Forensic science program makes its case at East Longmeadow High
Date: 10/17/2013
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comEAST LONGMEADOW – If your high school student comes home talking about white powders or blood spatter, don’t be alarmed; they’re probably taking Katherine Wahlund’s forensic science class.
Now in its third year, the program has taken off, with an honors section added to the curriculum this year.
Wahlund, who also teaches biology, explained that the program, which runs two classes per semester, was initially funded by a science and literacy grant from Toyota TAPESTRY, which, according to its website is the largest science grant program in the country.
“They gave me $10,000 to buy equipment and take two classes,” she said. “The literacy part was easy to incorporate because we read many case studies and each lab has a pre-lab reading.”
The program utilizes a book by renowned forensic scientist Henry Lee as one of the primary texts, and works to separate fact from fiction regarding forensic investigations.
“We watch no fiction except two episodes of BBC’s ‘Sherlock’ to apply deductive reasoning and vocabulary to the episode,” Wahlund said.
Students also engage in hands-on labs on topics including drugs; hair and fibers; fingerprinting; tire tread and glass fracture; ballistics and firearm identification; autopsy; and DNA fingerprinting, among others.
“For example we just completed the hair and fiber training, each student has a different hair and fiber evidence bag that they had to classify and compare to a table of ‘knowns’ that they created,” Wahlund said. “Our lab reports are typed for review by a judge rather than a traditional lab report. Students also run through two practice crime scenes and then a final one is part of their final grade.”
Adding to the genuine nature of the simulations is the fact that the classes have access to their own “crime scene” – an unused empty bathroom adjacent to the classroom.
Wahlund added that she also tries to keep things interesting from time to time by utilizing celebrities as the subjects in the crimes the class investigates.
“For example, for the last final exam, Justin Bieber killed Kristen Stewart but tried to frame ‘The Rock’ by using his gun,” she explained.
So what is the benefit for students who aren’t interested in a career in forensic science? It’s all about the thought process and deductive reasoning, Wahlund said.
“This class is all about thinking. You have to think about cases – how to recognize, classify, and reconstruct evidence,” she said. “Each week, I secretly build and exercise their higher order thinking skills. They have to use different science subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry and apply it to a new situation. Forensic science is an applied science that truly promotes critical thinking and problem solving.”
Students also learn about the court system and quality control methodology and all case studies encourage the use of analytical reading, Wahlund added.
Keeping the program funded adequately after the initial grant has proved challenging, but Wahlund said she has been able to make it work.
“I have learned how to make a lot of my expendable lab materials. Like most teachers, we pay for a lot of materials ourselves,” she said, adding she is looking into writing more grants to fund the program.
In an effort to support and strengthen the program, Superintendent Gordon Smith and the School Committee recently agreed to grant funding to Wahlund for the purpose of taking two continuing education classes on forensics at the University of Florida.
Those who take the class should be aware of one down side, especially if they’re a fan of television programs such as “CSI.”
“Unfortunately, the fictional TV shows become annoying after you take my class,” she said. “The inaccuracies with terms, procedure, and analysis are too much to bear and you also annoy others who are watching it with you.”
