By the end of this course students will be able to...

Relate observation skills to their use in forensic science
-Describe principal characteristics of common fibers used in their identification
-Summarize how pollen and spore evidence is collected at a crime scene
--Explain how to use DNA fingerprinting to identify DNA from a parent, child, or relative of another person
-Describe features of paper currency that are used to detect counterfeit bills, and identify the difference between forgery and fraudulence
-Distinguish between cause, manner and mechanisms of death
-Describe the stages of decomposition of a corpse
-Recognize various types of soil and describe some methods for examining soil samples
-Analyze glass fracture patterns to determine how glass was broken
-Match tool marks with the instrument that produced them

I am certified in the state of Texas to teach this course, as well as all high school science courses.  I have over 10 years of experience teaching, as well as a Master of Science degree in Secondary Education.

Homework Offered
Students will intermittently be given optional, short assignments to complete outside of class meeting times.  These assignments will be given to help introduce new topics, practice skills learned, and/or reinforce learning goals.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Formative assessments will be given regularly in each class meeting to assess student learning and connections.  There will be a total of 8 quizzes and two optional exams; a midterm and a final exam.  These quizzes and exams will be given via Google Forms and are optional as part of the course, but available for those who would like assessment data.  All quiz and exam data will be available upon parent request.
Grades Offered
All homework, quizzes and exams are optional, per the preferences of each family.  If assignments are completed, grades can be recorded in the digital notebook (provided in the course).  If requested, a formal grade report will be provided at the conclusion of the course.

Students should complete Forensic Science for High School: Part 1 before this course.

No materials are required for purchase for this course.  Students will be provided with a digital notebook containing handouts, quiz links, grade recording sheet, and a place to take notes.
 This class will utilize free online resources including the Outschool classroom, Nearpod and Kahoot. If any other websites are referenced, they will be posted in the Outschool classroom.  The information for this course is guided by the Cengage Textbook "Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations".