think logically through programming in PROLOG through learning subjects through programming to the development of user friendly interfaces in the form of expert systems, knowledge based systems and intelligent tutoring systems. The current situation provides us with an increasingly rich field for intellient computer developmental activity and applications, with the limitless access to data through the WWW and CD-ROM technology. While the original meaning of the acronym PEG has disappeared into the mists of time, the underlying idea remains as a point of association and identity.
Since their inauguration the PEG Conferences have grown to become a major international event. They are unique in bringing together AI researchers and education practitioners, and also in their emphasis on realizable applications of AI to teaching and learning, with emphasis on school level education. The most recent PEG Conferences were PEG'89 in Uppsala, Sweden, PEG'91 in Rapallo, Italy, and PEG'93 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The latter event attracted over 100 contributors from 24 countries.