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First time teaching forensics...

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(@jachamp)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

Good day all,

I teach at a local university. We are offering this Fall a first of its kind forensics class. I've never taught forensics before and my experience in the arena is narrow at best.

Are there any tips I should make note of and any software or tools that you guys think would help?

Thank you!
john

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 5:55 pm
(@nat038)
Posts: 4
New Member
 

Good day all,

I teach at a local university. We are offering this Fall a first of its kind forensics class. I've never taught forensics before and my experience in the arena is narrow at best.

Are there any tips I should make note of and any software or tools that you guys think would help?

Thank you!
john

That should go well!

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 6:13 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

Good day all,

I teach at a local university. We are offering this Fall a first of its kind forensics class. I've never taught forensics before and my experience in the arena is narrow at best.

Are there any tips I should make note of and any software or tools that you guys think would help?

Thank you!
john

Just to clarify, are you looking for tips in teaching digital forensics because you have experience at both teaching - in other fields - and in digital forensics - but not teaching specifically digital forensics or because you have not experience in digital forensics?

If the latter I guess that, particularly since you are from Texas, I feel authorized to peruse roll
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Houston,_we_have_a_problem

jaclaz

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 6:43 pm
(@trewmte)
Posts: 1877
Noble Member
 

Good day all,

I teach at a local university. We are offering this Fall a first of its kind forensics class. I've never taught forensics before and my experience in the arena is narrow at best.

Are there any tips I should make note of and any software or tools that you guys think would help?

Thank you!
john

John it is understandable that you will receive some negative feedback here given the depth of understanding and magnitude of digital forensics and your comments.

An initial tip would be - seeking tips and observations from others is just what that means and are not taken to mean the information given is "advice" on what you should do or teach.

Another tip is be very careful with your marketing for this first time education.

As this is an new endeavour for your University have you investigated how other Universities in the US and overseas intend to present tools, material, class/seminar activity etc.?

e.g. http//eprints.port.ac.uk/1597/1/Crellin1.pdf

Is there a structured way to deliver particular core subjects of digital forensics?

http//www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Bird5/publication/265913628_An_Activity_Led_Learning_Approach_as_a_pedagogy_in_teaching_Digital_Forensics./links/542134850cf241a65a1e7243.pdf

or would following the chapters of a book provide some guidance?

http//160.216.223.99/vyuka/forensics/Wiley%20Computer%20Forensics%20for%20DUMmIES.pdf

Do you possess the knowledge/skillsets/experience to drill-down into a subject heading and show your students what is involved?

http//www.radford.edu/content/dam/colleges/csat/forensics/Uppuluri%20-May10-presentation.pdf

Should asking industry experts to delivery particular aspects of the curriculum help in your course?

As for types of tools they will dependent on what is decided to be taught in class?

http//all.net/books/2013-DFE-Examination.pdf

Just some observations….

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 7:25 pm
(@jachamp)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks Trewmte!

That's more along the lines of the questions I should be asking myself. FWIW…I've always been a solid hacker and hardware wizard (I prefer tweaking cars however)

I am going to go over the links you provided and build on what I already have there. This is an introductory course and will not delve deep into any one topic within the Forensics arena.

Much of that has to do with the fact I am still building the lab we will be using for the Forensics course and the cybersecurity courses.

Thanks again!
john

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 10:48 pm
UnallocatedClusters
(@unallocatedclusters)
Posts: 577
Honorable Member
 

Jachamp,

Please consider reaching out to Scott Tucker (http//www.aptegra.com/contact.html). Scott, to my knowledge, teaches a class at the university level and has already created all the class content you are in the process of creating yourself.

Maybe Scott could sell/license his work to you so that you do not have to reinvent the wheel.

Also, I recommend reaching out to your local FBI / ICE / Law Enforcement forensics expert in San Antonio who may be very interested in helping you create a steady stream of future job candidates.

Regards,

Larry

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 11:03 pm
jhup
 jhup
(@jhup)
Posts: 1442
Noble Member
 

I teach forensics at college level.

For introductory course, the general material I teach is

  • basic conceptual
  • basic practical
  • tool use to achieve practical

For example,

  • Concepts of partitioning schemata
  • Understanding GPT
  • Collecting partition information using X-Ways/FTK/EnCase/Autopsy

PM me if you are interested for more details, and course stuff.

On the topic of unpleasant responses, in my opinion there is a certain hurt for some of us when it comes to academia.

Many forensicators are highly qualified not just to do but also teach the material, but are rejected by academia because we do not have formal education. We also love to teach, and learn. It is, I believe a fundamental and necessary trait for someone in our field.

So, nothing against you, just academia (at least if I snap mrgreen ).

Edit corrected BBCode.

 
Posted : 03/08/2015 11:58 pm
(@athulin)
Posts: 1156
Noble Member
 

I teach at a local university. We are offering this Fall a first of its kind forensics class. I've never taught forensics before and my experience in the arena is narrow at best.

Digital forensics is – in my personal opinion – a huge chunk of IT, programming, help desk, and troubleshooting and general experience of computers from several years, with a fairly small 'forensic hat' on top. That huge chunk should not be taught, but should (ideally) be a prerequisite for the course. ('computers' include cell phones)

(I keep returning to a comparison with forensic pathology a F.P. needs to be a practicing physician, with a specialization in pathology. That's a career in itself. Then add a 'forensic hat' on top of that. A 'computer forensic analyst' should really be able to have a similar career in computers, perhaps with some kind of specialization.)

That forensic hat is largely the legal environment. If you're in the US, you need to know about Federal Rules of Evidence, and such. (And teachinh that should include things like the fairly recent concern about forensic sciences not being anything near sciences.) Elsewhere, there are probably similar rule books to know about.

Are there any tips I should make note of and any software or tools that you guys think would help?

See if you can get hold of a tame forensic analyst with wide experience for a day, and let him (or her …) talk about the practicalities of the job, and what *really* is important – like explaining technical issues for a non-technical audience, pr writing reports that can't be misunderstood, or … such things.

And if you feel adventurous, remind the students about Sir Bernard Spilsbury.

 
Posted : 04/08/2015 12:10 am
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

Just to show how I actually am a grumpy old b*****d 😯 (and wasn't in any way targeting the OP or being specifically negative or particularly unpleasant)

I teach forensics at college level.

For introductory course, the general material I teach is

  • basic conceptual
  • basic practical
  • tool use to achieve practical

For example,

  • Concepts of partitioning schemata
  • Understanding GPT
  • Collecting partition information using X-Ways/FTK/EnCase/Autopsy

PM me if you are interested for more details, and course stuff.

Out of curiosity do you have a "board post formatting" in the practical and "check everything before pushing the Submit button, TWICE" in the conceptual? roll

jaclaz

 
Posted : 04/08/2015 12:13 am
(@jachamp)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

jhup…

that's perfect! right in line with what i was planning on doing. thank you! thank you!

I think what i have been after is a reassurance that what I was wanting to teach is something that is in line with industry/other college standards.

I have support from the local police department, the local sheriff's office, and two friends that work for the military in their IT security areas (my old job before I turned academic).

THanks!
john

 
Posted : 04/08/2015 1:46 am
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