Work in progress: An intelligent tutoring system for forensic biology

The Interactive Virtual Intelligent System for Scientific Inquiry in a Biology Learning Environment (INVISSIBLE) is software environment being developed as a intelligent tutoring system that provides high school biology students a virtual, hands-on, multimedia learning environment. Using interactive, intelligent software, a student is placed in goal driven scenarios that reflect the authentic experiences of a scientist engaged in using scientific inquiry methods. This paper describes the first of three planned modules, one which involves forensic science and the use of DNA evidence in combination with hairs, fibers, and other evidence in solving a crime scene problem. Core objectives of this module are to increase student learning regarding: (a) knowledge acquisition of content, concepts and principles relevant to genetics, forensic science, and evolutionary biology, (b) relevant scientific process skills and knowledge, and (c) knowledge of nature and methods of science. A demonstration of the software will be given.