Forensics Class Brings CSI to Briarcliff HS

Kim Dyer’s senior forensic class at Briarcliff High School recently engaged in research, transforming their classroom and the school’s visitor parking lot into veritable investigation scenes complete with crime scene tape and evidence tags. The course, now in its third year at Briarcliff, is part of the Syracuse University Project Advance Program (SUPA), a program that allows students to receive college credits while attending high school. Ms. Dyer and fellow teacher Robert Saar received SUPA training in forensic education. Briarcliff currently offers four SUPA forensic sections, in addition to two high school sections. 

Divided into three groups, Ms. Dyer’s class proceeded to create and exhibit their own crime scene scenarios. Groups rotated and attempted to solve the “crimes” concocted by fellow classmates, then discussed and analyzed the cases the following day.

According to Ms. Dyer, the course teaches students how to process and investigate a crime scene. In addition to learning how to secure, isolate and protect the scene, the students study ways to train personnel; organize research; document information utilizing notes, photos, videos and other resources; collect and properly handle samples; and prepare these samples for analysis. “It’s extremely detail-oriented,” said Ms. Dyer.