27

weekly

or 240 for all content

Introduction to Digital Forensics - Computer Science - Labs Included

Completed by 11 learners

Ages 13-18

Self-Paced Course

In this Self-Paced class, students will learn and practice the basic concepts of digital forensics. We will explore many areas of the field and have multiple hands-on labs. Join me to discover what the digital forensic world looks like!

Amanda Mahan BS Criminal Justice Digital Forensics

Average rating:

5.0

Number of reviews:

(2 reviews)

9 pre-recorded lessons

9 weeks of teacher support

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1 year of access to the content

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About Learning Overview Schedule Teacher Reviews

What’s included

9 pre-recorded lessons

9 weeks

of teacher support

1 year access

to the content

Homework

1 hour per week. These will be short weekly quizzes with some simple labs which will allow students to apply their new knowledge.

Assessment

There will be an end of course final lab and exam. Both will be based on what students learned throughout the 9 week course.

Grading

A certificate of completion and grade will be offered upon request.

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 12

Intermediate - Advanced Level

During this 9 week course, students will discover the importance of the digital forensic field. The lessons will begin with the basic concepts and progresses into a deep dive into the fundamental knowledge all digital investigators need. 

The course is structured with a weekly video lesson(s) and quiz and/or lab. Some weekly lessons will be broken into smaller bite size videos for easier consumption and time to grasp important concepts. 

The end of course lab culminates in applying all new knowledge by following the forensic process to examine pieces of evidence.

Learning Goals

Students will leave the class with an understanding of the digital forensics field and some of the important concepts applied in the everyday work of these computer scientists.

Syllabus

6 Units

9 Lessons

over 9 Weeks

Unit 1: Digital Forensics 101

Lesson 1:

Welcome to Digital Forensics

 -What is digital forensics? Explaining it in simple terms.
-Importance of digital evidence and its role in solving crimes.
-Basic understanding of the tools used by computer forensic analysts.
Quiz 1

20 mins of video lessons

Lesson 2:

Exploring Digital Data

 -Different types of digital data: text, images, videos, etc.
-How data is stored and accessed on computers and digital devices.
-Interactive activities to understand where digital evidence can be found.
Quiz 2

Unit 2: Using Hashes for Data Validation

Lesson 3:

Understanding Hashing

 -What is a hash value?
-Hands-on lab: Hashing a string
-The purpose of a hash value
Quiz 3

Lesson 4:

Data Validation

 Validating Files
-Using hashes to locate and validate
-Scenario and Lab - Validating data

Other Details

Learning Needs

This class will come with video lessons, quizzes, an end of course Lab and Final Exam. Some of the lessons will come with a lab to practice what you've learned.

Parental Guidance

The digital forensic field exists for investigative reasons therefore there will be surface discussions about types of crimes that can be solved with digital data discovery.

Pre-Requisites

A general understanding of how computers and cell phones work and an interest in the computer science field :)

Supply List

Must have a computer.

Language of Instruction

English

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Sources

Online forensic tools used: https://www.md5hashgenerator.com/ https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/binary-to-ascii.html https://hexed.it https://emn178.github.io/online-tools/md5_checksum.html

Meet the teacher

Amanda Mahan BS Criminal Justice Digital Forensics

Joined March, 2024

5.0

2reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

2 Degrees

Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Troy University

Associate’s Degree in Science from Enterprise State Community College

My experience in this subject: 

I am currently a digital forensic analyst and a director of training for a private company. 
Previous to this, I worked as a non-sworn digital forensic analyst for a local law enforcement agency and a member of the ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force. I graduated with a Bachelors of Criminal Justice with a concentration in Digital Forensics from Troy University and have attended the US Secret Service National Computer Forensics Institute and the National White Collar Crime Center for an array of forensic and investigative subjects. I also worked alongside the local Board of Education to create and present safety topics to students and parents.