Blog 17 - Interview 3 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  
The most important thing I learned from the interview, is that forensics isn't as bad as I thought it was. It still has some flaws but a lot of other careers do too and the benefit is that it is improving.

2. How has your approach to interviewing changed over the course of your senior project?
It has changed the course of my senior project because I found flaws in my essential question and answer that I need to fix.

Interview 3

Blog 16 - Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
For my Independent Component 2, I plan to make a Forensics magazine to let people know that forensics is more than just what Hollywood shows on TV. I want to let people know the real world of forensics and how much more complicated. I feel that forensics on tv, is given too much credit for not fully letting their viewers know what forensics is. I chose to do a magazine because it is the most modern form of physical communication besides social media. plan to start with a magazine template and write articles about different view points of my topic. I'll add relevant pictures that will catch readers attention to read the articles. I could even include interviews with my mentor or people who have an opinion towards forensics. I'll also include how to become a forensic scientist and what it takes to become a great one. Towards the end of my magazine, I'll show statistics of how people know about forensics. Whether it'd be from fiction tv shows, reality tv series or know someone in the field. After it's all done, I'll print it on fancy paper and bind it all together to make it look like a legitimate magazine. This was my IC #1 idea but I did not have a mentor at the time to give me suggestions.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
For my forensics magazine, I plan to do research from the inside out on the history of forensics. Then write articles explaining what they actually do and how forensic scientists aren't paid enough for what they do. I'll also explain that there are some flaws of forensics and what we can do to fix this because it can cause innocent people to be convicted. The more people know about real life forensics, the more research and funding goes to creating a solid foundation of forensic science in the future. The more people know about what it takes to become a forensic scientist, the more people will appreciate it and respect it.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.
Creating a forensic magazine will help me understand that as the technology of forensics is always evolving and improving, so should the analysis and projection of research towards this unique career. Forensic science is in badly need of reform and I feel that it is only possible if society knows what forensics is really about.

4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

Lesson 2 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
I am most proud of my enunciation through out the presentation because I usually have a low volume while speaking. Also I am really proud of the organization of my presentation and how it flowed really well and caused me to meet the minimum time limit.

2. a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

           P         

     b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
According to the lesson 2 component contract, I give myself a P. I don't think I had any concern with professionalism because I spoke loud and clear, made eye contact, and engaged and interacted with the audience. No concern with the organization and creativity nor the audience involvement. Also, I provided more than 1 quality published research source cited.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
Having more time to present really helped me and worked for me in my lesson 2. I was able to say whatever I needed to say and go into depth about it. Another thing that worked was being able to have a powerpoint because it really helped organize my presentation and helped me stay on track with time.

4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
I would have done my activity differently. I would've came up with a more engaging and creative activity that helped the audience further learn my answer but 10 minutes was just not enough time to do a different more engaging activity. 

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?
I think my answer #2 is going to be the improvement of standards set in forensics with federal support. Basically, getting more funding to improve forensic techniques and further research to reduce human error and reduce the number of wrongful convictions.

Blog 15 - Independent Component 1

LITERAL

• I, Eden Reyna, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31.5 hours of work.”
• Armenta, Terri. "Forensic Training Unlimited Online Academy." Forensic Training Unlimited Online Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. and my mentor Terri Armenta who created these courses for dedicated forensic students and helped me know more about forensics.
• Independent Component Hours #1
• I enrolled in 5 different online courses on the Forensic Training Unlimited Online Academy. These courses being #1 Forensic evidence: types and classifications- know what to collect, #2 Unusual Suicides: Investigation, Pathology and evidence, #3 Underwater Forensics: Investigating Water Related Deaths, #4 Death Investigation Series: Positional Asphyxiation and Forensic Implications, and #5 Forensic Science Academy: Get hands-on training and start your forensic career. 

INTERPRETIVE 

This specific course taught me that there are different types of evidence and it is significant to my project because it provides more information that I can use to answer my EQ.

This course helped me learn the investigative process of forensics and some mistakes it has.

This course helped me learn about decomposition of a body and it also provided videos that helped me further comprehend the content.

This course about positional asphyxiation taught me another side of forensics that I didn't know about before and introduced me to some new forensic terminology.

This course taught me the many different views of forensic science and how I can start my career in forensics.

APPLIED

• The component helped me understand the foundation of my topic better by extending my research field. During the 30 hours that I have spent on these courses, I have been introduced to another field of forensics and a wide range of terminology that will help me extend my knowledge of forensics and help me pin point my answer for my EQ. The courses almost always provide real-life case studies to help the students further comprehend the curriculum and prove that it is a credible source for information.

Blog 14 - Interview 3 Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  What is this person's area of expertise?
I plan to interview one of the forensic specialist that my mentor can get me in contact with. My mentor told me that she can have me meet some professionals but never gave me names. The person's area of expertise is a professional in the forensics field.

2.  Verify that you have called your interviewee to schedule an interview.  What is the date and time of the interview? 
I have not called my interviewee yet. I am meeting with my mentor this weekend and I will ask for the contact info to schedule the interview. 

3.  Phrase an open-ended question that will help you find research resources that would help to answer the EQ.
"After researching on this topic for several months now, what kind of resources do you recommend now that I've found a possible solution to my EQ?"

4.  Phrase an open-ended question that will help you think about other useful activities you might do to help you answer the EQ (IC2, possible experts to talk to, etc).
"How are you able to know that the field of forensics will become more accurate after the possible solution is taken into action?"

5.  Phrase two open-ended questions that help you to understand your interviewee's perspective on an aspect of your EQ. 
"Do you think forensics is in badly need of reform? If so, why?"
"How do you feel when people ask you questions about your job based on what they've seen on TV? Do you think it is a major issue and needs to be solved?"

Blog 13 - 10 Hour Mentorship Check-In

1.  Where are you doing your mentorship?
I am doing my mentorship at the Forensic Science Academy located in Rancho Cucamonga and also at the Ontario Police Department.

2.  Who is your contact?  What makes this person an expert?
My contact at Ontario Police Department is Officer Yzaguirre. Although he is not officially considered an expert in this field, he has had a lot of experience being a first responder in a investigation. My contact at the Forensic Science Academy is Terri Armenta who is a Forensic science educator and career expert. She is an expert because she has been a forensic teacher, educator and mentor for a long time and has helped many students pursue their forensic career.

3.   How many hours have you done during the school year? (Summer Mentorship Hours and Mentorship Hours should be reflected separately in your Senior Project Hours log located on the right hand side of your blog).
So far, I have done 10.5 hours so far because I've had trouble finding a mentor until now.

4.   Succinctly summarize what you did, how well you and your mentor worked together, and how you plan to complete the remaining hours. 
I started my hours with Officer Yzaguirre. He told me about calls/cases that he's been on as a first responder. He had Officer Albert take me on a ride along so I can see up close what they do everyday as a first responder. Then I got to talk to a forensic specialist who gave me advice on research. My mentor and I work well together and I've known him for a while so I feel comfortable with him. I plan to complete the remaining hours with my other mentor, Terri. We haven't done any hours yet but we've planned them and she's offering forensic courses that I will definitely take.

Blog 12 - Holiday Project Update

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you do over the break with your senior project?

I called more people who are linked with forensics and actually came across a Forensic Science Academy. I got in contact with Terri Armenta and she agreed to be my mentor and offer me courses to take at the academy. Then, I got in contact with Officer Yzaguirre from Ontario Police Department and took me on a ride along to get a real life view of a first responder of a crime. I also got a tour of the police department and some of the forensic labs.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why?  What was the source of what you learned?The most important thing that I learned was that forensics needs to be taken more seriously because it is a very tedious job that requires a lot of patience. Jill Padilla, a forensic specialist I spoke to, told me about this problem and how it makes her job harder.

3.  Your third interview will be a 10 question interview related to possible answers for your EQ. Who do you plan to talk to and why?

I plan to talk to my mentor, Terri, or probably Jill because I have already talked to Jill about what I'm leaning more towards in forensics. Because my EQ is based on human error on analysis of crimes, Jill has told me situations she has ran into because of common human error. Also I thinks she has some ideas on how to find a solution to this problem.