Didactics in forensic science, an experience based journey
7 years ago I set up the practical course: 'Forensic spectrometry'. It was based on classical well known experiments, and the main learning goal was to give the students more insight into spectrometric techniques. One student asked me: why is it called FORENSIC spectrometry? Since then I realised that we could do a lot more in this 3EC course. In this talk, we would like to give an insight into how we have now set up the practical course to combine a lot more learning goals.
For example, the students have to collect their own evidence, store it, analyse it, write reports, present those in a court setting etc. We would like to give you an insight into the didactics we use in this particular course to get the students to a higher level.
Ellen Hofstede and Sonny van Seeters
Sonny van Seeters
Since 2007 I have taught chemistry at Avans University of Applied Science, located in Breda, The Netherlands. I mainly teach practical techniques in organic chemistry and polymer chemistry, (particularly polymer synthesis and analysis). I teach analytical chemistry as well, mainly basic chromatography courses and spectroscopy. My involvement in our forensic science program arose because of my practical teaching in the field of chemistry.
Through education and by experience, I’m very interested and involved with didactics (the theory and practical aspects of teaching) in chemistry education. In my work as a teacher I’m quite often involved with secondary school students and teachers, and try to make a good connection between secondary school and university studies in chemistry.
Ellen Hofstede
Ellen Hofstede has been an employee of Avans University of Applied Science since 2007. Before that time Ellen worked for twenty years in several biomedical laboratories, where she was always involved with supervising the trainees of the laboratories.
In Avans, within the forensic team, Ellen teaches the student different kinds of practical analytical chemistry and biological techniques in the laboratory.
Ellen is also a mentor for several first years students and supervises trainees in the third year.