Information technology in its several guises is having a profound and increasing influence on daily life. What is true generally, is also true professionally as the increasing ability to provide, source and manipulate information offered by this technology impacts on undergraduate and postgraduate training and clinical practice. The educational community has frequently been to the forefront in the continued development and use of information technology. Dentistry is no exception and the past years have seen a burgeoning of the application of these technologies – on-line educational resources, courseware, electronic personal academic records – to the extent that in many organisations they are now accepted as the norm. Thanks to the Internet, the flavour of this information is increasingly international. The 'not made here' syndrome is no longer viable.

Educational technology is no longer a marginal interest, it is in the mainstream. It is not a substitute for the more traditional teaching methods rather an additional scenario on the educational scene that, when appropriately used, adds value to the learning experience. It is the goal of the Journal of Dentistry: Educational Technology Section to reflect on and disseminate current developments in the use of educational technology in dental education and learning. As an on-line supplement to the Journal of Dentistry, the Journal will harness the Internet to appeal to an international readership of clinicians, educators and students. In maintaining rigorous standards of peer review, the Journal will, in particular, offer academic authors of educational WWW sites and computer aided learning programs recognition of their scholarship through refereed publication. It is an important and exciting challenge that I (Nick Jepson), as the first Editor, look forward to meeting.

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Dentistry: Educational Technology Section. Please click here for information about the Journal of Dentistry.