The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Fleecewife on January 07, 2014, 11:34:45 am
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Anyone interested in Forensic science and how unrealistic CSI is, might be interested in this free online course:
http://www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/headline_746589_en.html (http://www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/headline_746589_en.html)
I've just registered to start, a day late but I'll catch up. OH wants to do it too.
Other similar free academic short courses can be seen at:
www.futurelearn.com (http://www.futurelearn.com)
I shall also be doing 'England in the time of King Richard 111' which starts in a few months time, and includes farming and peasantry in the 15th century.
:excited: :excited:
Another course I noticed which looks fascinating explores the oceans.
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Thankyou Fleecewife. Thats just my sort of thing. I have joined and will take a better look at the first week a bit later on today.
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I love CSI but I have to laugh at some of the evidence and how they find it, their fingerprint findings/id on items which must have been touched by many is
amusing amazing ;D , + they must have superhuman eyesight for the things they see at a glance ;D
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Thank you for the heads up ...... these free courses sound great
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Anyone interested in Forensic science and how unrealistic CSI is, might be interested in this free online course:
http://www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/headline_746589_en.html (http://www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/headline_746589_en.html)
I've just registered to start, a day late but I'll catch up. OH wants to do it too.
Other similar free academic short courses can be seen at:
www.futurelearn.com (http://www.futurelearn.com)
I shall also be doing 'England in the time of King Richard 111' which starts in a few months time, and includes farming and peasantry in the 15th century.
:excited: :excited:
Another course I noticed which looks fascinating explores the oceans.
I'd definitely be good at the peasantry bit. :farmer:
Those courses look very interesting.
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Thankyou Fleecewife. Thats just my sort of thing. I have joined and will take a better look at the first week a bit later on today.
Oh goody. See you there :wave: Is that you following?
Anyone else going to give it a go? I've just about finished the first week and it really is informative and interesting :thinking:
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I was tempted into signing up, even though I probably shouldn't. lol
Dans
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Thankyou Fleecewife. Thats just my sort of thing. I have joined and will take a better look at the first week a bit later on today.
Oh goody. See you there :wave: Is that you following?
Anyone else going to give it a go? I've just about finished the first week and it really is informative and interesting :thinking:
Not sure if I am following or not.lol I will be do in the google thing on Thursday afternoon.
I sent he details to my sister and she is going to do it too. :thumbsup:
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Can't be you then Sally ;D Someone else is following me :o (I've no idea what it means)
Hi Dans :wave: Oh do have a go. They say 3 hours a week but I've just about finished the first week's work and it didn't take that long. Go on - you'll love it
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Lucky you Fleecewife ;D
I am probably half way through the first week. Definitely interesting so far and it hasn't taken long.
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I've just joined - doing the IT for teachers course so I can better help those who ask for advice. :excited: Thanks for the heads up, Julia :thumbsup:
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I've joined too, doing the forensic one. There's another forensic course later on too. I enjoy writing crime novels and hope this will help me to be accurate on the forensic side. I'm so excited. :excited: :excited: :excited: :excited:
I'm going to let other people know about this. My grandson is going to uni in just over a year to do medicine so he might be interested in the Preparing for Uni one.
Thanks so much, Fleecewife. You may have actually found a way of preventing me spending so much time playing Candy Crush.
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I'm doing this too, also did the ecosystems one
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How many of us are actually doing the forensics one?
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thats cool-just enrolled on the ocean one, thanks :)
another good portal for free courses is https://www.coursera.org/courses (https://www.coursera.org/courses) Edinburgh uni run an equine nutrition course through it but there are lots of others.
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i never knew there were free courses on-line thanks very much. il give it a go. i just doing a nutritionist advisor course at moment too. though it wasnt free but cheap on gogroupie.
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That's great that so many are giving it a go, or one of the other courses. I had no idea such things existed until I saw the newspaper article, and I think I'm hooked already.
I wonder why and how the Universities can run these courses free?
Good luck to everyone who's doing a course, and I'll see those of you doing the forensics one there. First google discussion this afternoon - I will need to work out how that's done before 1600!
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First google discussion this afternoon - I will need to work out how that's done before 1600!
I'm hoping it will be obvious as I haven't got a clue myself ;D
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I wonder why and how the Universities can run these courses free?
to attract repeat business..
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First google discussion this afternoon - I will need to work out how that's done before 1600!
I'm hoping it will be obvious as I haven't got a clue myself ;D
It's not working. The video has been removed.
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Did you get to see it in the end Lesley? The link wasn't working and they sent out a new one. If you didn't see it live it won't matter as you can see the recorded version anyway.
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I did see it, Sally. It came on just in time as I had an appointment to take my dog to the vet for her boosters at 5pm.
I must say, I'm finding this course fascinating and I've signed up for the next forensic one.
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Are those of you doing the forensics enjoying this week? I had no idea that finger prints/marks had any questions over them. Just as well I've never had to do jury duty ::)
I couldn't help thinking MGM that already there are quite a few potential novel plots for you - you'll be kept busy for years ;D
There seems to be a whole lot more work this week, with all the reading around the subject.
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I'd seen these courses from another source and signed up for Climate Change and Power of Brands courses then spotted this post and mentioned it yo my wife who is now signed up on the Forensic one.
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I couldn't help thinking MGM that already there are quite a few potential novel plots for you - you'll be kept busy for years ;D
And why do you think I'm doing the course? :roflanim:
I'm loving it but I know what you mean about lots of work this week, FW. I still have to google fingerprints.
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I'm still working my way through the US chapters that have to be read on the first day. It's very interesting though
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I've been scanning through it but must admit that much of it went over my head. Glad I don't have to learn it all.
How did people do in the quiz at the end of the first week. I managed 12/12 but don't think I'll do so well this week.
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12/12 too but it was easy. I don't think any more will be.
Now I'm totally cross eyed from the US book :tired: and I still have more to go. I read quickly through the whole week's work then have come back to those two books. Last week I'd finished by Friday but I think I will be working on this lot through the w/e too. Interesting that China was using finger and palm prints as ID back in 300 BC. Maybe the cave paintings of sprayed hands were an early example of this ?
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Well, I am the dunce of the gang as I only got 11/12 :( I didn't read the first Q. properly and got it wrong.
As you can see by the time I can't sleep so going to do some more of the course now.
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I don't think I'm going to read the whole books - just pick out the relevant passages. It's useful to have though.
12/12 again this week. I nearly messed up like you, Sally, by not reading the first question properly.
Did you all take your fingerprints? I haven't done mine yet.
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I haven't done mine yet either. In fact I seem to be falling behind, with a couple of busy days elsewhere. Thought I'd just read the first three chapters of the US book, and maybe ch 2 of the Brit one in case they're relevant.
You've set the standard for the tests MGM ;D
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Haven't got to the test yet this week. OH is away at the weekend so will be able to concentrate a bit more then. Worried now that I have to compete with 12/12 :(
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Haven't got to the test yet this week. OH is away at the weekend so will be able to concentrate a bit more then. Worried now that I have to compete with 12/12 :(
Wait til I get my result this week - then you'll be laughing :roflanim: Anyway, you don't have to compete with anyone - this course is only for our own info and interest and we do it at our own pace. I'm finding the actual learning this week quite hard, as my memory seems to struggle compared with 30 years ago :dunce: and there's not time to go over it often enough for it to stick in my brain.
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I'd seen these courses from another source and signed up for Climate Change and Power of Brands courses then spotted this post and mentioned it yo my wife who is now signed up on the Forensic one.
Is Mrs Dreich Pete catching up? Hope she enjoys the course.
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I'm fascinated by what you are learning. I did my forensic training in 1980 and was the first woman that attended the course in London (it was not considered 'womens' work' back then ::) ) - how things have changed! I 'd love to see how they approach the subject now, but I'll have to content myself with Silent Witness tonight
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I only did ok because I did it straight away. I doubt I'd have been able to manage 12 if I'd had to leave it a while. You people are all a lot busier than me during the day. I've got the time to kill so can put the time in.
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11/12 for week two - I told you Bionic ;D I probably shouldn't have done it so late at night when my memory is worse than usual. Also I had just finished reading those book chapters so my brain was overfull of facts and too much detail.
Excuses, I know :eyelashes:
Started doing my finger prints last night too - lots of wrinkles :o Will try to find a better magnifier today to see if I can see pores.
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Well done, FW. I'm looking forward to this week's. I seem to be learning a lot at the moment. I'm training to be a Samaritan and a Crisis Support Officer and everything is happening at once.
Keeps me out of mischief though. :eyelashes:
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I got 12/12 this week but did cheat a bit. I got stuck on one and went back to review the work before I answered it.
I tried to do my fingerprints but couldn't find a soft pencil and it didn't work with the harder one.
As I am off on my hols later this week I will get behind with the course but will try to catch up when I get back.
Lesley, I looked at training for Samaritans also but the nearest place is an hours drive from here so I decided it was a bit too much. I am looking at doing something for the Shannon Trust, which although is in the same area as the Samaritans, means I don't have to go there so often. Some of it can be done from home I believe.
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Ooooh come on, PLEEEASE let us know the sort of things going on, I would love to have tried this but didn't dare commit 3hrs? a week, too much going on with years' final accounts deadline, VAT deadline, house we are renovating being trashed and our house still like a building site.
I think China was ahead of the west in most things? they fell back for awhile but now things are turning again?
pores? I'm curious about that.
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I had a lazy day today until this evening's training, so I haven't had a look at it yet.
Sally, I'm enjoying the training and looking forward to being a Sam in a few weeks' time. The training takes quite a long time though.
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Ooooh come on, PLEEEASE let us know the sort of things going on, I would love to have tried this but didn't dare commit 3hrs? a week, too much going on with years' final accounts deadline, VAT deadline, house we are renovating being trashed and our house still like a building site.
I think China was ahead of the west in most things? they fell back for awhile but now things are turning again?
pores? I'm curious about that.
It started with a general overview of forensic science and where it fits in the judicial system. In the first week we were presented with a fictional crime scene, based on a real case. We see how the scene was dealt with by all the agencies involved such as police and forensics. Each week we then look at a particular aspect of the forensics armoury, then how it was applied in our particular crime and the results of each test. Last week we looked at fingerprinting and finger mark analysis, how the two are compared, databases, potential for errors, all that sort of stuff. We saw how finger mark retrieval would be carried out at our crime scene and had a go at taking our own prints.
If you want to have a go at this it's fun. You need some white paper, a soft pencil (I used 3B), some sellotape and a magnifying glass. Scribble the pencil on a sheet of paper then rub one finger end in it, then press/roll your finger onto the sticky side of the sellotape, making sure you capture the swirly pattern. Next stick the tape onto the white paper and you will see your print. With a normal household magnifier you can see the pattern of swirls and loops and some secondary features of detail. At a higher magnification you can see the pores (sweat pores) along each ridge. It's the sweat from these pores which leave the print.
We also learned about how and why the fingerprints are first grown in the foetus.
This week we will be doing DNA, and to start with we are considering some of the human rights issues with a DNA database, and the degree of accuracy possible - and what can lead to mistakes. There will be blood spatter and such wonders to see. You can go into as much or as little detail as is appropriate for you, with extra reading suggested for more detail. Throughout you can join a discussion about the week's topic - but with about 25,000 folk from all over the world doing this, it's hard to get a conversation going.
There are still things like tool marks, footprint analysis and so on to do, then in the last week we have an overall discussion and we see whodunit :idea:
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Well explained, FW. ;D
I have just been doing some studying. I save all the video transcripts but I do wish that the diagrams that Niamh puts on were included. They are so helpful.
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I haven't looked at the transcripts, but my memory works better if I write things down, so I listen to/watch everything a second time and note down the salient points. I don't look at it again but just the act of writing it helps me to remember.
I'm about to try to do another hour, but it's late and I'm tired. Earlier I was nodding off while watching one of the videos ::)
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Gosh it sounds realy interesting, so what's the difference between finger prints and finger marks? and why DO fingerprints develop in the foetus?
DNA and human rights sounds like a minefield in itself! I've said it wouldn't bother me to be on a database, but then I started wondering what problems could arise
If another course comes up in the future I think I'll have ago, just no time right now :(
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Finger prints are the recorded imprint of the fingers of a known person, such as are taken at the Police Station when one has been bad, or needs to be excluded from a crime scene. Finger marks are the things left behind where someone has touched something such as glass. These can be lifted and compared with known finger prints (from a database) to identify who left them. So finger prints are from a known person, finger marks are mysterious until identified. However, even in the literature, 'finger prints' tends to be used for both ::)
Finger ridge skin has developed as a way to give good grip on hands and feet, for holding onto things and walking on slippy surfaces. They develop early in foetal development. Initially the tiny fingers have 'volar pads' at the tips, so the hands look like tree frog feet. Then the ridge skin starts to develop on top of this and as it forms over the pad the swirls become defined as the skin stretches over the hummock of the pad - or at least that's what I think it's saying.
There is another forensics course later this year, I think from another university, and MGM is going to be doing that. There are loads of other interesting courses which are free from futurelearn.
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That makes sense, and interesting, thanks Fleecewife :thumbsup: .
I often put my hand against a steamy window and look at all the detail there (who doesn't ?) I'll have to find a soft pencil, I'm sure there are some about somewhere.
I also leave good prints everywhere when I've been cleaning the rayburn flue out ::) .
the directional blood splatter seems to solve a lot of cases on 'CSI', and the voids in the pattern.
Hope you're all enjoying this course, you seem to be.
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It's great fun and I'm learning loads which I am sure will come in useful in my crime novels. As well as this course and the one in March on Forensics and the criminal justice system, I have just signed up for one of the new ones on fiction writing, this time run by the OU, which starts in April. It looks like they will keep adding courses so keep watching the site.
FW, glad to see you've done your homework and, what's more, remembered it. ;)
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FW, glad to see you've done your homework and, what's more, remembered it. ;)
Aha - not this week I haven't ??? I've found some of this week's info quite difficult. It's not that it's totally new to me (I have a life science degree) but just that I studied all that decades ago when my brain was in its prime :D. So I've done what you do this week and printed off the video transcripts - took ages and now I still have to read them. One in particular she rushed through so fast I could barely hear what was said, let alone learn it.
But it's great fun, and my new oceans course starts just before this one finishes so that should be interesting too. I did wonder about the fiction writing course but I'd already signed up for the oceans.
I wonder if the hangout thing will work this time around.
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I'm finding this week is much harder. I have never had a scientific brain. In fact, I wasn't allowed to do science O-level as I was so rubbish at it. Most of it is going so far over my head that I don't even see it pass me.
I enjoyed the videos about blood spatters as I could see what they were getting at but all the stuff about chromosomes is too confusing for me. I don't suppose being dyslexic helps as I struggle to absorb information. I'm only about half way through this week's although I am going to do a bit more now.
I'm looking forward to next week when it should be less technical.
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Just done the quiz and, by doing a lot of re-reading in connection with each question, I did achieve 12 but there was only one I could actually answer without looking back over the material I've downloaded. Boy that was technical.
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Thanks so much for showing us these, Fleecewife - I'm about to join and sign up for the Brain course which starts today. My daughter has applied for a place at Uni to do Linguistics, the intro free course may get her over the waiting time to hear if she got in....
Will keep you posted how I get on! :&>
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Phew - I just finished the DNA and BPA week at the stroke of midnight :relief: That was definitely more than the 3 hours per week they claim you need. Got full marks so something must have penetrated.
Firearms, tool marks, foot impressions etc this week - I'm hoping my poor abused brain can have a breather.
That will be a lot of work for Bionic to catch up with when she gets home from her hols.
NFD - that's great that you've found a course to do, and one to help your daughter too. If only there had been something like that when I was in that situation.
Yes please do keep us up to date with your Brain study :thumbsup:
Penninehillbilly - this bit of your post made me laugh <<I also leave good prints everywhere when I've been cleaning the rayburn flue out ::) the directional blood splatter......>> :D until I read on :idea:
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Penninehillbilly - this bit of your post made me laugh <<I also leave good prints everywhere when I've been cleaning the rayburn flue out ::) the directional blood splatter......>> :D until I read on :idea:
LOL
just shows how other people interpret whats been written ;D . Don't know whether a capital 'The' would have helped much.
Well done on the full marks :thumbsup:
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Just about to start the final week, so we find out 'whodunnit' and how they were caught.
Bionic - have you come home from your hols with masses to catch up on? The last 2 weeks have been quite light but the one before that was definitely heavy :D
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Yes, I've been enjoying the last bit much more and getting full marks. I'm looking forward to finding out whodunit. It's got to be to do with the drugs.
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Oh no - they're not going to tell us until Friday evening ::)
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How will we last? (biting nails)
Are you going for the qualification? I thought the price was a bit steep.
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How will we last? (biting nails)
Are you going for the qualification? I thought the price was a bit steep.
No, I'm only doing this for interest so an expensive qualification wouldn't be any use to me. Would you find it useful for your writing?
I'm into the second week of my Oceans course now (lots of work doing two at once) and I'm really enjoying that - masses of reading though.
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Need to do lots of catchup today
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How will we last? (biting nails)
Are you going for the qualification? I thought the price was a bit steep.
No, I'm only doing this for interest so an expensive qualification wouldn't be any use to me. Would you find it useful for your writing?
I'm into the second week of my Oceans course now (lots of work doing two at once) and I'm really enjoying that - masses of reading though.
NO the qualification is no use to me. Glad you are enjoying the oceans course. My next one doesn't start until sometime in March. It's the one about Forensics and the judicial system.
Need to do lots of catchup today
You can do it, Sally.
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Was your vote right or wrong MGM? Can't say what we voted as Bionic is probably still catching up, but I was wrong ::) I still think I was right though ;D
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I haven't managed to catch up and think it's probably too late to do so now. Come on then, tell,who did it.
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:wave: NO - just keep on ploughing through :innocent: :roflanim: Once you're past (or skip) the DNA, it moves fast. Actually I thought they cheated a bit and kept certain evidence til the trial.
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Bionic - if you really don't want to work through the whole thing, go to the end of week 6 and you will find the trial video there then after it who voted for what. Seems a shame though after such an expensive course ;D
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I just finished week 3 of the brain course. I rushed through the last week in a few hours to finish in time after having been unwell during the week. It's been very informative and fun, amazing what you can learn in tiny bitesize modules! I signed up for the next course now , thanks again! :&>
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The courses are a bit addictive aren't they :thumbsup: I started my 'oceans' a couple of weeks before the 'forensics' finished so that was too much to do but I'm now relaxing into 'oceans'. There's a whole lot of reading around the subject which keeps me well occupied ;D I've got 'ecosystems' and 'Richard 111' to look forward to in the summer but I'll take a break through lambing and planting season. What's your next course NFD?
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Now I'm working on the "Anatomy of the Abdomen". I think there may even be a certificate possible at the end for CPD! Then I'll be doing the next "Brain" course on Parkinson's disease and one on the mind. :&>
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FW, I was wrong as far as the people on the course were concerned but right according to the real trial.
Sally, don't give up now. I haven't seen the video of the trial as it wasn't working.
NFD, I'm doing that one as well, together with one about drug addiction.
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The Abdomen is quite hard although I've done my fair share of anatomy before! I suppose they have incorporated much more material and I'm sure it's more than 3 hours a week. He's a great teacher, very engaging.
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I agree. I'm only half way through week one at the moment as I have been away. Doing lots tomorrow though.
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Did you manage to catch the live sessions? I'm aiming to at least make the one in the 3rd week... :&>
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Not so far. I still haven't completed week one and we're now at the end of week two. I'm also doing one on drug addiction and that has just finished its first week. I've not started it yet though.
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Yes, this one is quite intense! I'm aiming to put in a few hours today to catch up (week 1 as well). Parkinson's ist starting tomorrow... :&>
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I might just give up on the anatomy one. It's a lot more detailed than I expected and it's not really of any use to me whereas the drug one could be useful.
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There's a third forensics course due to start in June. I've signed up.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/forensic-psychology (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/forensic-psychology)