Module Descriptors
ACTING AS A PROFESSIONAL WITNESS
FORE70216
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 7
15 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 12
Independent Study Hours: 138
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- REPORT weighted at 50%
- ROLEPLAY weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Special Admissions Requirements
This module is available to employees of `Primecare Forensic Medical' as part of a University Learning Award.
Module Resources
Core Texts
- Jackson, A R W and Jackson, J M (2008) Forensic Science (2nd edn), Pearson Education.
The University to supply:
VLE activities distributed via Blackboard
Library facilities
Access to a mock court room or equivalent
University e-mail account
The learner to provide:
A suitable computer and software with access to the internet.
- Jackson, A R W and Jackson, J M (2008) Forensic Science (2nd edn), Pearson Education.
The University to supply:
VLE activities distributed via Blackboard
Library facilities
Access to a mock court room or equivalent
University e-mail account
The learner to provide:
A suitable computer and software with access to the internet.
Module Texts
Core Text:
- Jackson, A R W and Jackson, J M (2008) Forensic Science (2nd edn), Pearson Education
Recommended texts:
- Robertson, Bernard & Vignaux G.A. (1995) Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science. Chichester: Wiley
- Townley, Lyne & Ede, Roger. (2004) Forensic Practice in Criminal Cases. London: Law Society.
- Jackson, A R W and Jackson, J M (2008) Forensic Science (2nd edn), Pearson Education
Recommended texts:
- Robertson, Bernard & Vignaux G.A. (1995) Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science. Chichester: Wiley
- Townley, Lyne & Ede, Roger. (2004) Forensic Practice in Criminal Cases. London: Law Society.
Module Indicative Content
The VLE part of the module will be made up of six activities. Activities 1 and 2 aim to familiarise you with commonly used systems of criminal justice and the role of the expert witness in these systems. The criminal justice system of England and Wales will be described. The ability to explain the strength of evidence numerically is of ever increasing importance. Therefore, in activities 3 and 4, you will receive a brief introduction to the Bayesian statistical approach to the interpretation and evaluation of evidence with the use of likelihood ratios. In these activities, you will also be introduced to more traditional forms of statistical analysis as these too have value in the forensic context. Activities 5 and 6 will cover the role of the expert witness in the Coroners Court and a critical appraisal/examination of documentation from a case scenario. You will be expected and helped to develop the skills required by the expert witness, by gaining experience in writing expert reports and presenting evidence orally in the courtroom environment - including answering questions whilst under cross-examination. As part of the summative assessment for this module, you will attend a 12 hour residential course (split over one-and-a-half working days). This time will be taken up by presentations by practitioners on their experience as an expert witness, preparation for appearance in the courtroom environment and appearance as an expert witness in this environment.
Module Learning Strategies
- 138 hours of independent study of the material provided via Blackboard. (This includes the time that you will spend on the summatively assessed written court report.)
- 12 hours of work during the residential part of the module. (This includes the time that you will spend on the summatively assessed role-play in the Courtroom.) This residential course will occur after you have completed all of the VLE activities detailed in the Indicative Content. You will also be given time between the end the VLE activities and the residential course to reflect on the distance learning activities of the module and how this can be best applied to the court room environment.
Expect to spend 20 hours per activity on the material provided via Blackboard (there are 6 such activities, making the total time spent on this equal to 120 hours) and 18 hours on the summatively assessed written court report. The remainder of the module (12 hours) is dedicated to lectures, seminars and simulated court appearances.
- 12 hours of work during the residential part of the module. (This includes the time that you will spend on the summatively assessed role-play in the Courtroom.) This residential course will occur after you have completed all of the VLE activities detailed in the Indicative Content. You will also be given time between the end the VLE activities and the residential course to reflect on the distance learning activities of the module and how this can be best applied to the court room environment.
Expect to spend 20 hours per activity on the material provided via Blackboard (there are 6 such activities, making the total time spent on this equal to 120 hours) and 18 hours on the summatively assessed written court report. The remainder of the module (12 hours) is dedicated to lectures, seminars and simulated court appearances.
Module Additional Assessment Details
The Summative Assessment has two elements, each with a 50% weighting.
These are the preparation of a court report (length 1500 words) and a role-play (20 minutes in duration).
The preparation of a court report will be set after the completion of Activity 4. Once this has been marked and returned to you, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on the comments made by the tutor and use this information to refine your court report. Your court report will then form the basis of the second element of Summative Assessment, during which you will be cross-examined in a mock court environment. By means of these assignments you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate that you have a critical understanding of the role of an expert witness. These assessments will test the attainment of each of module outcomes 1 to 4 inclusive.
Additional Assessment Details
In addition to the two pieces of summative assessment outlined above, there will be regular formative exercises set through Blackboard. Most, if not all, activities within the module will feature one or more of these formative assignments. In many cases, they will be set using the on-line quiz facility within Blackboard. They will provide regular feedback and will be aimed at identifying lack of understanding at an early stage so that remedial action can be taken. The residential part of the module will include formatively assessed work in which you will be cross-examined.
These are the preparation of a court report (length 1500 words) and a role-play (20 minutes in duration).
The preparation of a court report will be set after the completion of Activity 4. Once this has been marked and returned to you, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on the comments made by the tutor and use this information to refine your court report. Your court report will then form the basis of the second element of Summative Assessment, during which you will be cross-examined in a mock court environment. By means of these assignments you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate that you have a critical understanding of the role of an expert witness. These assessments will test the attainment of each of module outcomes 1 to 4 inclusive.
Additional Assessment Details
In addition to the two pieces of summative assessment outlined above, there will be regular formative exercises set through Blackboard. Most, if not all, activities within the module will feature one or more of these formative assignments. In many cases, they will be set using the on-line quiz facility within Blackboard. They will provide regular feedback and will be aimed at identifying lack of understanding at an early stage so that remedial action can be taken. The residential part of the module will include formatively assessed work in which you will be cross-examined.