STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges

Grading Policy

• 10% Homework
• 20% Quizzes
• 20% Classwork
• 25% Unit Tests
• 25% Authentic Assessments

 Special Notice of Course Content: Due to the nature of this science, the course will involve case studies, videos, discussions, and research into violent and graphic material not normally present in the classroom. During this course, the students and instructors will always act in a respectful manner towards the victims and crimes discussed. Although these topics will be dealt with delicately and scientifically, their content is unavoidable in any thorough Forensic Science course. Some sensitive topics that will be covered include rape evidence analysis, suicide, murder, decomposition, autopsies/pathology and weapons. Furthermore, students will be analyzing information about themselves, including their fingerprints. This information will be solely for educational purposes. There will be times when pictures/video/re-enactments and of crimes may be shown to supplement the material students are working on in class, and students may be handling non-typical materials. These materials will be screened ahead of time and videos will be limited to those that are shown on television. All video clips will be preapproved by administration. Please know that at any time, if you and/or your child feels uncomfortable/uneasy during class due to the assigned content, they can see me individually and we will work to resolve the situation. If there are any preexisting situations that you know your child may become uncomfortable with discussing/learning about in class, please contact me ASAP.

Term Paper: The term paper assignment is for you to select a modern criminal case that has been previously adjudicated and discuss how the forensic science in that case played a critical role in the guilt or innocence of the defendant. The term paper is designed to evaluate your writing skills and your understanding of the forensics that were used in the trial. The term paper should be 5-6 pages in length (not including title page or bibliography), double spaced, using Times New Roman 12-point font. You must get approval from me for your topic prior to the midterm. No two people may choose the same topic. Please enter your paper topic in Google Classroom by replying to the “Term Paper Topics” Announcement.

1. Analyze a relevant criminal case involving Forensic Science.
2. Develop a topic for the paper.
3. Create an appropriate design.
4. Identify and show how forensic science impacted the case.
5. Provide at least 3 credible peer reviewed sources from scientific journals. The word “forensic” must appear in the title of these scientific journals. Ok to use other (i.e. news articles, media, etc.) sources in addition.
6. Communicate effectively through scholarly writing.

(For this paper, you are expected to be able to locate and use library resources effectively and cite them correctly. Googling alone will not suffice. Most of the library materials are available online 24/7 from anywhere.)

Class Requirements and Expectations:   You will come to class on time with your computer fully charged, binder and other equipment as directed. You should be ready to learn – participate in class and stay focused.   Please be respectful of the class and others.  As such we will listen when others speak.  Unless you are working in a group, only one person (teacher or student) will speak to the class.  If you would like to add to the group discussion, please raise your hand and wait to be called on so that everyone has an opportunity to participate. We are moving to paperless classrooms.  In addition to a binder, you must also organize your notes and assignments digitally.  It would be wise to set up a folder to keep the materials that are not stored in google classroom or google drive.  You will use all the materials from class and homework to prepare for assessments.               

Class Procedure: There will be Do Now’s which must be completed at the start of class and exit tickets at the end of class.  Assignments will be posted on google classroom or physical copies will be given in class.  Homework assignments will be written on the board in class and posted online.  Homework must be submitted the day it is due at the start of class or in google classroom by the assigned due date and time.  Late work will be accepted for partial credit.  During all assessments it is expected that students do not communicate with anyone else either virtually or in person.  Any talking or use of cell phone during an assessment will result in an automatic zero for the assessment.  Cell phone use during class is forbidden unless permission is obtained prior to the use of the phone.  Unauthorized use of cell phones will result in confiscation of the phone.   The class will also use remind. 

Cheating and NJIT Academic Integrity Code:

All Dual enrollment students must familiarize themselves with, and adhere to, all official university-wide student policies. CES takes these policies very seriously and enforces them strictly.  During all assessments, either virtual or in class, it is expected that you do not communicate with anyone else or use unapproved support materials.  Any talking, use of cell phone or any other form of cheating during an assessment will result in an automatic zero for the assessment. You will NOT be able to make up this grade

NJIT Academic Integrity Code: Students are asked to practice extra care and attention in regard to academic honesty, with the understanding that all cases of plagiarism, cheating, multiple submission, and unauthorized collaboration are subject to penalty. Students must properly cite and attribute all sources used for papers and assignments. Students may not collaborate on exams or assignments, directly or through virtual consultation, unless the instructor gives specific permission to do so. Posting an exam, assignment, or answers to them on an online forum (before, during, or after the due date), in addition to consulting posted materials, constitutes a violation of the University’s Honesty policy. Likewise, unauthorized use of live assistance websites, including seeking “expert” help for specific questions during an exam can be construed as a violation of the honesty policy. All students should be familiar with the NJIT Academic Integrity Code.

Our Routine (PPP)

Present

This class meets three times a week, 80 minutes per block. This class will employ experiential learning activities, meaning it will be difficult to make up the amount of work covered due to absence. The activities we do in class are absolutely essential to your learning. You must make every effort to be on time, ready to work, and to be engaged fully on our task throughout the whole of our time. If you are absent for the whole day, you are equally responsible for everything we did that day. All missing assignments are provided through the online textbook and may be handed in electronically via google classroom.  This means you should discuss fully the day’s material online and with your group before you return. If you are or will be absent, email austindy@orange.k12.nj.us as soon as possible. If you do not have access to email, Ms. Austin will make an alternate arrangement with you.

Partnership

It is often said “if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” Every single day you will be collaborating with your classmates in pairs or in groups to push each other farther than any of us could get alone and provide you with opportunities to reexamine you thinking. Sometimes you will choose your groups and other times they will be assigned.  This means that all of us need to treat one another in this class as partners - that is, with respect and with generosity. Behavior that harms the spirit of partnership will not be tolerated, because it destroys the trust needed to learn from each other.

Practice

It is important that you regularly practice skills we’ve built in class, between 30 minutes and 40 minutes every night. Homework will be posted on www.classroom.google.com .  Quizzes will be given frequently and may be unannounced. Important note: plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please review the district policy on academic honesty in the STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges handbook.

Technology

Google Classroom: Links to worksheets, PowerPoints, and other class materials will be posted here. This is also where you will upload assignments for submission and view teacher feedback.  Assignment due dates will sync automatically with google calendar (recommended app to download).  

Genesis- Grades will be available to students and parents through genesis.

Remind 101: Remind 101 allows teachers to send texts or emails to groups of students while keeping the teacher’s phone number hidden from the students and the students’ numbers hidden from the teacher. You will have an opportunity to join our class through the application in the first few weeks.

 Assessments

Deliverables:                                                                                    

Each Task will have a set of Deliverables (journal, reports, models, posters, etc.) which are due on the due date as indicated on the course schedule. Assignments that do not meet expectations may be returned for a “REDO” at Ms. Austin’s discretion. A REDO can be turned in, past the due date, for additional credit. Assignments submitted through google classroom, needing to be redone will receive a REDO comment and can be re-submitted online

Quizzes:

Quizzes are designed to be learning experiences that can help you identify problems before it becomes too late.                                                 

Labs:

Labs will be graded based on attention to safety and preparation, attention to detail/ directions, time usage, cooperation with lab partner, having required supplies and materials, and laboratory notebook documentation.  Pre-lab assignments are to be completed before the start of every lab and marked as complete before students can begin the day’s activities. Students who do not have this pre-lab assignments at the start of the period may not take part in the day’s activities because the pre-lab assignments will include safety information relevant to the procedures. In this case, the student will be dismissed to complete an alternate for reduced credit and will need to schedule a time outside of class with Ms. Austin to make up the lab when they are prepared.                    

Exams:

Unit exams will be given after each unit we cover. They will be made up of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions. Your journal entries and review sessions will assist in preparing for these exams. REDO’s are not available on exams.

Forensic Science Parental/Guardian Permission

Dear Parent/Guardian of Forensic Science Student,

You are receiving this form because your son/daughter has registered for Forensic Science. I am excited that your son/daughter has expressed an interest in forensics, a multidisciplinary field that is gaining popularity due to media exposure through television shows such as CSI .

Forensic Science provides a hands-on approach to peak students' interest and to show the methods that criminologists use in the field every day. Throughout the course, students will enhance their working knowledge and application of several scientific processes and research skills, including observing, comparing, relating, sorting, classifying, analyzing, making inferences, problem solving, drawing conclusions, organizing data, and metric measurements. Furthermore, they will build on social skills and communication with peers through group and laboratory activities and explore the impact of the media on the public’s understanding of forensic science.

The learning style approach in this science education will involve three levels of activities and instruction. First, exploration activities allow for hands-on immersion of the student immediately into the topic. Secondly, conceptual development will require the student to perform outside reading, provide lectures, observe speakers from various fields of forensic science, and observe videos related to the subject material. Thirdly, and possibly the most difficult and frustrating will be the application work. It requires greater student creativity and planning of procedures, require analysis for more of the class period and tends to be open-ended. As a result, your child will gain some valuable insight into the scientific process and how it can be used in the real world.

However, due to the nature of the course, I would like to inform you of a few things that your child will encounter as he/she participates in Forensic Science. Some material, videos, slides, and lectures will contain graphic content due to the nature of the course subject. Although, this class is not meant to place an emphasis on violent crime, some units will involve discussion of some aspects of violent crime through lessons related to methodology, such as examining blood spatter to determine the angle and force of impact and examining bullets to determine the firearm that shot them. No real human blood will be used in the course.

There is a focus on crime. It is not my goal to teach students how to be criminals or commit the perfect crime, but the knowledge and skills required to process and evaluate evidence on a crime scene. Since this course deals with crimes, it also deals with death. Students may be subject to viewing autopsy photos, to examine the effects of post-death processes, such as livor mortis and rigor mortis.

For this reason, I am asking you as the parent or guardian of the student enrolled in this course to sign a consent form allowing your child to participate in the activities of this course. By signing, you are stating that you are fully aware of the contents which will be discussed within the working confines of the classroom or outside the classroom. Please also include your email, so that I may more easily contact you. If you would like to keep up to date on your child’s course, assignments and grades, please go to the parent portal.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to explain the concept behind the Forensic Science

course. You can also always reach me at austindy@orange.k12.nj.us or on Remind by texting @frsc2 to 81010.

Forensic Science Permission Slip (MUST BE DETACHED FROM SYLLABUS AND RETURNED)

Disclaimer:

I have read the attached letter. I fully understand and give permission for my child ______________________________ at STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges to participate in the activities of the FRSC201- Introduction to Forensic Science class. I understand that the nature of the course will contain some graphic material.

_______________________________                                                                                   _____________________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian                                                                                                     Date     

________________________________                                                                                 _____________________________

Parent email address                                                                                                                      Parent contact number