On August 20th, the BREP program held its second 2005 Professional Development activity, a workshop focusing on the integration of forensic science in the classroom. Twenty eight teachers from various schools throughout Puerto Rico participated in the event. The workshop was organized and presented by physics teacher, Carmen Fernández M.Ed., who trained at Pfizer in Connecticut on how to incorporate forensic science into the classroom and attract the attention of students to science. The workshop was divided into three parts. The morning session consisted of watching an episode of the TV series CSI and identifying concepts related to the areas of biology, chemistry and physics in the episode. The teachers were then separated in groups and requested to discuss how the different scientific concepts could be incorporated in the classroom. In addition, teachers aligned each of the concepts which the science standards included in the Science Curriculum Guide published by the Department of Education in Puerto Rico. During the afternoon session, teachers actually solved a forensic case using various laboratory techniques. This hands-on and interactive experience was received enthusiastically by the group.
Professor Carmen Fernández led the group of teachers through a series of discussions and laboratory activities regarding the incorporation of forensic science in the classroom.
BREP staff, Dr. Emma Fernández Repollet, Principal Investigator, Dr. Abe Schwartz, Co-Investigator, Mr. Felipe N. Padilla, Administrator, and Ms. Odalis García, Assistant Coordinator, also participated in the activity. During the lunch time, teachers had the opportunity to view photos and a video-clip of the 2005 Student Summer Internship.
Dr. Emma Fernández Repollet and Prof. Carmen Fernández with science teachers from public and private schools in Puerto Rico who attended BREP's workshop: "Integration of Forensic Science in the Teaching of Sciences"
The workshop concluded with the distribution of Certificates of Attendance to participating science teachers. We thank Professor Carmen Fernández for organizing an outstanding workshop and look forward to the next Professional Development activity!
