The Virtual Forensics laboratory is designed to teach applied forensic science through game-based learning. Set in a three-dimensional game space, the lab enables students to both practice photographing and collecting evidence such as fingerprints, blood spatter, and weapons in a recreated crime scene, and examine related case materials such as 911 calls, psychological examinations, and police interrogations. By guiding them through the process of analyzing evidence and recreating the events of the crime, the virtual lab helps student practice the critical thinking skills involved in deducing the motivations for crimes and identifying likely offenders.
This project is funded by an ATIG grant and is a collaboration with Instructional Design and eTeaching Services.
The game allows students to examine a re-created crime scene.
Students collect evidence from the crime scene by taking photographs, bagging specimens, and marking blood splatter.
Students are able to explore the entire layout of the house to find evidence and to create a sketch of the crime scene.
Since forensic protocol requires investigators to check all doors and windows outside to see if they are locked or not, students can explore all the way around the house and yard.
Since forensic protocol requires investigators to check all doors and windows outside to see if they are locked or not, students can explore all the way around the house and yard.