Vision
The Cyber Sleuth Science Lab engages high school students in Digital Forensic Science using compelling investigations and by solving real-world cases. Students are also immersed in the process of scientific inquiry teaching them technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science concepts and skills needed in STEM fields.
Pilot Project
The Cyber Sleuth Science Lab began as a national pilot project funded by the National Science Foundation.
It is a collaboration between Digital Forensics Solutions and The National Girls Collaborative Project.
Goals
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Inspire more young women and underrepresented students to pursue education and careers in digital forensics and computer science.
Plan for student success through a coherent set of experiences:
The primary purpose of digital forensics is to serve justice, resolve conflict, and protect citizens in modern society. By providing experiences that address real-world problems, participants will acquire a lasting feeling of societal value and contribution, providing a foundation and motivation for future careers.
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Develop a STEM learning environment well suited to teaching young women and other students underrepresented in STEM by immersing them in a process of computational thinking, scientific inquiry and problem solving in the context of complex social issues.
Plan for student success with instructional models:
The IDLE framework is used in the instructional design of the lessons. This provides a strong foundation for the Cyber Sleuth Science Lab, employing a problem based learning (PBL) pedagogical strategy, utilizing goal-based scenarios, case-based instruction, cognitive apprenticeship, and collaborative learning.
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Teach young women and other students underrepresented in STEM “digital street smarts” to help them develop digital literacy and 21st century skills, by familiarizing them with online risks and laws, and encouraging responsible and safe behavior in a digital society.
Plan for student success with lifelike scenarios:
The investigative scenarios will deal with issues that concern young women and other underrepresented students, including cyberbullying, online scams, identity theft, anonymous harassment, and unauthorized sharing of personal photographs.
Future Work
In the future the Cyber Sleuth Science Lab will expand to more cities and provide additional digital forensic science instruction including connections to computational thinking and math.
To assist students with education and career pathways, opportunities for scholarships and internships will be highlighted and the Role Model Mentor Network will be expanded.