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Crime Scene IT (CSIT) is a new initiative of the New York Hall of Science, with funding from the National Science Foundation. CSIT provides lesson plans, portable technology labs and intensive training for teachers in New York City middle- and high schools who in turn bring CSIT into their classrooms, giving their students hands-on experience using state-of-the-art digital tools to gather and analyze data to solve forensic science “mysteries.” Each mystery is a standards-based curriculum module that integrates IT skill development and higher-order thinking skills with the application and mastery of curriculum science concepts.
See what happened at the 2008 Expo!
The Crime Scene IT project works with teachers in New York City schools with an emphasis on reaching low income students, minority students and first-generation college-bound students. It seeks to instill in these students the motivation and the capacity to pursue advanced study in Math and Science.
Local middle school students can participate in CSIT by attending the Hall's CSIT Innovation Camps during the summer and school vacation weeks.
The major goals of the Crime Scene IT project are to:
- Provide teacher professional development that improves teaching methods of science teachers and also increases teachers' confidence and competence integrating technology into their teaching.
- Provide curriculum modules made up of hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that integrate technology and correlate with NY State Standards and the New York City scope and sequence.
- Provide portable technology labs that contain a class set of laptop computers, digital microscopes, digital sensors, and other tools that students need to solve the mysteries.
- Conduct Crime Scene IT Innovation Camps for local middle school students during the summer and school vacation weeks.
- Expose students and teachers to a wide range of IT careers and make clear the educational path required to qualify for those jobs.
