In a new project funded by the federal Department of Education, four state universities and three community colleges are providing technology training in mathematics and science for current and future elementary teachers.

Coordinated by Mississippi State, the $1.9 million, three-year effort also includes Jackson State University and the universities of Mississippi and Southern Mississippi. Together, they make up the Mississippi Research Consortium.

Meridian, Northeast Mississippi and East Mississippi community colleges also are participating.

More than 120 teachers and 3,500 elementary students are expected to benefit over the three-year period, said Dr. Taha Mzoughi. An MSU assistant physics professor, he directs the project with Dr. Burnette Hamil, an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.

The Mississippi project is part of a national program called Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology, or PT3, that focuses on providing specialized training for current and future teachers.

PT3 participants learn to use computer software applications for presentations, document preparation, spreadsheets and web-based courses. They also learn techniques for Internet research and the uses of adaptive technology for special needs students.

Several other MSU units also are providing staff support. These include the offices of Library Instructional Services and Information Technology Services, along with the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.

Other staff support is provided by Mississippi Project Learning Tree, Mississippi Project Wet and Mississippi Project Wild.

For more information about PT3, visit the project web site at http://pt3.msstate.edu/.