Ben Barber Career Tech Academy Mansfield ISD 2015-16 Instructor: Mr. Rusty Williams Conference Period: 10:30am-11:15am Phone: 682-314-1600(office) 1:40pm-3:00pm E-mail: FrankWilliams@misdmail.org Room: Ben Barber A202 Required Text and Materials: Course Syllabus: Forensic Science ipad (fully charged) Free apps for ipad (to be announced) Headphones or ear buds for private listening White notebook paper; Black Ink Pen, Pencils # 2 lead Various color ink pens including red, black, and blue All reading/assignment material will be provided by the instructor Course Description: Forensic Science is a course that uses a structured and scientific approach to the investigation of crimes of assault, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, accidental death, homicide, and the psychology of criminal behavior. Students will learn terminology and investigative procedures related to crime scene, questioning, interviewing, criminal behavior characteristics, truth detection, and scientific procedures used to solve crimes. Using scientific methods, students will collect and analyze evidence through case studies and simulated crime scenes such as fingerprint analysis, ballistics, and blood spatter analysis. Students will learn the history, legal aspects, and career options for forensic science. PIEMS Number: 13029500 General Requirements: This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12. Prerequisites: Biology and Chemistry. Recommended prerequisites: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security and Law Enforcement I. Texas TEKS Objectives: Knowledge and skills for 130.295 (Forensic Science) Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: Conduct, for at least 40% of instructional time, laboratory and field investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices Use scientific methods and equipment during laboratory and field investigations Use critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions within and outside the classroom Explore the history, legal responsibilities, and career options for forensic science Recognize the procedures of evidence collection while maintaining the integrity of a crime scene Analyze the evidence collected from a crime scene using scientific methods Recognize the methods to process and analyze Forensic Science Fall 2015 1
trace evidence commonly found in a crime scene Analyze fingerprints in forensic science Analyze blood spatter at a simulated crime scene Explore toxicology laboratory procedures in forensic science Explore serology laboratory procedures in forensic science Analyze deoxyribonucleic acid laboratory procedures in forensic science Identify drugs found at a simulated crime scene Evaluate bullet and tool mark impressions in a criminal investigation Explore principles of anthropology relevant to forensic science Calculate the time and cause of death in relationship to decomposition of the human body Uniform Requirement (worn daily) Students must wear closed-toe footwear and comfortable clothes during course unless dictated by another class or the student s extra-curricular activity. Students are required to wear clothing that covers all exposed skin during laboratory activities (longsleeved shirts and pants) o Students will be provided with lockers to store lab clothing o Students must take their extra lab clothes home every Friday and clean clothes before class on Monday Students should provide lab clothing that can be discarded in the case of a spill or stain Students will be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to include: o Lab coats o Protective eye wear o Non-latex and latex gloves (if you have a latex allergy, notify instructor immediately) o Dust Masks (when applicable) o All lab PPE will be provided by the instructor Attendance/Participation: Students may be assessed a penalty of no more than 15 points per day for up to three days before a zero may be given for work not turned in on time. Class will begin promptly for 2 hours and 15 every other day. Late arrivals enter as quietly as possible and take the nearest available seat to minimize disruption to the class. Late students will be considered tardy for the first 10 minutes of the period. Students entering after ten minutes will be considered absent. To remove a tardy or absence you will have to see your associate principle and make arrangements personally with your attendance office on your home campus. The instructor cannot make these changes. You are personally responsible for all material presented in class, including announcements about changes in course assignments and procedures. Exams, quizzes, special projects, and homework/exercises often include question on material presented only in class, so performance on these is indirectly reflected by your attendance. Each student is expected to have a fully charged ipad and attend all lectures, follow all lesson assignment and testing as required, and turn in all required work assignments by the assigned due date. Absences which result in not receiving in topic information or assignments may be made up by going to the class website (ClassroomGoogle.com of Moodle.com) and completing the material and assignment for the instructional period you missed. Forensic Science Fall 2015 2
You must be present to take tests unless noted on Course Website. Please make arrangements to make up a missed test the day you return to class. All students work in investigative units (small groups) during the semester. You are expected to participate and work as a team, each handling different aspects of the class assignment. Therefore the class may be broken up to work as teams according to the needs of the unit of instruction and to vary your learning experience. Team Selection will be at direction of the course instructor. Team exercises will be conducted and graded (if applicable) as a team and/or might contain individual grades on portions of the assignment. Posting Student Work: Student grades will be posted in Skyward parent portal within five business days for daily grades and major grades. Special consideration is given to major projects, including lengthy writing assignments. Course Grading: Six weeks grades shall be obtained by averaging daily work (homework, class work, or daily/pop quizzes, MISD Curriculum Based Assessments, etc.) and major grades (tests, projects, lengthy assignments, etc). The exceptions include science classes, which include grades for labs. Daily assignments may count more than once, but no more than twice. Total grade point scale: A 90%-100% B 80%-89.99% C 70%-79.99% F Below 70% *Course credit is awarded with a grade of 70 or higher. If a student fails either semester of any MISD yearlong course and passes the opposite semester with a high enough grade for an overall average of 70 for the full course, a full credit will be granted. In this situation, for averaging to occur, the courses must have been taken during the same school year and in consecutive semesters Total semester grade: Semester Coursework 80% of total grade Semester Final Exam 20% of total grade Combined 100% of grade *note that 20% of your entire grade is the semester exam Semester Coursework grade: 1st six-weeks: 50% of semester coursework grade 2nd six-weeks: 50% of semester coursework grade *Semester grades are computed by averaging the numerical grades recorded for each of the six week reporting periods and the course semester exam Forensic Science Fall 2015 3
Six-weeks grade: Exams/Projects 50% of six-weeks grade Labs/Quizzes 30% of six-weeks grade Class Participation/Daily Work 20% of six-weeks grade *I will take at least ten (10) grades per six weeks grading period. At least TWO of those grades will be a major assessment/test. Daily grade: Class Participation/Daily Work Labs/Quizzes Exams/Projects 10 points/day (600 points total) 50 points each (800 points total) 100 points each (600 points total) Class Participation/Daily Work Lab/Quizzes Exams/Projects Evaluation: A 540-600 B 480-539 C 420-479 F 0-419 A 720-800 B 640-719 C 560-639 F 0-559 A 540-600 B 480-539 C 420-479 F 0-419 Course evaluation will be based on the total possible points for assignments/exercises given and will be determined by class progression. You may expect a minimum of between eight and twelve individual grades per six-week grading period, as per the school districts grading policy. Examinations: There will be five major exams during the course. Each worth 100 possible points (100%). Exam dates may be changed as needs dictate. Exams will come from both lecture and resource assignments. Exams will be a mix of essay, fill in the blank, multiple choice and true or false. Quizzes will be conducted at the discretion of the instructor and will be graded as daily coursework. Class exercises: Students will participate in daily class activities as dictated by the content of the lesson and will include, but are not limited to: real-world scenarios, situational prompt responses, specific skill evaluations, report writing, note keeping, and journal entries (all individually and/or as a team). Unit Labs: Students will participate in lab exercises that will reinforce the presented lectures. Students will be required to keep a journal during all labs. Students will be given a grade rubric for journal entries and specific grading criteria based on the lab. The lab and lab journal are 30% of the semester coursework grade. Forensic Certification Courses: 100 points. Students will complete TWO online Forensic courses listed in the syllabus. The courses have online tests that must be passed with a 70% or above and can be taken an unlimited number of times. The students will be given class time to take both courses and must complete the courses by the end of the course. Re-Take Policy Students who fail a major test/assessment (below 70%) will be allowed to retake or correct up to a 70% grade. This does not include semester examinations. o Unless you obtain prior approval of the instructor, late assignments or exercises and missed tests or quizzes not completed within one week of your absence will receive no credit. Retesting for Forensic Science Fall 2015 4
grades lower than 70% is automatic and must be completed and passed within the next two class periods. The maximum grade on a retake is 70% if you failed the original test. Students are expected to make arrangements with the teacher to retake or correct a major test/assessment. Students are encouraged to participate in tutoring opportunities before retaking a test. Each teacher will communicate routine requirements for retakes and corrections in his/her course syllabus. All retakes or corrections must be completed prior to the end of each six week grading period unless the student is afforded time, after the six week grading period, as a result of the district s absent/make-up guidelines. SEMESTER EXAMS (cumulative) Each semester, specific exam schedules are designated for MISD high schools and as related to dual credit courses. These schedules must be followed. Neither mid-term nor final exams are given early. If a student is absent on the day of an exam he/she will take the exam at a school designated time and date. A student is expected to contact the course teacher to schedule a make-up time for a first semester exam missed because of student absence and the school counseling department to schedule a make-up time for any second semester exam missed because of student absence. WEIGHTED CREDIT Per MISD Board Policy EIC (LOCAL): The District uses a weighted numerical grading system. In calculating GPA, ten points (per semester) shall be added to a student s average in Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-AP, Academic Decathlon, and courses considered to be District-approved college level dual credit courses. All other courses shall not receive weighted points for completion. No weighted credit point shall be added for grades lower than 70. Weighted grading shall be reflected in the student s GPA and not numerically per course on either the student s report card or transcript. UIL ELIGIBILITY ( No Pass/No Play ) Semester grades are computed by averaging the numerical grades recorded for each of the three six week reporting periods. Each six week grading period will stand alone for eligibility purposes. A student who is declared academically ineligible after a six week grading period will be able to regain eligibility if all of the student s grade averages are 70% or higher at the subsequent 3 week grade reporting period. See MISD Board Policy FM (LOCAL) Exempt Courses. Please Note: o All student grades in the grade book will be recorded as a percentage of the possible points attempted. Forensic Science Fall 2015 5
o Unless a student has requested and received written permission from the course instructor and is has been approved in writing by the Ben Barber/Frontier Principal, requests to extend assignments/grades to the next grading period will not permitted. o Students, who compete under UIL regulations, must meet all deadlines, complete and pass all portions of the assessments assigned during that grading period. o UIL Students who have failing grades during a specific UIL grading period will have failing grades turned in on the district grade book as dictated by the Mansfield ISD grading policy. Waivers must be in writing from the Ben Barber/Frontier Principle. There are no exceptions. Academic Misconduct: Is a serious violation of personal integrity and any act that violates the academic integrity of this institution is considered academic misconduct. The procedures used to resolve suspected acts of academic misconduct are available in the offices of the principle. Specific examples include, but are not limited to: o Cheating 1. Copying from another student s electronic device, assignment or test paper, laboratory report or any other form or report on an individual or group assignment/quiz/test. 2. Using, during any academic exercise, material and /or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the assignment/quiz/test. 3. Collaborating with or seeking aid on an assignment/quiz/test from another student without permission. 4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in its entirety or in part, the contents of a test or other assignment unauthorized for release. 5. Substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for you on an assignment/quiz/test. o Plagiarism The appropriation, theft, purchase or obtaining by any means another s work; the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one s own for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of another s work without giving the original author credit. o Collusion The unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing work offered for credit Academic dishonesty will result in a course grade of 0%. For resolution, retesting or presentation of the questioned assignment, the instructor will require a written letter from the student, the student s parent and the Ben Barber/Frontier High School principal. *Please refer to the MISD student handbook for detailed information regarding Academic dishonesty and Plagiarism. Forensic Science Fall 2015 6
Certifications: Students will take part in Portfolio assignments that include completing Forensic certifications. All certifications are free to all students and will be completed during extra in class time. The certifications are offered free of charge on the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) website. The NIJ course certificates can help the student s college application and resume status. Most Forensic team members are required to obtain the certifications completed in this course. In class, students will complete the following NIJ certifications: o A Prosecutor s Practice Notebook o Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert Classroom Standards: This classroom follows a strict E-SPIRIT standards guideline during the entire course. E-SPIRIT provides students with a dynamic learning environment that is equal and safe for all students, regardless of the student s grade level or background. Students will be expected to adhere to the following E-SPIRIT standards: Embrace diversity All students will collaborate with one another without discrimination or judgment All students will appreciate and learn from the diverse classroom setting Safety first, last and always* All students will conduct daily activities in the safest manner possible* All students will participate in safety briefings before any activities* Personal Courage All students are responsible for standing up for what is right All students will report any bullying, discrimination, or mistreatment of any student(s) Integrity All students will do what is right, regardless of who is watching All students are responsible for telling the truth at all times Respect All students will treat each other how they want to be treated All students will respect the opinions of their classmates during group discussions Involvement All students will participate in all course activities All students will contribute to assigned group activities Toss the excuses! Leave ALL excuses at the door! Only YOU can put in the work to earn YOUR grade and accomplish YOUR goals! * In some courses safety issues can literally be a matter of life or death. Even as detailed materials are handed out early in the course, it is important to be safe AT ALL TIMES. I will provide safety training for all students and cover safety before every assignment. Always refer to the safety standards that will be provided during the first portion of the course. Remember, if you think it might not be safe, STOP what you are doing and get the attention of the instructor immediately! Forensic Science Fall 2015 7
Forensic Science Tentative Schedule-Fall 2015 Class will begin promptly for 2 hours and 15 minutes every other day. Late arrivals enter as quietly as possible and take the nearest available seat to minimize disruption to the class. Late students will be considered tardy for the first 20 minutes of the period. Students entering after twenty minutes will be considered absent. To remove attendance discrepancies you will have to see your associate principle and make arrangements personally with your attendance office on your home campus. The instructor cannot make these changes. DATE ACTIVITY Monday, October 5 Cover Syllabus/Class Rules Tuesday, October 6 Admin Day 1- Lab Familiarization Wednesday, October 7 Admin Day 2- Lab Procedures/Lab Journals Thursday, October 8 Admin Day 3- Safety Quiz/Scenarios Friday, October 9 Student Holiday-No Class Monday, October 12 Unit 1 Tuesday, October 13 Unit 1 Wednesday, October 14 Unit 1/Unit 2 Thursday, October 15 Unit 2 Friday, October 16 Unit 2 Monday, October 19 Unit 2 Lab Tuesday, October 20 Unit 3 Wednesday, October 21 Unit 3 Thursday, October 22 Units 1-3 Exam Friday, October 23 Unit 3 Lab Monday, October 26 Unit 5 Tuesday, October 27 Unit 5 Wednesday, October 28 Unit 5 Thursday, October 29 Unit 5 Friday, October 30 Unit 5 Monday, November 2 Unit 5 Exam Tuesday, November 3 Unit 5 Lab Wednesday, November 4 Unit 5 Lab Thursday, November 5 Unit 4 Friday, November 6 Unit 4 Monday, November 9 Unit 4 Tuesday, November 10 Unit 4 Wednesday, November 11 Unit 4 Thursday, November 12 Mid-Term Exam-Unit 4 Friday, November 13 Grades Due/Early Release Day Monday, November 16 Unit 4 Lab Forensic Science Fall 2015 8
Tuesday, November 17 Unit 4 Lab Wednesday, November 18 Unit 4 Lab Thursday, November 19 Unit 4 Lab Friday, November 20 Forensic Certifications Monday, November 23 Student Holiday-No Class Tuesday, November 24 Thanksgiving Holiday-No Class Wednesday, November 25 Thanksgiving Holiday-No Class Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Holiday-No Class Friday, November 27 Thanksgiving Holiday-No Class Monday, November 30 Unit 6 Tuesday, December 1 Unit 6 Wednesday, December 2 Unit 7 Thursday, December 3 Unit 7 Friday, December 4 Unit 6-7 Lab Monday, December 7 Unit 6-7 Lab Tuesday, December 8 Unit 8 Wednesday, December 9 Unit 8 Thursday, December 10 Exam Units 6-8 Friday, December 11 Unit 8 Lab Monday, December 7 Unit 9 Tuesday, December 8 Unit 9 Wednesday, December 9 Unit 9 Thursday, December 10 Unit 9 Friday, December 11 Unit 9 Lab Monday, December 14 Unit 9 Lab Tuesday, December 15 Unit 10 Wednesday, December 16 Unit 10 Thursday, December 17 Unit 9-10 Exam Friday, December 18 Unit 10 Lab December 21-January 1 Winter Holiday Monday, January 4 Unit 11 Tuesday, January 5 Unit 11 Wednesday, January 6 Unit 11 Lab Thursday, January 7 Unit 12-Crime Scene Summary Friday, January 8 Unit 12-Crime Scene Summary Monday, January 11 SEMESTER EXAM/Course Critiques Tuesday, January 12 Pig Autopsy Lab Wednesday, January 13 Pig Autopsy Lab Thursday, January 14 Forensic Certifications Due Friday, January 15 Grades Due/Early Release Day Forensic Science Fall 2015 9
Yellow End of six-weeks grading period Green Major Exam/Project Grey Student Holiday-No Class Red Early Release Day Units of Study / Scope & Sequence Unit 1 Unit 2 History, Legal Responsibilities, and Career Options in Forensic Science (5 hours) Forensic Science Basics: Review of Basic Science Principles Review of Lab Safety/Techniques Scientific Methods (9 hours) Conversions of measurements Light Sources Trace Evidence Instrumentation Glass Fractures Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Evidence Collection Procedure (9 hours) Systematic Searches 4th Amendment Crime Scene Sketches Chain of Custody Evidence Collection Techniques Trace Evidence and Blood Splatter Analysis (16 hours) Types of Trace Evidence Hairs vs. Fibers Laboratory & Technology Analyze Blood Stain Patterns Laboratory Procedures Fingerprint Analysis (12 hours) Classification/Characteristics of Prints Laboratory Procedures for Lifting Prints Compare Crime Scene Prints with Suspect Toxicology (8 hours) Controlled Substances vs. Prescription Drugs Forensic Science Fall 2015 10
Blood Alcohol Concentrations Laboratory Procedures for Toxicology Unit 7 Unit 8 Serology (8 hour) Various Body Fluids/Tests Human Blood Types Genotypes/Phenotypes for Blood Samples Laboratory Techniques for Serology DNA (5 hours) Understanding the DNA backbone Base Pairing A, T, C, G Fruit Extraction Lab DNA Laboratory Techniques (PCR) Unit 9 Unit 10 Unit 11 Unit 12 Impression Evidence (16 hours) Bite-mark Impressions Tire Tread Impressions Shoeprint/Foot Impressions Tool Mark Impressions Bullet and Cartridge Cases Laboratory Techniques for Impression Evidence Fire Evidence Anthropology/Anthropometry (5 hours) Human Skeletal System Composition/Structure of Human vs. Animal Bones Age, Stature, Ethnicity, Gender Characteristics Dental Records/Matching Dental Records/Matching Entomology (8 hours) Stages of Death/Decay Insects and Post-Mortem Interval Calculating Time of Death Crime Scene Summary (10 hours) Conduct large scale crime scene consisting of all aspects of forensic science Analyze evidence collected and identify suspect Pig Autopsy Lab Forensic Science Fall 2015 11