COURSE DESCRIPTION. Course Number: NM: RISD: 13109A, 13109B. Successful completion of Forensics I (C or better)

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1 COURSE DESCRIPTION Date: February 2011 COURSE TITLE: STARS Course Title: Forensic Science II Life and Physical Sciences Course Number: NM: RISD: 13109A, 13109B Open to Grades: 12 Prerequisites: Credit: Length of Course: Successful completion of Forensics I (C or better) 1 ½ credit per semester/term 2 semesters/terms COURSE DESCRIPTION: Forensic Science is "how science helps solve crimes". In this exciting, challenging follow up course to Forensics I students will build on their interest in Forensic Science and learn more detailed Forensic material. Forensics II will cover a variety of topics, in the fall semester topics will be advanced pathology and death investigation, advanced DNA evidence analysis, crime scene sketching, crime scene photography, criminal investigative analysis and advanced crime scene management. In the spring semester topics covered include blood spatter, criminal profiling, forensic anthropology, forensic odontology, questioned document examination, and students will also develop and manage a crime scene for the Forensics I students.. State Standards and Benchmarks met within this curriculum: Strand: Scientific Thinking and Practice STANDARD 1: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically Benchmark 1: Use accepted scientific methods to collect, analyze, and interpret data and observations and to design and conduct scientific investigations and communicate results. 1. Describe the essential components of an investigation, including appropriate methodologies, proper equipment, and safety precautions. 2. Design and conduct scientific investigations that include: Testable hypotheses Controls and variables Methods to collect, analyze and interpret data Results that address hypotheses being investigated Predictions based on results Re-evaluation of hypotheses and additional experimentation as necessary Error analysis Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 1

2 3. Use appropriate technologies to collect, analyze and communicate scientific data (e.g., computers, balances, microscopes 4. Convey results of investigations using scientific concepts, methodologies, and expressions including: Scientific language and symbols Diagrams, charts, and other data displays Mathematical expressions and processes (e.g., mean, median, slope, proportionality) Clear, logical, and concise communication Reasoned arguments 9-12 Benchmark II: Understand that scientific processes produce scientific knowledge that is continually evaluated, validated, revised, or rejected. 1. Understand how scientific processes produce valid, reliable results, including Consistency of explanations with data and observations Openness to peer review Full disclosure and examination of assumptions Testability of hypotheses Repeatability of experiments and reproducibility of results. 2. Use scientific reasoning and valid logic to recognize: Faulty logic Cause and effect The difference between observation and unsubstantiated inferences and conclusions Potential bias. 3. Understand how new data and observations can result in new scientific knowledge 4. Critically analyze an accepted explanation by reviewing current scientific knowledge 5. Examine investigations of current interest in science 6. Examine the scientific processes and logic used in investigations of past events (e.g., using data from crime scenes, fossils), investigations can be planned in advance but are only done once (e.g., expensive or time-consuming experiments such as medical clinical trials), and investigations of phenomena that can be repeated easily and frequently Benchmark III: Use mathematical concepts, principles, and expressions to analyze data, develop models, understand patterns and relationships, evaluate findings, and draw conclusions. 1. Create multiple displays of data to analyze and explain the relationships in scientific investigations. 2. Use mathematical models to describe, explain, and predict natural phenomena. 3. Use technologies to quantify relationships in scientific hypotheses (e.g., calculators, computer spreadsheets and databases, graphing software, simulations, modeling). 4. Identify and apply measurement techniques and consider possible effects of measurement errors. 5. Use mathematics to express and establish scientific relationships (e.g., scientific notation, dimensional analysis). Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 2

3 Strand: Scientific Thinking and Practice STANDARD II (Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments Benchmark II: Understand the genetic basis for inheritance and the basic concepts of biological evolution. 1. Know how DNA carries all genetic information in the units of heredity called genes, including: The structure of DNA Information preserving replication of DNA Alteration of genes by inserting, deleting or substituting parts of DNA 2. Use appropriate vocabulary to describe inheritable traits (e.g., genotype, phenotype). 3. Explain the concepts of segregation, independent assortment, and dominate / recessive alleles. 4. Identify traits that can and cannot be inherited. 5. Know how genetic variability results from the recombination and mutation of genes. Strand: Science and Society STANDARD I: Understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices, and Knowledge influence, and are influenced by individuals and societies Benchmark I: Examine and analyze how scientific discoveries and their applications affect the world, and explain how societies influence scientific investigations and applications. 1. Know how science enables technology but also constrains it, and recognize the difference between real technology and science fiction (e.g., rockets vs. antigravity machines; nuclear reactors vs. perpetual-motion machines; medical x-rays vs. Star-Trek tricorders. 2. Understand how advances in technology enable further advances in science (e.g., microscopes and cellular structure) 3. Evaluate the influence of technology on society (e.g., communications, computers, medicine, genetic engineering) including both desired and undesired effects. Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 3

4 State Career Readiness Standards Alignment Strand: Science and Society Standard: STANDARD I: Understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices, and Knowledge influence, and are influenced by individuals and societies. Benchmark: 9-12 Benchmark I: Examine and analyze how scientific discoveries and their applications affect the world, and explain how societies influence scientific investigations and applications. 17. Identify important questions that science cannot answer (e.g., questions that are beyond today s science, decisions that science can only help to make, questions that are inherently outside of the realm of science). 18. Understand that scientists have characteristics in common with other individuals (e.g., employment and career needs, curiosity, desire to perform public service, greed, preconceptions and biases, temptation to be unethical, core values including honesty and openness). 19. Know that science plays a role in many different kinds of careers and activities (e.g., public service, volunteers, public office holders, researchers, teachers, doctors, nurses, technicians, farmers, ranchers). COURSE OUTLINE: A. SEMESTER 1 Review of Forensic Science I / Careers in Forensics (ch 1 Text: Forensic Science for High School and ch 1 paperback: Crime Scene) week 1 Advanced Forensic Pathology & Death Investigation (ch 10 paperback: Crime Scene) weeks 2, 3, 4 & 5 Advanced DNA Evidence & Analysis (ch 11 Text: Forensic Science for High School and paperback: ch 7 Text: Crime Scene ) weeks 6 & 7 Crime Scene Sketching (handouts / computers) weeks 8 & 9 Advanced Crime Scene Photography (paperback: Crime Scene ch 2 / handouts) weeks 10 & 11 Criminal Investigative Analysis (ch 12 Text: Forensic Science for High School) weeks 12, 13, & 14) Advanced Crime Scene Management (ch 3 Text: Forensic Science for High School and paperback: Crime Scene ch 2) weeks 15, 16 & 17 Review / Final Exam week 18 Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 4

5 B. SEMESTER 2 Review Semester 1 / Crime Scene Dioramas (Text: Forensic Science for High School) weeks 1 Bloodstain Pattern Investigation (ch 10 Text: Forensic Science for High School and paperback: Crime Scene ch 6) weeks 2, 3, 4 Start Planning Crime Project (ch 3 Text Forensic Science for High School and paperback: Crime Scene ch 2) weeks 5 Criminal Profiling (handouts various supplemental) weeks 6, 7, 8 Crime Project Ramp-up (ch 6 Text: Forensic Science for High School and paperback: Crime Scene ch 8) weeks 9 & 10 Questioned Document Examination (ch 15 Text: Forensic Science for High School) weeks 11 & 12 Forensic Entomology (ch 13 Text: Forensic Science for High School) weeks 13 & 14 Forensic Anthropology & Odontology (ch 12 Text: Forensic Science for High School) week 15 & 16 What Really Happened presentations to Forensics I classes Review / Final Exam week 18 LEARNING ACTIVITIES: A. SEMESTER 1 Facts and inferences, group crime scene solving, types of crimes, etc Forensic DNA analysis, DNA fingerprinting, PCR (simulation of DNA replication using PCR), STR (short tandem repeats) Cause and manner of death; Death clocks; organ systems Crime Scene sketching paper & computer models Crime Scene Photography (techniques & using various camera settings, etc.) Investigative Analysis; Behavior analysis, Forensic Analysis, Modus Operandi, etc Crime Scene Management (management duties, responsibilities, liabilities, etc.) Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 5

6 B. SEMESTER 2 Design a crime Blood Spatter Analysis / Blood Spatter Lab Crime scene team, crime scene sketching, photography, documentation, processing Student teams set up, implement and manage intricate mock crime scene on campus using skills learned in class for the Forensics I classes Handwriting Analysis, graphology vs QDE, Blind, Simulated, Traced forgery Forensic Entomology; Design an experiment / grow your own maggots Forensic Anthropology: investigate human remains, animal vs human bones, etc Wrap up crime project, student teams present conclusions COURSE MEASUREMENT: A. Student will be measured /graded on a variety of activities such as in-class assignments, homework assignments, unit test, lab activities and class participation. B. Students will be required to actively participate in class activities, projects, and routine daily events. C. Attendance is a very important factor for student success in this class. STUDENT PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS: A. Critically think through and formulate problems B. Identify and investigate probable solutions C. Properly collect and scientifically evaluate data D. Record results and draw logical conclusions based on the evidence E. Communicate the results of all work through various media F. Know how DNA carries all genetic information in the units of heredity called genes and current technologies in this field are applied to forensic issues. G. Examine the scientific processes and logic used in investigations of past events H. Know how science plays a role in many different kinds of careers I. Participate as an effective member in a group Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 6

7 INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS INFORMATION: A. Text: Criminalistics An Introduction to Forensic Science by Richard Saferstein B. Text: Forensic Science for High School by Deslich & Funkhouser, 2006 C. Paperback book: Crime Scene by Larry Ragle 2002 Forensic Science II (Gena Smith) Page 7