Schedule and Syllabus
Instructors: Robert Shaler, Ph.D., and Mitchell Holland, Ph.D.
Course Overview
The workshop is divided into three parts. In part I, teachers can learn the fundamental aspects of crime scene investigation with a focus on biological evidence. In part II, teachers
will review an online crime scene investigation course for high school students and offer feedback and suggestions for improving the course curriculum. Part III will consider how
forensic DNA impacts you and your life.
| Sunday, June 21 | |
| 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Arrival time; check in at residence halls; early dinner on your own |
| 5:30 | Meet in residence halls common area and walk to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for Spikes baseball game at 6:00 |
| Part I: The Crime Scene: A Holistic, Unbiased Approach to Scene Investigation | |
| Monday, June 22 | |
| 7:30–8:00 a.m. | Final registration; Penn State access accounts |
| 8:00–8:30 | Introductions |
| 8:30–10:00 | Why Investigate a Crime Scene? — Philosophy of Scene Investigation |
| 10:00–10:15 | Break |
| 10:15–11:45 | What If Someone Needs to Look at This Scene in Five Years? — Archiving the Scene |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Teaching Scene Techniques I |
| 12:15–1:30 | Lunch on Your Own |
| 1:30–3:00 | Where's the Evidence? — Searching the Scene |
| 3:00–3:15 | Break |
| 3:15–4:45 | Hands-on — Time to Apply What You Have Learned |
| 4:45–5:15 | Teaching Scene Techniques II |
| 5:30–6:30 |
Welcome Reception at Willaman Gateway Bridge, Life Sciences Building
Dinner on your own |
| Tuesday, June 23 | |
| 8:30–10:00 a.m. | What Is That Blue Light? — Technology at the Scene |
| 10:00–10:15 | Break |
| 10:15–11:45 | The Biological Crime Scene — Fingerprinting |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Teaching Scene Techniques III |
| 12:15–1:30 | Lunch on Your Own |
| 1:30–3:00 | More Biology — Finding and Confirming Blood, Semen, Saliva |
| 3:00–3:15 | Break |
| 3:15–4:45 | Hands-on — Finishing Up |
| 4:45–5:15 | Teaching Scene Techniques IV |
| Dinner on your own | |
| Part II: Reviewing an Online CSI Course | |
| Wednesday, June 24 | |
| 8:30–10:00 a.m. | Preview of Online CSI Course |
| 10:00–10:15 | Break |
| 10:15–11:45 | Feedback on Online CSI Course |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Lunch on Your Own |
| Part III: How Does Forensic DNA Impact You? | |
| 12:45–2:30 | Forensic DNA 101: The Science, the Application, and the Impact on Society |
| 2:30–3:00 | Teaching Techniques I |
| 3:00–3:15 | Break |
| 3:15–5:00 | Chelex Extraction of Buccal Swabs: Laboratory Exercise (The samples will be PCR amplified and run on the instrument by the teaching assistants over the next 24 to 36 hours, to generate student forensic DNA profiles.) |
| Thursday, June 25 | |
| 8:00–11:00 a.m. | Bioterrorism: The Molecular and Microbiological Sides — with Jennifer Smith, Guest Speaker, Formerly of the FBI |
| 11:00–11:30 | Teaching Techniques II |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Lunch on Your Own |
| 12:45–3:00 | Next Generation DNA Sequencing: Impact on Forensics, Bioterrorism, and Medicine |
| 3:00–3:15 | Break |
| 3:15–5:00 | Bringing Forensic DNA and Microbiology into the Courtroom — with Judge Renee Hughes, Guest Speaker |
| 4:30–5:00 | Teaching Techniques III |
| 6:30-8:30 | Dinner at The Nittany Lion Inn |
| Friday, June 26 | |
| 8:00–11:00 a.m. | Forensic DNA Profile Analysis — Delivering the Science to High School Students in an Online Forensic DNA Course |
| 11:00–11:30 | Teaching Techniques IV |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Lunch on Your Own (shorter period due to shorter last day) |
| 12:30–2:00 | Wrap Up (Bob and Mitch) |
| 2:00 | Check out of residence halls — Workshop ends |
program of Penn State's Eberly College of Science
This site is a product of Penn State Outreach Marketing and Communications.
Program questions? E-mail ConferenceInfo1@outreach.psu.edu or call 800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632).
Web site questions? E-mail WebInfo@outreach.psu.edu.
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Page last modified on Wednesday, June 10, 2009