Aims of the course:
- To introduce participants to forensic science.
- To show how crime scenes are examined and evidence collected.
- To present crime scene evidence online for participants to evaluate, enabling students to identify the perpetrator of the crime.
- To provide an understanding of poisons, toxins and venoms. From selected examples participants should be able to identify which poison, toxin or venom caused the death, from looking at the crime scene and symptoms prior to death.
- To illustrate how poisons, toxins and venoms are analysed in a forensic investigation.
Target audience:
Students of whatever age and previous experience with an interest in forensic science, this could be through novels or media.
Previous forensic science courses have attracted students who are from 18 years old up to retired students (the Bedford retirement education centre course in 2011 attracted 17 students). These students were from all different backgrounds and had a variety of interests.
Learning outcomes:
As a result of the course, within the constraints of the time available, students should be able to:
- Develop working knowledge of how to examine a crime scene;
- Show knowledge of poisons, toxins and venoms. From selected examples students should be able to identify which poison, toxin or venom caused the death, from looking at the crime scene and symptoms prior to death.
- Show knowledge of how poisons, toxins and venoms are analysed in a forensic investigation.
Course content:
This course will begin with an introduction to forensic science and the examination of a crime scene. Participants will be introduced to a crime scene in the first teaching week and will collect evidence from the scene which they will then examine in the following weeks. Participants will learn about the science behind the technology which is used to analyse evidence. Participants will receive results from the evidence which has been analysed and will have to figure out which of the suspects committed the crime.
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online):
Orientation Week : 22-28 February 2021
Purpose/Learning outcomes: By studying this week the students should have:
- Become familiar with navigating around the VLE and from VLE to links and back
- Tested their ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sorted out any problems with the help of the eLearning team
- Investigated the ICE Online Resources repository
- Learnt how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- Used Qmail to introduce themselves to other students and discuss why they are interested in the course and what they hope to get out their studies.
- Contributed to a discussion forum in response to news item sent out on behalf of tutor
Teaching Weeks: 1 March-4 April 2021
Week 1 The Crime Scene
Purpose/Learning outcomes: The students will be shown a video of a crime scene. The supporting online material will explain how to enter a crime scene, how to look for evidence and how to collect evidence.
The students will be expected to watch the video and decide what evidence they would like to remove from the crime scene and examine. This will involve the students working as individuals to make a list of the evidence they would collect. This will be followed by a group discussion to prioritise which pieces of evidence will be analysed during the course. By studying this week the students should have:
- An understanding of how to enter a crime scene.
- An ability to identify evidence at a crime scene.
- Had a discussion with the other students about the crime scene and evidence identified.
Week 2 Poisons, toxins and venoms
Purpose/Learning outcomes: By studying this week the students should have:
- Knowledge of how samples can be collected and tested for a poison
- Knowledge of selected compounds that can be used as a poison
- Understanding of the definition of a poison, toxin and venom and examples of each class
Week 3 Introduction to toxicology
Purpose/Learning outcomes: By studying this week the students should have:
- Knowledge of the history of toxicology
- Understanding of some of the laboratory techniques used to analyse samples
- Understanding of how to interpret toxicology results
Week 4 Introduction to suspects and more crime scenes (the homes of the suspects)
Purpose/Learning outcomes: By studying this week the students should have:
- Examined the statements provided from the suspects to see if there is evidence of involvement in the crime.
- Examination of evidence from the original crime scene that may implicate the suspect in the crime.
- Examination of evidence from the homes of the suspects to see if there is any evidence to connect the suspect to the murder crime scene.
Week 5 Suspects and Conclusions
Purpose/Learning outcomes: By studying this week the students should have:
- Evaluated the evidence collected at the crime scene and determined if one of the suspects committed the crime.
- Be able to explain why they have selected their chosen suspect as the murderer.
- Should determine if they have enough evidence to take this suspect to court.
Feedback Week: 5-11 April 2021
Week 6 What next?
- Tutor podcast summarising the course and giving general feedback
- Individual Qmail feedback to students
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards,etc).
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students say:
"This is the first time I have indulged in an online course purely for self interest and I have loved every moment. Thank you Susan for not only designing such an engaging course but for being so involved and supportive throughout."
"This was a fascinating course, and the lectures were very helpful. The amount and depth of information presented was amazing."
"I would recommend this course to anyone have a genuine interest in forensic science, poisons and how the evidence is collected, analysed and subsequently presented on the court."
"I really enjoyed the course, I have appreciated your effort and your support; I am looking forward to start with the next one, the DNA course. Thank you, see you soon."
