The project arose out of a convergence of several groups' interests. Initially proposed as a field testing project for a telelearning development programme, it eventually acquired a multi-facetted character reflecting the goals of each group.
The PolyMath Development Group (PDG)5 working within the Centre for Experimental and Constructive Mathematics (CECM) is involved with the TeleLearning - National Centre for Excellence (TL-NCE). Its contribution to TL-NCE is a project known as M3Plexus, aimed at delivering live mathematical documents via networks.
The Island Pacific School is a small community-based middle school situated on Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada. It offers a full curriculum to students in grades 7 through 9 with an emphasis on diverse and enriched experiential learning. Author Sinclair is the mathematics and information technology teacher at IPS as well as a researcher at the CECM.
The Assessment of Technology in Context (ATiC) laboratory was established by author Balka at Simon Fraser University, focussing on the uses of participatory design and ethnographic methodologies. It had only recently opened when they were approached to participate in the project.