Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

The following topics/subjects will be addressed:

Search Technique including equipment and methods most commonly used.
Large Scale Investigations – the Police approach
Forensic Microtraces including working with hypotheses
Non-Human DNA
Toxicology
Forensic Botany – both lecture and practical
Forensic Entomology
Digital Forensics
Crime Scene visualization techniques will be introduced
Mock Crime Scene – students will process a simulated crime scene, write a crime scene report and give a brief presentation of their findings
Forensic Archaeology and Mass Graves
Human Remains

Study materials

Literature

Study material will be assigned by the respective lecturers. Where pre-reading/preparation is required, students will be informed via Canvas. Recommended reading will be placed on Canvas. Assignment reading will be placed on Canvas.

Objectives

1. evaluate the type of protocols (at least three types) that one would expect to utilise at a complex crime scene, particularly the various protocols and guidelines applied in international investigations.
2. Undertake the investigation of a simulated crime scene, including arranging the division of labour within the investigation team and reflect on group performance and individual contribution at the subsequent presentation.
3. Generate alternative hypotheses and prioritise items of evidence for research based on selected criteria in a situation where limited information is provided.
4. Interpret and communicate the results of the examination of the simulated crime scene.
5. Explain the principles of crime scene investigations and the hierarchy of responsibilities within complex crimes.
6. Judge the methods used during a crime scene examination based on the appropriateness of the methods and explain the scientific basis of those methods.
7. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, limitations and pitfall of forensic techniques including computer science techniques.
8. Describe the principles of at least three of the most frequently used techniques and their applications in forensic investigations.

Teaching methods

Lecture
Computer lab session/practical training
Self-study

The course has both a theoretical and practical composition. The module will incorporate two practical assignments: essay and a mock crime scene where students will be split into groups and be required to give a briefing on their findings and prioritise evidence, recovered from the crime scene, for further investigation in a laboratory. The logic applied and the justification for the selection of the items must be given. There will also be a written (three hour) examination.

For the mock crime scene, the students will be divided into groups and given specific assignments to complete.
For the mock crime scene – the teams will be expected to provide the complete list of the evidence that they collect, adhere to basic chain of custody principles, provide a short presentation on their examination of the crime scene to the class, and prioritise five items of evidence for research. The students are expected to be able to explain the selection process, and reasoning behind the selection of the evidence.

Learning activities

Activity	Hours
Computerpracticum	18
Excursie	8
Hoorcollege	46
Practicum	4
Tentamen	3
Werkcollege	14
Self study	75
Total	168	(6 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

It is presupposed that all students will be present in class. More than 20% absence will automatically result in the loss of credit for that particular part of the course. Attendance at the Mock Crime Scene and the subsequent Student Presentations session is compulsory. Failure to attend either the Mock Crime Scene and/or the Student Presentations session will mean that the student does not complete the module.

Assessment

Item and weight	Details
Final grade
25% Essay	Must be ≥ 5.5, Mandatory
25% Mock Crime Scene	Must be ≥ 5.5, Mandatory
50% Written Examination	Must be ≥ 5.5, Mandatory

The components will be weighted as follows:

Essay (25%)
Mock Crime Scene (25%)
Written Examination (50%)

All components will be graded on a scale from 1 to 10, with a maximum of one decimal after the point. These grades are used to calculate the final grade. In order to pass the course, all components and the final grade have to be sufficient, i.e. at least a five and a half. When a student has not fulfilled this requirement, the examiner will register the mark ‘did not fulfill all requirements’ (NAV) whether or not the averaged grade is sufficient.

The final grade will be announced at the latest February 24th. Between this date and March 23rd working days after the final course activity, a post-exam discussion or inspection moment will be planned. This will be announced on Canvas and/or via email.

		Exit qualifications
Learning outcome	Components (see above)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	1	x							x	x
2	2				x		x				x
3	2							x
4	2						x			x
5	2, 3	x
6	1, 2, 3		x					x	x
7	2, 3							x
8	2, 3		x

Table of specification: the relation between the learning outcomes of the course, the assessment components of the course and the exit qualifications of the Master’s Forensic Science (see the course catalogue for the exit qualifications ).

Assignments

Component 1, Essay

Students (individually) will be required to submit an essay on a topic assigned by the co-ordinator. The essay is marked on a number of criteria, see Canvas for further details.

Component 2, Mock Crime Scene

Students will be required to work in groups and undertake an examination (virtual) of a mock crime scene. Students are expected to present their findings in the form of a brief presentation. Each group is expected to prioritise five items of evidence, recovered (virtually) from the mock crime scene exercise, for further analysis and outline why these items have been selected and what is the argument/justification for their selection. The presentation will be for 20 minutes with five minutes Q&A. The presentation is marked on a number of criteria, see Canvas for further details.

Component 3, The final examination

The exam of this course will be a written examination based on the content covered during the lessons. The final exam will be assessed on an individual basis. The exam is designed to assess the theoretical and practical aspects related to the learning outcomes.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Weeknummer	Onderwerpen	Studiestof
1
2
3
4

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

The Mock Crime Scene will take place at the Police Academy.
Where possible all lectures will take place at the UvA

Last year's course evaluation

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Complex Crime Scenes (6EC)	N=32
Strengths The Mock Crime Scene (MCS) was very much appreciated, some students stated that they received good guidance and advise during this excursion. Teacher was evaluated very positively, the feedback moment for the essay was well appreciated.	Notes for improvement According to some students, a clear plan of action of the MCS was missing. The digital week was chaotic and unclear. The teacher did not know how the software worked and guest lecturers were not properly instructed.
Response lecturer: Course is again very well evaluated. Besides strong points mentioned above, it is also a course that deepens forensic reasoning skills and furthermore academic reading and writing skills with the essay assignment. Students are anxious about entering exercises where the set-up and approach is up to them. Next year it will be explicitly stated that the MCS is an exercise where you can make mistakes and reflect upon it. It is part of a learning process and purely a learning environment. It will also be explicitly stated that the marks are not based at all at what happens on the MCS itself. Next year there will be a new course on digital forensics obligatory for all students. An introductory lecture on digital traces will remain part of Complex Crime Scenes, because we want to make explicit that digital traces are part of complex crime scenes just as other type of traces. Furthermore, we want students to realise that digital traces can make a crime scene a complex crime scene. The advice given will be forwarded to the digital forensic teacher. To stimulate the learning process of the essay, two feedback moments will be planned. The first aimed at peer to peer discussion among students focused on the research question and criteria to test the research question. The second a Q&A hour in which as preparation students have to evaluate their own work with the rubrics and hand in their questions beforehand. Questions that are asked often can be discussed plenary saving the teacher time. Specific questions can be answered individually. Redistribution of percentages as the assessment on digital part will disappear. Discussed options where 25% MCS, 25% essay and 50% exam or 20-20-60. The teacher will review whatever represents the effort best.

Contact information

Coordinator

M. de Gruijter PhD

Owner	Master Forensic Science
Coordinator	M. de Gruijter PhD
Part of	Master Forensic Science, year 1

Complex Crime Scenes