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Forensics Class Illuminates
Crime Scene Investigations
Remember when science class was all about molecules and learning the periodic table of elements and chemistry? Well, times have changed. Today, high school students at Insight School of California can earn science credits by taking a virtual crime scene investigation course.
According to state certified science teacher Rowan Carvajal, "Online education is a natural format for teaching forensics. We simulate a major crime scene and each student contributes to the overall discussion before branching off to smaller groups to help solve the crime."
Carvajal continued, "The students enjoy being able to implement interactive forensic techniques instead of just reading about them in a book. And a major advantage of online teaching is that course materials can be easily updated."
Insight 11th grade student Etana Bates commented, "I enjoy using my creativity and knowledge to solve the crimes. I actually want to go into business, but wanted to learn more about crime scene investigation and how things work in that field, so I took the class as a fun elective."
In addition to learning crime-solving skills and techniques, students learn about the reality of crime scene investigations compared to what they see on television. For example, first responders to a crime scene are not typically the forensics investigators, but rather local authorities who secure the scene, take detailed notes and gather names of potential witnesses.
Interest in the crime scene investigation field has grown rapidly over the past several years due to the success of the popular "CSI" television series.
Sheila Shiebler, Executive Director for Insight School of California, commented, "Whenever possible, we like to incorporate a topic the students are excited about as an innovative teaching tool for a particular subject. Teens are apt to learn quicker and more thoroughly if they are interested and engaged. We make every effort to provide a selection of courses that are consistent with today's technologies and job market."
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