Last week I started a course to support my crime writing. It’s FREE with FutureLearn.
That course is Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology. It lasts six weeks and they state it should take you about three hours to complete each week. I”m part way through week one and the first week isn’t going to take me three hours. I can’t say what the future weeks will be like.
I’m really enjoying it and think it will be a great background help for my crime writing. If you’re one of those crime authors who likes to read books on the craft and loves a bit of research I can highly recommend this course to you.
This is what FutureLearn say the course is about;
Enter the fascinating world of forensics, and learn how the deceased are located, recovered and analysed using DNA and pathology.
Learn the science behind the exhumation and identification of skeletal remains
The location, exhumation and identification of the dead requires highly specialised expertise. On this course, you’ll learn the latest scientific techniques for body location, recovery and analysis.
Through a series of real-life case studies, video lab sessions, interactive 3D models, photographs and podcasts, you’ll explore key forensic techniques.
You’ll learn how to locate gravesites, excavate human remains, and determine factors like sex and age-at-death from the skeleton. You will also understand how to identify pathology on the skeleton, and be introduced to DNA analysis.
What topics will you cover?
- Body location and recovery in forensic contexts
- Osteoprofiling (skeletal analysis of sex, age-at-death, stature)
- Identification of pathology and trauma
- Latest developments in biomolecular techniques
- Taphonomic processes (decomposition and commingling of human remains)
- Forensic case studies (e.g. post-conflict regions, mass disasters)
You can join the course on its next start date which is 6th July or you can join right now as they allow you to join at any time. The bonus with joining at proper start dates is they keep up with comments on tasks and respond whereas you’re more on your own if you join the course at any time. I’m doing it alone and not finding it a problem.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…
There are so many great courses on FutureLearn. I have placed several on my “wishlist” to complete when I have finished this one. Yes, you have material to read through, but it’s a course that you complete in your own time. There’s no one there telling you to hurry up and push on. If you’re busy one week or more it really doesn’t matter. You can easily catch up and finish it when you can. These are taster courses really. They aren’t going to tax your brain too much. But you will enjoy them.
You’ll find this course HERE.
Have you done a FutureLearn course? What did you do? Do you enjoy them?
I signed up for this great course too, Rebecca, and am hoping to really crack on with it now my book is out.
This sounds really interesting, Rebecca! I’m so pleased when courses like this are offered for writers. It gives our writing a sense of realism, and, well, courses like this are fascinating. Thanks for spreading the word!
Thank you for the heads up, looks really interesting. I’ve put my name down for future courses.