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Online Program

Adventures Online: An Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation

Program No. 2484760MEADV-1116-60
Ever wonder how accurate crime scene investigations are in your favorite police procedurals? Get your questions answered in this four-day introduction to crime scene investigation.

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4 days
2
Evidence Collection, DNA
From the comfort of your own home.
3
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Firearms Evidence
From the comfort of your own home.
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At a Glance

Ever wonder how accurate crime scene investigations are in your favorite televised police procedurals? Get your questions answered in this four-day introduction to crime scene investigation (CSI) with author and forensic photography expert Steven Staggs. Learn how to tell fact from fiction, how CSI teams collect evidence and how what’s left behind — insects, tire tracks, firearms evidence and DNA — inform and further the investigation. Q&A sessions and discussions with course experts and fellow Road Scholars will ensure that the next time your favorite detective show broadcasts, you’ll be on the case.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Learn about what really happens in crime scene investigation from experts in the field.
  • Explore the proper methods of evidence collection and storage.
  • Discover how DNA is collected from a crime scene and analyzed.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. This session is offered live only and will not be available on demand. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
4 days
Ever wonder how accurate crime scene investigations are in your favorite televised police procedurals? Get your questions answered in this four-day introduction to crime scene investigation (CSI) with author and forensic photography expert Steven Staggs. Learn how to tell fact from fiction, how CSI teams collect evidence and how what’s left behind — insects, tire tracks, firearms evidence and DNA — inform and further the investigation. Q&A sessions and discussions with course experts and fellow Road Scholars will ensure that the next time your favorite detective show broadcasts, you’ll be on the case.)
Best of all, you'll...
  • Learn about what really happens in crime scene investigation from experts in the field.
  • Explore the proper methods of evidence collection and storage.
  • Discover how DNA is collected from a crime scene and analyzed.
General Notes
You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. This session is offered live only and will not be available on demand. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (3 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Call 800-454-5768
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Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time and end at 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
12:00 Noon: Orientation and Introduction (20 minutes). 12:20 p.m.: Lecture – CSI Fact vs. Fiction (60 minutes). Can we trust television to learn what really happens in crime scene investigations? 1:20 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 1:30 p.m.: Break (10 minutes). 1:40 p.m.: Lecture – Crime Scene Documentation (65 minutes). Documentation is one of the two most critical tasks in crime scene investigation. We’ll learn how crime scenes are documented with notes, photographs, and diagrams. 2:45 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 2:55 p.m.: Wrap-up (5 minutes).
Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time and end at 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
12:00 Noon: Day Review (5 minutes). The Group Leader will start each day with an overview of the classes ahead. 12:05 p.m.: Lecture – Evidence Collection (75 minutes). Proper collection of evidence is the other critical task in crime scene investigation. We will learn how evidence is located and recovered; this includes fingerprints, blood stains, and small items. 1:20 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 1:30 p.m.: Break (10 minutes). 1:40 p.m.: Lecture – DNA (65 minutes). What is DNA? How is the DNA collected from scenes and evidence analyzed? 2:45 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 2:55 p.m.: Wrap-up (5 minutes).
Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time and end at 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
12:00 Noon: Day Review (5 minutes). 12:05 p.m.: Lecture – Blood Stain Pattern Analysis (75 minutes). Bloodstain patterns at a violent crime scene can help provide the “best explanation” of what occurred, where it occurred, and the sequence of events. In this lesson, we will learn the basics of “bloodstain pattern analysis.” It is usually not what you see on TV. . 1:20 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 1:30 p.m.: Break (10 minutes). 1:40 p.m.: Lecture – Firearms Evidence (65 minutes). We will learn how the CSI handles firearms evidence and how the analysis of trajectories can help determine what really happened during a crime. 2:45 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 2:55 p.m.: Wrap-up (5 minutes).
Activity Note
Today’s session will start at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time and end at 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
12:00 Noon: Day Review (5 minutes). 12:05 p.m.: Lecture – Forensic Entomology (75 minutes). We’ll explore how investigators deal with the presence or absence of insects at a crime scene and what it means. 1:20 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 1:30 p.m.: Break (10 minutes). 1:40 p.m.: Lecture – Footwear and Tire Track Evidence (65 minutes). We will learn how some of the most overlooked physical evidence can be located, documented, collected, and analyzed to further the investigation. 2:45 p.m.: Q&A (10 minutes). 2:55 p.m.: Wrap-up (5 minutes). This concludes our program.
Participant Reviews
5
Based on 8 Reviews
Sort By:
Dwayna | Springfield, VA
The Crime Scene Investigation Class was an exceptional class. I thought by reading mysteries and watching Bones or CSi I knew a lot. Ah no that was not the case! I knew nothing! This class taught me so much about the whole procedure including DNA. It is well worth the money and time believe me.
— Review left September 29, 2024
Patricia – Class of 1999 | Leesburg, FL
Very interesting program. Will enhance reading or watching crime/mystery presentations. The real CSI.
— Review left June 22, 2024
Kathleen – Class of 2012 | Nipomo, CA
This was an amazing program. I learned so much. I never really thought much about CSI's but I now have great respect for what they do!
— Review left June 20, 2024
Kathleen – Class of 2007 | Stevens Point, WI
Crime Scene Investigation is a fascinating look at the REAL world of forensic scientists. From fingerprinting, entymology, foot prints, blood spatter, and weapons examination, the job of securing evidence and being ready for court is not simple. People who have watched CSI, NCIS, or other similar tv show would especially enjoy learned how evidence is actually collected, protected, and analyzed, how the scene is really drawn, and all the other minutiae that goes into the work of these intrepid men and women.
— Review left June 20, 2024
Linda – Class of 2023 | Brighton, MI
A fascinating look at what REALLY happens during crime scene investigations. I enjoyed learning about this topic from the experts!
— Review left February 19, 2024
Janet | Chula Vista, CA
This program was everything I hoped for and more! The instructors were excellent and made the content come alive to me. The course content and examples/videos worked very well in explaining the information and in sharing the complexity of the science. My husband and I took the class together and we had great conversations each evening after the class. I highly recommend the course, the instructors, and the moderator, Laurel, did an excellent job in keeping things moving smoothly and ensuring there was adequate time for questions and answers.
— Review left February 2, 2024
Kathleen – Class of 2007 | Stevens Point, WI
Just having completed a 4-day course on Crime Scene Investigation, I have to say that it was an absolutely wonderful experience! The instructors were superb, their presentations showed us exactly what they were talking about, and the examples of real crimes and victims was quite appropriate. I would recommend this class to anyone who is interested in how crimes like homicide are REALLY investigated.
— Review left February 1, 2024
Jaqi – Class of 2022 | Richmond, CA
Factual, Fascinating, & Fun!
— Review left February 1, 2024





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