2007 Innovation in Teaching Award Simulated Crime Scene on Campus

1. 2007 Innovation in Teaching AwardSimulated Crime Scene on Campus J.K. Pringle School of Physical Sciences & Geography

2. The Problem • 2006-7 teaching, in particular CHE-30013 (Forensic Science specialisms) & ESC-10026 (Environmental Geophysics), suffered from lack of outdoor ‘field laboratory’ • Crucial when student-led, outdoor practicals need a ‘realistic’ & course-relevant problem-solving task to complete • Group-led student task to create campus soil map not a satisfactory forensic application • As noted in student feedback forms & reflection

3. Staffordshire Uni. comparison • Ongoing collaboration with Forensic Scientists at Staffs Uni. • Observed custom-designed ‘Crime Scene House’ & associated facilities • Wanted to use & apply to Keele • Would enhance student experience • Gain employability skills

4. Award Aim • Create simulated outdoor campus crime scene facility • Allows taught students to gain practical experience on a variety of simulated forensic case studies • Allow students to practice forensic observational, data collection, processing & interpreting transferable skills • Allow student-led, group problem-solved practicals • Provide test site for field-based student under-/post-graduate research projects • Use for out-reach & widening participation • Used for Mid-Cheshire College HNC/HND student visit • External observers will validate scientific ‘realism’ • Retired Police Service officers on ex-CSI teams

5. December 2007 • Reduced budget so primary objective: • Use pig carcasses as ‘human proxies’ to create simulated clandestine graves • Similar skin, hair coverage & tissue:fat ratio • Approved through appropriate Keele Uni. & DEFRA H&S & Ethical Committees

6. Dec 2007

7. CHE-30013 Jan-Feb 2008 Practicals • Reports of individual acting suspiciously on campus at night • Witnesses state wide tracked, loaded vehicle & carrying spade • Preliminary investigations found surface tyre tracks over a specific area on campus • Split into 4 groups, you will lead non-invasive investigations, decide upon appropriate techniques (use newly acquired knowledge from lectures) & divide project tasks • Limited numbers onsite & overalls to prevent contamination • Use SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) • Each group member assigned task, signed in & out of site • Process & interpret results & compile scientific report for Senior Investigative Officer (submit via WebCT)

8. Students in action • GPR • Surveying • Resistivity • Groups in action

9. CHE-30013Reports & Feedback • Group submitted reports of high standard • Most correctly identified position & prioritised targets for subsequent intrusive investigations • Active learning by practicals encouraged deep learning • Student group-led, problem solving activity enhanced student experience • Improved employability skills through multi-disciplinary investigation of crime scene • Significantly improved student feedback (out of 10) • Content & lectures 7.04 -> 7.21 • Practicals 7.07 -> 7.38 • Assessment 5.96 -> 6.52 “practicals very enjoyable & gave great insight into CSH work” “provided impetus for background reading”

10. ESC-10026 Environmental Geophysics • 2006-7 practicals either demonstrated equipment or created posters on student-led topic • Useful but not enhancing student environmental geophysics experience • Keele has one of strongest research groups in near-surface geophysics • Important to provide practical-based geophysical challenge • Therefore used site to assist students to both collect geophysical data, process & identify prioritised targets • Showed results in poster format • Good student feedback “really enjoyed forensic topic” “learnt a lot of new skills in short time” “want to do geophysics as a career!”

12. Student Research Projects • 2007-8 ESC-40009 M.Geoscience Project • Tested magnetics as clandestine burial location method • 2008-9 CHE-30011 Forensic Team Projects • Will use collected leachate fluid from control carcass to assess biochemical changes over time

13. PG Student Research Projects • Site surveyed every 2 weeks using GPR & resistivity geophysical techniques • Project aims (John Jervis) is to assess: • If optimal ‘time window’ to survey for clandestine burial & if changes over time • Quantitatively monitor site to relate to geophysical surveys • Optimum geophysical location workflows • Assist UK Police Service investigative teams • Assisting Staffs/Metropolitan Police Service & Forensic Science Service

14. Project Output • Student feedback shows significantly enhanced experience • Web resource to be made available to area-specific students • Project vod-casts to be available • Future Plans • Will build experience for next year’s UG cohorts • Change to 6 students per group & individually submit reports • Will emplace metallic targets to complicate site • Will add another carcass to test students ability to differentiate different aged burials

15. Acknowledgements • 2007 Keele University £1k Innovation in Teaching Award • 2007-8 CHE-30013 & ESC-10026 student cohorts • Respective course lecturers • John Jervis, Victoria Lane, Tim Millington & Malcolm Wright for site set-up and practical’s assistance • See website for more info: • www.esci.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/Research/forensic/