INDIANAPOLIS -- The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research oversees FORCES, or Funding Opportunities for Research Commercialization and Economic Success. The initiative has awarded more than $1 million to more than 30 faculty members since 2011.
Kevin Michael Berkopes, a mathematician in the School of Science and director of the Mathematics Assistance Center and Statistics Assistance Center, received $35,000 for "Virtual Learning Spaces: Creating Virtual Spaces for Future Teacher Support and Professional Exam Preparation." The work could support future mathematics and K-5 general-education teachers.
"This FORCES funding will help researchers from the School of Science and the School of Education collaborate to create high-tech virtual learning spaces," he said. "The intention is to create a virtual learning space that is embedded in the learning management system canvas and available free of charge to all IUPUI students enrolled in the elementary-education degree path."
Berkopes founded Crossroads Education through the Spin Up program of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp. to commercialize his work.
"Should the product prove impactful, we intend to apply for funding to investigate our virtual learning space design as something that is exportable to different sectors. We hope that we can research and investigate new technologies for providing quality interactions with mathematical content and to enable collaboration and professional development for current and future teachers of mathematics," he said.
About Indiana University Research and Technology Corp.
IURTC is a not-for-profit corporation tasked with the protecting and commercializing of technology emanating from innovations by IU researchers. Since 1997, IU research has generated more than 2,700 inventions resulting in over 3,900 global patent applications being filed by IURTC. These discoveries have generated $133 million in licensing and royalty income, including $111 million in funding for IU departments, labs and inventors.