Internet Academy Syllabi
Introduction to Forensic Science- 1
Course Code / Grade Level / High School Credit Value / NCAA ApprovalSci5810 / 11-12 / .5 / Yes
Course Description
There is a fine line between the imaginary world of CSI and the real world of a forensic scientist. The goal of this course is to give you a glimpse into the broad and fascinating field of forensic science. During your eight-unit exploration, you will explore the foundations of forensics, how crime scenes are processed as well as the different types of physical, biological and trace evidence that is encountered and analyzed.
This course helps meet the state minimum requirements of 1.0 Occupational education (CTE - CIP) credits, or a science requirement or it may be used towards the 5.5 minimum elective credits required. Please check with your district for more specific requirements.
Prerequisites / Course Length / Course Time
High school biology, chemistry or passing Washington State Biology End of Course Assessment. / 17-18 Weeks / 60 Minutes/Day or
5 hours per week
Required Materials: Texts, readings, other materials
Computer with internet access and microphone, additionally, a web-cam can be helpful
Washington State Testing Requirements
This course is not required for Washington State testing.
Instructor Information
Within Course:
Email:
Phone: 253-945-5682
Virtual Sessions:
Expected Learning Outcomes:
Upon the successful completion of this course, our students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the processes of documentation of crime scenes, identification of evidence, and creation of the chain of custody.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the organization of a modern day crime lab and the types of evidence analysis that are possible with current technology and methods.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the different areas of forensic disciplines and their
value with a forensic investigation.
Course Outline with Suggested Time Requirement
Duration / Unit / Work to Submit to Teacher2 weeks / Getting Started &
Unit 1: Introduction to Forensic Science
Jurisprudence & Evidence Collection: The student will be able to explain and apply the principles and practices in the processing of a crime scene to collect evidence within the context of legal & constitutional limitations during a forensic investigation. / Getting Started Essay
Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 1 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 2: The Crime Scene
Jurisprudence & Evidence Collection: The student will be able to explain and apply the principles and practices in the processing of a crime scene to collect evidence within the context of legal & constitutional limitations during a forensic investigation.
Anthropology: The student will be able to explain how characteristics within the human skeleton are used to create a biological profile and demonstrate the method in which the biological profile is created to identify unknown remains in a forensic investigation. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 2 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 3: Physical Evidence
Trace Evidence: The student will be able to collect, analyze, identify and explain the importance of various types of trace evidence within the context of a forensic investigation. Common examples of trace evidence include fibers, glass, soil and paint evidence. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 3 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 4: Hair, Blood & Fingerprints
Biological Evidence: The student will be able to collect, analyze and explain the importance of various types of biological evidence within the context of forensic investigation. Such evidence includes hair, pollen, spore, insect and botanical (plant) evidence.
Serology & Spatter Analysis: The student will be able to explain and apply the principles of blood typing in order to match unknown blood with a known sample as well as analyze a blood spatter pattern to reconstruct the events that created that pattern.
Fingerprinting: The student will be able to collect, analyze, identify and explain the importance of fingerprints and friction ridge landmarks within the context of a forensic investigation. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 4 Quiz
1 week / Midterm Exam / Midterm Exam Completed
Midterm Discussion
2 weeks / Unit 5: Firearms & Tool Marks
Ballistics & Tool Marks: The student will be able to analyze and explain the principles used in the analysis of ballistic evidence, tool marks and casts in a forensic investigation. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 5 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 6: Human Remains
Anthropology: The student will be able to explain how characteristics within the human skeleton are used to create a biological profile and demonstrate the method in which the biological profile is created to identify unknown remains in a forensic investigation.
Pathology & Human Remains: The student will be able to explain the processes used to examine human remains to determine the cause of death, manner of death and time of death in a forensic investigation. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 6 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 7: DNA Evidence
Biological Evidence: The student will be able to collect, analyze and explain the importance of various types of biological evidence within the context of forensic investigation. Such evidence includes hair, pollen, spore, insect and botanical (plant) evidence / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 7 Quiz
2 weeks / Unit 8: Arson & Arson Evidence
Trace Evidence: The student will be able to collect, analyze, identify and explain the importance of various types of trace evidence within the context of a forensic investigation. Common examples of trace evidence include fibers, glass, soil and paint evidence. / Text Questions
Lab Questions
Unit 8 Quiz
1 week / Final Exam / Final Exam Completed
Final Exam Discussion
Thanks for taking the class! If you liked it, sign up for forensics 2 and please refer it to a friend!
Assessment methods
Revision Policy: The goal of this course is to demonstrate learning. Students have the opportunity to revise work until it meets standards. To do so, they should resubmit the work and make corrections in a different color. Students will be given two opportunities to revise work to raise scores. Remember, “A” grades are earned on assignments that go beyond expectations.
If a student wishes to re-assess, they will have one additional opportunity on the Unit Exams. The midterm and final exam can only be taken once.
Criteria for grade determination
Types of Assignments and Submitting Student Work: For each unit there will be multiple lessons, typically 4 or 5. After you have finished the lessons, there are 3 pieces of written work that you will need to submit to me and finally a unit quiz. The first are text questions that reflect upon what you have read and need to come away with from the lessons.
Secondly there will be the questions associated with the lab activity, and finally, there will be discussion questions which you will need to respond to.
After you have completed those items, there will be review tips and a study game to prepare you for your unit quizzes. All course work is submitted through the Canvas uploading page that is specific to each activity.
You will be expected to submit all chapter activities (labs and text questions), as well as the discussions for the midterm unit and final exam. In addition, you must complete all assessments. Any work that is not completed upon your request for a final grade will be scored as a "zero".
High School Credit Bearing Grading Scale
Priority Standard scores are calculated using highest score at the assignment/assessment level to calculate a recommendation to the teacher who will then determine the priority standard grade.
Summative Grade / Priority Standard GradesA / The average of all the priority standards assessed is between 3.50 and 4.00
B / The average of all the priority standards assessed is between 3.00 and 3.49
C / The average of all the priority standards assessed is between 2.30 and 2.99
F / The average of all the priority standards assessed is 2.29 and below
· An “A” means that student has demonstrated thorough knowledge on most standards that have been assessed and are required to earn credit in the course.
· An “B” means that student has demonstrated competency on most standards that have been assessed and are required to earn credit in the course.
· An “C” means that student has demonstrated minimal competency on the standards that have been assessed and are required for the course. The student can continue to the next course but may need additional support.
· An “F” means that student has met fewer than the minimal number of the standards required to earn credit in the course. The student will not receive credit for the course. The student is at significant risk of not successfully completing the next course in sequence or may not be promoted to the next course.
· Pass/Fail Classes – A student must meet a minimal number of the standards in order to earn “Pass” in the course.
· NC – Student has not completed enough work to determine a grade.
Policies
Academic Integrity - Academic integrity is essential to learning. Students are expected to complete their own work. Copying, plagiarizing, cheating or other methods of intentional deception are prohibited. Students will be asked to redo the assignment or another assignment to meet standard
WAC – Weekly Academic Contact - State regulations require students in online programs to have weekly academic contact with each teacher. This occurs as students become actively engaged with the curriculum and online instruction, submitting assignments to make progress in learning and successfully complete. Students have multiple opportunities and methods to achieve weekly academic contact and receive teacher assistance and feedback: email, instant chat, live online sessions, assignments, phone, and face-to-face meetings by appointment.
MAP – Monthly Academic Progress - Students earn an academic progress mark each month based on their progress compared to their individual Learning Plan Contract, and course completion date. Students earn Academic Excellence (AE), Academic Minimum (AM), or Academic Probation (AP). AP marks involve communication with the parent/guardian, and an intervention to give the student additional opportunities to get back on pace toward successful course completion. Multiple probation reports may result in withdraw.
E-mail and Software Agreement - Students agree to maintain electronic integrity and face disciplinary measures if they do not abide by their promise.
Professional Decisions - Teachers reserve the right to make adjustments to the course content and expectations.
Student Expectations
· Complete all courses tests, including state required tests for graduation.
· Attend weekly online sessions.
· Attend class daily. Course attendance is submitting assignments, attending live instructional sessions, attending office hours with the teacher, being online working on assignments, emailing, texting or calling teacher with questions
· Have the computer hardware and software necessary for the class work.
· Communicate with the instructor in a clear, friendly, courteous manner. This includes signing communications with their full name and the name of the class they are in.
· Communicate in Standard English. "e-english," the informal, lower-case, run-together communications used in chat rooms, is appropriate for the audiences and purposes of some e-mail. It is not appropriate for communicating with an instructor in class.
· Turn in original work. Internet Academy teachers monitor for intentional deception through the use of an on-line subscription service and IA email archives. The consequences for intentional deception (copying, plagiarism, cheating, using someone else's work) may result in: redoing assignment, completing an alternative assignment, parent contact, and/or failing the course.
· Do their very best work at all times.
· Proceed at a steady pace toward finishing the class.