Real Life Forensics

We’ve all seen the huge growth in crime and detection related entertainment programmes on the television lately. I guess that has a lot to do with the fact that we like to try and understand the criminal’s mind as much as seeing the “good guys” bring them down.

However, much of what you see on your television screen is dumbed down, sometimes by necessity to fit the content into the allotted timescale, sometimes purely to make it seem more interesting.

In reality though, crime fighting is a hugely diverse field. Take a popular show like CSI for example – this focuses mainly on forensics, but did you know that this field can be further broken down into many specialized areas?

Forensic science covers the obvious, such as DNA testing and anthropology, yet also goes much wider into the realms of accounting, computing, ballistics, psychology and many other areas.

There is a huge amount to be learned in each of these areas, from the theory behind them to the scientific techniques and also the types of crimes they have been used to solve. Forensics FAQ is a resource site that aims to find out everything there is to learn about this fascinating subject, presenting the findings in quick overview format and detailed analysis.

iPod Pilot A Teacher's Pet!

A VICTORIAN secondary college has joined schools in Britain, China and the US in evaluating the use of portable multimedia players to engage students - and even their parents - more fully in the learning process.

Learning curve: Michael Fitzgerald with a video iPod Picture: David Geraghty

Teachers and students at Heathmont College in Melbourne's eastern suburbs have been given 60GB video iPods as part of a trial of the use of such devices in the classroom.

It joins Kingswood school in Britain, Gracemont High School in Scotland, the West Academy in Beijing and Empire High School in the US in the project to see if children can find more educational uses for devices that they normally use for entertainment.

Heathmont assistant principal Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees years seven to nine, says Apple gave the school five notebook computers and 30 iPods to participate in the test program. "We have so many kids with iPods, my question was, with all these kids bringing iPods to school, how do we use a piece of electronic equipment in an educational way and benefit both the student and us?

"It certainly engages students I know that. They're enthusiastic."

Students in the program have to make the most of their free iPod, as they only have it for one 10-week term. The gear is then passed on to another class.

Participating students are assessed at the beginning and end of their time in the program.

Fitzgerald's time as a media studies teacher showed him the video element of the iPod would be a handy teaching tool.

"You get kids to make movies and edit them. The next process is to burn it to a DVD or put it on a little hard drive so they can take it home," he says. "They're very excited and proud. IPods are a way of taking home the videos they make in class, the same day."

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