The psychology department at Doha College, in collaboration with Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), offered a science and engineering forensics day to their 6th Form students.
Enquiry-based learning through critical thinking was the foundation of each session and underpinned the core philosophy of High Performance Learning adopted by the school, a statement from Doha College said yesterday.
Students explored topics from the perspective of criminology and were able to identify possible offenders from their fingerprints, fluids, handwriting, and hair. Sessions included ultraviolet and infrared fluorescence, where students examined materials under the different lights.
Students saw how gas and damage to buildings can be viewed through specialised equipment and used as evidence in legal proceedings. They were fascinated to see currency under UV light, where forged bank notes were easily discernible. Fingerprint analysis allowed students the opportunity of lifting and examining their own fingerprints using powder, where they looked for loops, whorls, and arches. They were engaged in the microscopy session, and were able to see hair, skin, clothing fibres and other items magnified 1,000 times.
Dr Mosher, head of department for psychology at Doha College, believes in a holistic approach to learning and to provide students the opportunity to extend their learning wherever possible. “Every student should be given the opportunity for new experiences that will expand their knowledge, and we have been fortunate to be able to do this with Texas A&M University at Qatar,” she stated.
Students were excited about the experience. “I found all the workshops fun, especially because they were interactive. At the end of each workshop, I came out of it knowing that I learnt something new,” said one.
“The trainers provided us with interesting information and delivered it in an engaging manner. The activities were fun and informative, and I learnt a lot about the science of forensics and the reality of it, which was quite different to the way the media portrays it,” added another.
The two educational institutions plan to offer more engaging activities in the Psychology Department at Doha College in the future, the statement added.
Students explored topics from the perspective of criminology and were able to identify possible offenders from their fingerprints, fluids, handwriting, and hair. Sessions included ultraviolet and infrared fluorescence, where students examined materials under the different lights.
Students saw how gas and damage to buildings can be viewed through specialised equipment and used as evidence in legal proceedings. They were fascinated to see currency under UV light, where forged bank notes were easily discernible. Fingerprint analysis allowed students the opportunity of lifting and examining their own fingerprints using powder, where they looked for loops, whorls, and arches. They were engaged in the microscopy session, and were able to see hair, skin, clothing fibres and other items magnified 1,000 times.
Dr Mosher, head of department for psychology at Doha College, believes in a holistic approach to learning and to provide students the opportunity to extend their learning wherever possible. “Every student should be given the opportunity for new experiences that will expand their knowledge, and we have been fortunate to be able to do this with Texas A&M University at Qatar,” she stated.
Students were excited about the experience. “I found all the workshops fun, especially because they were interactive. At the end of each workshop, I came out of it knowing that I learnt something new,” said one.
“The trainers provided us with interesting information and delivered it in an engaging manner. The activities were fun and informative, and I learnt a lot about the science of forensics and the reality of it, which was quite different to the way the media portrays it,” added another.
The two educational institutions plan to offer more engaging activities in the Psychology Department at Doha College in the future, the statement added.
