2025 Annual Forensic Institute -Methods of Teaching Forensic Science Course

4 Day Forensic Summer Training Institute

Presented by Professor Michael Revenson, Adjunct Professor Trainer of Forensic Science, Syracuse University , Adjunct Chemistry Professor , Westchester Community College, Retired Veteran SUPA Forensic Instructor.

This Forensic workshop will offer teachers the opportunity to explore the following topics: Blood & Blood Spatter Analysis, Finger-printing, Hair & Fiber Analysis, Toxicology, Physical Evidence, Skeletal Remains, and Entomology.

Participants may use the information, labs, crime scenes and resources provided to start their own half-year course or supplement current science curriculum to stimulate student interest by using the science of criminology.

The goals of the program are to provide the following:

Curriculum Structure and Sequencing
Context Knowledge for the Specific Discipline
Methods of Teaching Specific topics within the Curriculum
Enhance your classroom presentations in many areas of the Forensic program.
Encourage teachers to use methods in their classrooms that involve new demonstration ideas
Expand the scope of your laboratory activities
Provide a forum for discussion and sharing of their materials and ideas
Provide an opportunity for teachers training for multiple disciplines

The program consists of 30 hours of training.  Each Day will be focused to specific areas of the forensic science curriculum.
We specialize in STEM Science and Math Courses. 

Biology , Chemistry , Physics , Environmental , Precalculus and Calculus.

Other programs are offered ONLINE at our other APSI.

Typical Schedule Monday – Thursday

Morning session 1:              8:30AM – 10:00AM                   

Morning break:                     10:00AM

Morning session2:               10:15AM – 12:00PM              

 Lunch:                                     12:00PM – 12:30PM

Afternoon session 1:              12:30PM – 2:00PM            

Afternoon break:                  2:00PM – 2:15PM                   

Afternoon session 2:            2:15 PM – 4:30PM                   

All our courses will provide upon completion a Certified Certificate of Completion which states you have completed 30 hours of training in the specific science course for course audit and IACET. 
We also Provide exclusive NYSED CTLE CREDIT  CERTIFICATE for NY from NYS CTLE certificates.
We also provide Science Education Graduate Credit from Manhattanville College which is transferable to your institution for an additional cost.

8:30 am est to 4:30 pm est 

Please contact us at apsi@pwista.com or at 914-497-8531 with any questions.
The Director of the Institute is Mr. Mark Langella, apsi@pwista.com

The 2025 Forensic Four day Summer Institute 4 days Mon-Thu.  8:30-4:30 each day

 Date: June 30th, 2025 – July 3rd, 2025, Monday to Thursday

Time : 8:30 AM-4:00 PM 

Cost:  $499.99

Place: Science Building, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577

Sponsored by: PWISTA

Credit : A 30-hour certificate toward in-service credit will be issued for use according  to your school district’s policy.

Course Description and Outline

This course is intended for educators currently teaching a class in Forensic Science or are contemplating starting one. In this course we will go over a number of topics related to Forensic science and the role it plays in the criminal justice system. We will discuss the operations of a typical Forensic “Crime lab “and how scientists are able to take minute fragments of materials and provide important investigative clues in criminal investigations. In addition, we will discuss various tips and techniques that educators can use to provide interesting course material for their students. Lists of companies that sell materials that educators can use in their classes will be provided. We will also go over simple DIY projects they can use in their classes at minimal cost.

 Lectures will be in a PowerPoint format and attendees will be provided with an electronic .PDF of each lecture with areas for notes. Handouts will only be provided for the afternoon exercises. Several of the hands-on exercises involve the use of a magnifying glass so attendees are encouraged to bring one with them. Attendees are required to bring a pair of safety glasses which will be needed during some of the exercises.

Forensic science:

  • incorporates math, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, technology, and writing skills
  • provides a means to integrate skills around a theme of problem solving a mystery
  • includes hands-on activities, labs, interactive computer activities, case studies and Power Point Presentations.

Forensics addresses the following topics:

  • Evidence collection
  • Trace evidence including: hair, fiber and pollen
  • Death determination using rigor, algor and livor mortis
  • Forensic Entomology
  • Forensic Botany
  • Blood spatter
  • DNA fingerprinting
  • Impression evidence: fingerprints, foot, dental and tire, tool mark evidence
  • Bone analysis and osteobiography
  • Ballistics
  • Glass
  • Hand writing analysis
  • Drug analysis
  • Sand & Soil Analysis
  • Forgery & Counterfeiting

Special emphasis will be placed on lab set-ups and organization, cost reduction options and meeting the needs of heterogeneous classes.

Course Objectives-

Understand the role the Forensic Science laboratory plays in the Criminal Justice system

To explain how scientists use a variety of techniques to examine evidence and provide useful information in criminal investigations.

To examine controversies in the field of forensic and the impact they have had in the Criminal justice system.

To prepare educators who are involved in teaching Forensic science how to deliver informative and accurate information about what Forensic science is and isn’t and to assist in encouraging students who may want to pursue a career in Forensic science

 Monday morning session     8:30 AM-12 PM

8:30-8:45 AM – Introduction, course overview

8:45-10:00 AM – Lecture

Introduction to Forensic Science-What is Forensics? History of Forensics. Crime Scene and Analysis

  • History and development of crime labs

We will discuss how Forensic Science and medicolegal investigations developed first in Europe and China and how eventually it was introduced into the U.S. We will discuss the pioneers in Forensic science and the role they played in establishing the use of scientific techniques as an aid in criminal investigation. We will also discuss some historical cases such as Jack the Ripper and the Marie La Fage poisoning case and how they would be handled today.

 We will also go over the move toward accreditation and regulations of Crime labs and how this has changed the way forensic science is practiced in the U.S and throughout the world. We will also go over the CSI effect and how that has played a role in the expectations of jurors, police, prosecutors, and the average citizen when it comes to solving crimes.

10:00-10:15 AM Break

10:15 -12:00 PM – Lecture

  • Sections of a Crime laboratory- operations

In this lecture we will describe the operations of a modern crime laboratory and  how the individual sections contribute to criminal investigations .We will discuss the requirements needed to run  specific sections including educational requirements for hiring staff for each discipline .We will look at how colleges are seeking accreditation for their Forensic Science programs and the type of accreditation they must meet to confer a degree in Forensic science We will also go over how each discipline has changed over the years due to technological advances and the greater reliance on the use of science in helping to solve crimes .

12:00-1:00 PM Lunch

Monday afternoon session –

1-4 PM Lecture and exercises

Crime Scene Analysis.

1-2 PM   LectureCreating a crime scene and   Investigating a crime scene

  • Crime Scene Analysis.

Introduction to Crime Scene Exam
Role of Physical Evidence in Criminal Investigations
Nature of Physical Evidence
Objectives Behind Evidence Examination
Applying the Scientific Method to Crime Scene Examination
Gathering Information From the Scene

2-3:30 PM – Creating a crime scene

  • Impressions- examination and classification

 3:30-4:30 PM

Investigating a crime scene

Tuesday Morning8:30-12 PM

8:30-10:00 AM – LectureFingerprints; types and analysis. 

10:00-10:15 AM – Break

10:15-11:15 AM-Fingerprint ID Lab

Methods of personal Identification- Fingerprinting

In this lecture we will discuss the history of fingerprinting and the pioneers in fingerprint identification. We will also discuss the various types of fingerprint patterns and how they are classified. We will also discuss different methods for developing fingerprints on evidence. Students will be given premade fingerprints with which they will identify as to type and classification. They will be asked to identify the fingerprint type, do a ridge count, and calculate a Henry primary classification on a set of fingerprints that will be provided.

11:15-12:00 PM

Case studies   

12:00-1:00 PM -Lunch

Tuesday afternoon session –    Lecture and Exercises 1-4 PM

 1:00 -2:00 PM   

Fingerprint collection lab.  Lifting and fuming.

  • Fingerprint Identification – making and classifying fingerprints
  • Fingerprint development – powders, magna brush, glue fuming

In this exercise we will have students ink their fingers and make a set of fingerprints which they will have to classify and conduct a Henry primary classification on. This exercise we will have students prepare a set of latent fingerprints and have the students develop and lift them similar to how it is done at a crime scene.

We will go over several cases where finger printing played an important role in the investigation. We will also go over a case where fingerprinting implicated an innocent person and the outcome of that case.

2:00-4:30 PM Hands on exercises

  • Document Analysis

 Wednesday Morning8:30-12 PM

8:30-10:00 AM – Lecture – Toxicology and Alcohol

10:00-10:15 AM – Break

10:15-12:00 PM Lecture

  • White Powder lab

Wednesday Afternoon 1-4 PM

1:00-4:30 PM Exercises- Hair, Fiber, and Glass.

Lab on Hair, Fiber, and Glass.

Morning8:30-12 PM

8:30-10:00 AM – Lecture Firearms evidence

In this lecture we will discuss firearms evidence and how it is examined in the firearms section of the laboratory. We will discuss the difference between class and individual type firearms evidence and how the markings left on items such as cartridge cases and bullets can be searched against the NIBIN firearms evidence computer database.

10:00-10:15 AM Break

10:15-12:00 PM Lecture  Chemical testing of firearms residue, toolmark evidence, Shell casing analysis

In this lecture we will discuss how various chemical and instrumental techniques are applied to the analysis of the residue left after the discharge of a firearm. We will also discuss the role the firearms examiner plays in the examination of toolmarks and the microscopic and chemical techniques they apply.

This exercise students will be given several expended cartridge cases and bullets to examine for class and individual characteristics. Students will use a vernier caliper to determine the caliber of the bullet both in mm and in hundredths of an inch.

  • Testing materials for “gunshot residue “

In this exercise students will perform several simple tests used to detect lead, copper, nitrates, and nitrites in gunshot residue.

12:00-1:00 Lunch

Thursday afternoon 1-4 PM Exercises

1:00-3:00 Exercises –

Blood Spatter and calculations.

Psychology – Stalking Lab

3:00-4:30 PM

Wrap up of class

Certificates

Resources:

How to Cast and Analyze Dental Impressions Click here.

Forensic Pollen Analysis   Click here.

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