National Science Teachers Association Teams With Court TV To Bring Forensics to the Science Classroom

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National Science Teachers Association Teams With Court TV To Bring Forensics to the Science Classroom
Posted on: 11/04/2003

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Capitalizing on the groundswell of interest in forensic science television shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Forensic Files," the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has teamed with Court TV to develop exciting new curriculum units on forensic science for middle and high school students. The units help students solve intriguing mysteries using real science, including biology, chemistry, and physics.

"Teachers are always looking for innovative ways to help students see how science is relevant to everyday life," said John Penick, NSTA president. "The forensic units are powerful tools we can use to excite students about science while submerging them in hands-on scientific investigations."

The first-ever collaboration resulted in two new forensic units now available as part of Court TV's award-winning Forensics in the Classroom (FIC) educational science initiative, developed in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS). FIC was launched on Court TV's Web site in 2002 as the first-ever, free standards-based forensic science curriculum for high school science teachers. Since its debut, more than 6,000 teachers have downloaded the materials.

The new high school unit, the "Cafeteria Caper," takes students on an investigation to identify the culprit or culprits who vandalized the school cafeteria. Working as investigators, students conduct enzyme tests and hair analyses and learn how to analyze DNA, chromosomes, and blood. Students develop basic skills in observation and data collection and analysis, learn the properties of organic molecules, identify uses for chemical indicators, understand the structure of hair and how it is analyzed, understand and perform scientific inquiry, and much more. Ideal for forensics, chemistry, biology, and physics classes, the curriculum includes an overview of the FIC program, three independent lab units, definitions of forensic terms, and answers to frequently asked questions. Each lab unit contains at least one experiment, handouts, and step-by-step directions for educators.

A second unit, called "It's Magic," is the first-ever created for middle level students. Presented with a case of "dognapping," students act as investigators to help Detective Woodward solve the missing canine mystery. Student investigators identify the perpetrator by conducting pH tests, chromatography, and hair analysis. Through the investigations, students learn scientific inquiry, analyze and synthesize several pieces of data, and learn about the importance of laboratory procedures.

Teachers can download the new forensic curricula free at www.nsta.org/resources or www.courttv.com/forensics_curriculum.

Source: National Science Teachers Association