This past year, students at Lake George High School worked their way through a captivating journey into the world of forensic science, a half-year course taught by science teacher Nikki McGrath. The class, primarily composed of seniors with one sophomore and one junior, offered a unique and engaging approach to learning.
“In an age where true crime is a popular phenomenon, this course immediately lent itself to student engagement,” said McGrath. Recognizing the immense popularity of the genre, the curriculum was designed to tap into students’ natural curiosity about solving mysteries.
The course moved beyond traditional textbook learning, incorporating diverse modalities and encouraging self-directed projects. They learned about blood spatter analysis, figuring out angles and interpreting patterns. Students explored DNA, hair, and fiber analysis, understanding how these microscopic clues can be crucial in investigations. Students also honed their skills in fingerprinting and handwriting analysis, and explored ballistics, the science behind firearms and projectiles.
A significant component of the course also involved examining the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating wrongly convicted individuals. This provided students with a powerful real-world perspective on the impact of forensic science and the importance of accuracy.
“This class was refreshing to teach because the focus was on the joy of learning rather than just preparing for a test,” McGrath explained. “This gave us the freedom to explore what truly interested the students, and they didn’t feel boxed in.”
The culmination of the course was an immersive, real-life scenario designed to put their newfound skills to the test. Students were tasked with solving a “horrendous crime” staged in the Lake George High School basement.
“We received the 911 call right in class, and the lead investigators, our students, took over,” said McGrath. “It was incredible to watch them investigate and apply everything they’d learned throughout the semester to solve the case.”
This ambitious final project was made possible with the assistance of Officer Fregoe, who helped create and set up the crime scene, and the “suspects” played by fellow staff members, who expertly acted out their roles, adding to the realism of the simulation.
The forensic science course at Lake George High School proved to be a resounding success, offering students a dynamic and practical introduction to a fascinating field and giving students an opportunity to learn more about possible career fields for their future.