If you’re an Oxford High School student interested in a forensic science career or if you’re just a big fan of television crime shows like CSI or Law and Order, you might be interested in a proposed new science elective at the school.
Forensic Science I takes students through the basics of crime scene evidence collection and shows how science can be used to solve everyday problems.
If approved at the school board’s Jan. 26 meeting, the class could be offered during the first and third trimesters of the 2009-10 school year; the second trimester would depend on teacher availability.
Kelly Bollman, who teaches geology and astronomy at OHS, presented a curriculum proposal at the Jan. 12 school board meeting.
‘Students have had an interest in it and first asked about it a couple of years ago,? Bollman said. ‘It’s been discussed as a potential elective in the science department, and there’s also been a high level of interest for it among science teachers.?
Units of study would include evidence collection, hair, fibers and textiles, pollen and spores, fingerprinting and collection, blood and blood spatter, glass evidence and crime scenarios.
The class will show how scientific investigations can be designed and will discuss what to do and what not to do.
‘When there are no hard or fast rules, they’ll have to make decisions of what’s at their disposal to investigate,? Bollman said. ‘They’ll learn how to investigate without spoiling of the evidence.?
Lessons will draw connections from three sources: work done by local law enforcement to solve basic crimes, ‘in the news? crime cases and the discussion of ‘true crime? television programs.
Bollman wants to build relationships with local law enforcement agencies in the hopes of taking kids outside the classroom to learn hands-on about forensics. She’d also like to bring in guest speakers.
‘We’ll learn how to use science to solve problems when problems aren’t neatly boxed for them,? Bollman explained. ‘Some scenarios might not have one particular answer.?
Even those who want a science career but don’t want to work in law enforcement, might be pleasantly surprised to learn the class can open their eyes to careers outside the badge. Bollman noted that forensic scientists investigated everything from the tampering with Tylenol products to contaminated baby and dog food from China.
‘Not all forensic jobs are necessarily in law enforcement,? she said. ‘I’d like to see Forensic Science open up students? horizons and show how science can be applied to many opportunities.?