Perry High School students have a new opportunity to explore science through a hands-on, real-world lens this school year with the addition of a Forensic Science course for juniors and seniors.
The new course, taught by Julie Milligan, was added to provide an additional science offering for upperclassmen while giving students the opportunity to apply scientific concepts in an engaging and practical setting.
“Forensic science gives students the opportunity to use science in a hands-on, real-world setting,” Milligan said. “It combines biology, chemistry, physics, problem solving and critical thinking while giving students the opportunity to engage in a new experience.”
The course centers around forensic science and crime scene investigation, but the skills students develop extend well beyond the classroom. Throughout the course, students are challenged to observe carefully, analyze evidence, work as a team, communicate their findings and defend their conclusions.
“These skills will benefit them whether they are preparing for college, attending a trade school or entering the workforce,” Milligan said.
Forensic Science also counts as a science credit. Although crime scene investigation serves as an engaging introduction to the subject, students are continually applying scientific concepts and practices throughout the course.
One of the students’ first major experiences in the class was a mock crime scene. The activity quickly demonstrated why careful observation and critical thinking are essential components of forensic investigation.
“The first mock crime scene was a lesson in observation,” Milligan said. “Students immediately began jumping to conclusions, which gave us the opportunity to learn the importance of letting observations and evidence guide the investigation rather than forming quick judgments.”
That experience provided an early lesson in one of the most important principles of forensic science: investigators must rely on evidence rather than assumptions.
For Milligan, teaching the course is a natural fit. She has always enjoyed mysteries and problem-solving, with favorite television shows including NCIS, FBI, CIA and CSI. Growing up, she enjoyed reading Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown, and Clue was her favorite board game.
While crime scene investigation may be the hook that draws students into the course, Milligan hopes students leave with something much more valuable.
“My goal is for students to learn science by actually doing science and to leave the course more confident in their ability to solve problems and think critically,” she said.
Through hands-on investigations, scientific exploration and real-world problem solving, Perry High School’s new Forensic Science course is giving students another way to see how the science they learn in the classroom can be applied to the world around them.