1. Attention to Detail: A good forensic investigator should be highly observant and able to notice even the smallest details at a scene.

2. Critical Thinking: Forensic investigator professionals should be able to analyze the evidence they have collected and make informed decisions based on the facts.

3. Problem Solving: In order to solve problems, forensic investigators need to be able to come up with creative solutions and find ways to overcome obstacles.

4. Communication Skills: Forensic investigators need to be able to clearly and effectively communicate their findings to colleagues, investigators, and other professionals in the various departments in the local, state, and federal government.

5. Technology Skills: Forensic investigators should be proficient with a wide range of technologies, including computers, digital cameras, and forensic analysis software.

6. Scientific Knowledge: A solid understanding of scientific principles is essential for forensic investigators to conduct accurate and thorough investigations.

7. Time Management: Forensic investigators must be able to work efficiently and manage their time effectively in order to meet tight deadlines and keep up with their caseload.

8. Emotional Resilience: Investigating situations/scenes can be emotionally challenging, and forensic investigators need to be able to handle stress, trauma, and difficult situations in a professional manner.

9. Physical Fitness: Forensic investigations can be physically demanding, requiring investigators to be in good shape and able to work on their feet for extended periods of time.

10. Teamwork: Finally, forensic investigators need to be able to work well as part of a team, collaborating with other investigators, law enforcement officers, and other professionals to solve problems and bring about resolutions.

For the classroom, a forensic science investigation is an interactive project that students experience to learn critical skills and knowledge for a particular topic. Here are the critical components to think through:

ROLES: Clearly define the role that students will play. Will different students have different roles? If so, how will their tasks depend on each other to arrive at the desired outcome?

PROBLEM(S): Write out a scenario to give students the context of the situation that they've been dropped in. Depending on the age of your students, you may need to clarify the problem. Consider withholding some information (or playing devil's advocate at times) to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and research.

OBSTACLES: Think of several 'obstacles' that you can present at a few points along the way. If your investigation is to be done during one class period, you may not have time to include obstacles. These might be the equivalent to the "Go to Jail" card in a game of Monopoly. Obstacles may require students to do additional research, collect additional information, or redo a portion of previous work because of 'tainted evidence.'

EQUIPMENT: Be sure to have the equipment that students will need...or a variety of equipment for them to choose from. It might be that you let them figure out what tools/equipment they need to accomplish the various aspects of the lesson.

MODERATOR: The moderator, which is typically you, checks the students' work at specific points before allowing them to continue. This could be somewhat facilitated by providing answer keys to a certain extent. The moderator would also be the one to hand out 'obstacles' to individual students or groups.

GROUPING: Consider how you will organize the students. Will they be grouped as teams with each one having a different role? Will there be no groups though different students may have common roles giving them choice in who they work with when they need to collaborate or interact with a different role than their own.

• 18 Hands-On Crime Scene Activities - https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/crime-scene-activity/

• You Be the Crime Scene Investigator - https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/lessons/you-be-crime-scene-investigator 

• Lesson Plan: Crime Scene Investigation - https://www.txcte.org/resource/lesson-plan-crime-scene-investigation 

• Idaho PBS: CSI - https://sciencetrek.org/sciencetrek/topics/csi/

• Crime Scene Investigation Activities - http://stem-works.com/subjects/10-crime-scene-investigation/activities 

• Crime Scene Science Lab Lessons - https://teachbesideme.com/crime-scene-science-lab-lesson/ 

• The Real CSI - Forensic Science for K-12 Students (create a mock crime scene in your classroom) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HrNrZq59Mk 

• Crime Scene Investigation for Kids: Labs, Projects, CSI Mysteries, and Books - https://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/science-experiments-kids/csi-unit-study-forensics-for-kids/

• Forensics Activities for Elementary Students - https://classroom.synonym.com/forensics-activities-elementary-students-6400065.html

• 21 Fun Forensic Science Activities for Kids - https://scienceandsteamteam.com/21-fun-forensic-science-activities-for-kids/

• Forensic Activities for the First Day of School - https://thetrendyscienceteacher.com/2021/06/26/forensics-activities-for-the-first-5-days-of-school-10/ 

• Grades K-1: A piece of luggage was found that has a variety of items in it along with the name and address of the owner. Unfortunately, you can only send items that float back to the person because of new airline rules. Investigate the items to identify which ones float and which ones sink. Record a clear description of each before packaging them up to ship to the owner. 

• Grades 2-5: The solar system seems to be going crazy. You work for NASA and just received a set of photos (that are not labeled) of the planets and have been tasked with identifying the names of the planets along with critical information for each so they can be put back in their correct orbits. Be careful though, some planets from other solar systems may have gotten mixed in. As the top astronomer, you need to research the information to identify each photo (and its specific information), order them correctly, and then share your research (presentation) with the Head of Planetary Security (the teacher). You must act quickly before Earth is thrown out of its orbit and life ends as we know it!

• Grade 6-8: Congratulations! You are the new owner of a zoo. Unfortunately, the previous zoo keeper did not keep good records. You only have small bits of information to go on to identify what animals were in your zoo so you can track them down. You will also need to update each animal's habitat to provide a realistic living environment for it along with ways that they public can view the animal when they come to the zoo to visit.

• High School Biology: You work for a mad scientist who is engineering prokaryote and eukaryote cells. He fell before he could reconstruct the cells he was working with and now suffers from amnesia. You've been asked to step in and examine the parts of the cells and then successfully reconstruct both types of cells so that are fully functional and his experiments can continue. 

• High School Chemistry: As head of the state OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) department, you have just received information about a hazardous event in a town close to you. You've been asked to analyze the outcome of the event and work backwards to figure out what chemicals could have been used to create the event. You'll review anecdotal evidence from several eyewitnesses along with investigating residue that shows atomic structures. You will work with your team to identify at least one possible scenario along with what could be used to reduce the likelihood of it happening again. 

Consider gamifying your lesson (or even how you do class). If you've not walked through the steps of altering your lessons/classroom, consider these steps. Gamification can be a daunting class so start small and grow it as you go forward.

1. Identify Learning Objectives: First and foremost, the teacher needs to identify the learning objectives that they want to achieve through gamification. This will help them to design the game mechanics that align with the learning goals.

2. Choose Game Mechanics: The teacher needs to choose game mechanics that best suit the learning objectives and the students' preferences. Game mechanics can include points, levels, badges, leaderboards, challenges, quests, etc.

3. Design Game Elements: Once the game mechanics are chosen, the teacher needs to design the game elements such as rules, feedback, rewards, avatars, storylines, etc., that make the game engaging and motivating for the students.

4. Integrate Technology: The teacher needs to integrate technology tools such as game-based learning platforms, online quizzes, interactive videos, augmented reality, etc., to enhance the gaming experience and assessment process.

5. Create a Feedback System: A feedback system is crucial in gamification to provide students with instant feedback on their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. The teacher can use digital tools to provide immediate feedback and track students' performance.

6. Test the Game: Before implementing the game, the teacher should test the game with a small group of students to gather feedback and identify any glitches in the system.

7. Roll Out the Game: Once the game is tested and refined, the teacher can roll out the game to the entire class. The teacher needs to monitor the students' progress and adjust the game mechanics accordingly.

8. Evaluate the Game: The teacher needs to evaluate the effectiveness of the game in achieving the learning objectives and engaging the students. The evaluation can be done through quizzes, surveys, or informal feedback from the students.

Critical tips for newbies to keep in mind:

• Start Small and Simple: It can be tempting to design a complex game with various game mechanics and elements. However, it is essential to start small and simple, especially for teachers who are new to gamification. Begin with one or two game mechanics, such as points or badges, and gradually add more elements as you gain experience.

• Use Feedback to Improve: Feedback is a critical component of gamification. Regularly monitor your students' progress and adjust the game mechanics accordingly. Encourage students to give feedback on the game, and use it to improve the game and learning experience.

• Align with Learning Objectives: It is easy to get carried away with game mechanics and lose sight of the learning objectives. Always keep the learning objectives in mind and ensure that the game mechanics and elements align with them. Use the game to reinforce concepts, knowledge, and skills taught in the classroom.

Use these free photos as needed to help with aspects of your investigation:

Pixabay (Crime Scene Photo Search)

Unsplash (Science Investigation Photo Search) 

Pexels (Investigation Photo Search)

AI-generated Images. Below are several AI-generated images. Feel free to use. Just right-click and select Save Image As...
NOTE: The name of the tool used to generate the image is part of the image name (i.e.: Fotor_AI (1).png, Dream_Background.jpg, etc.)