The Fingerprint The Fingerprint FactorFactor

Fingerprint identification is a method of identifying individuals using the impressions made by the tiny ridge formations found on the fingertips. No two people have exactly the same arrangement of ridge patterns, and the patterns of each individual remain unchanged throughout life. Other personal characteristics may change, but fingerprints do not. This makes fingerprints a very reliable means of personal identification.

Fingerprints have been used for identification purposes for thousands of years. Members of the law enforcement community began using fingerprint evidence to identify criminal suspects over a hundred years ago. Since then, developments in the tools and methods of collecting and analyzing fingerprint evidence have had a significant impact on how criminals are identified and prosecuted.

In this lesson, you will explore “the fingerprint factor” to answer the essential question:

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How has the development of fingerprint technology affected the identification and prosecution of criminals?

1. The Question

Begin by reading this article to develop some general background knowledge about fingerprint identification.

2. Information SourcesYou will use the online sources below to gather information about a topic in the history of

fingerprints and fingerprint identification.– Sources include selections from the Student Resource Center online database and the Science e-

book World of Forensic Science. Home access only through the BCPS Databases gateway with required logins, available on a handout from your school library media specialist.

Go to Slide 3 to select a research topic and get directions and handouts for the Student Activity.

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Brief History of Fingerprint IdentificationA History of Latent Fingerprint AnalysisFingerprint Analysis- Famous CasesThe History of FingerprintsRidges & Furrows: Significant Dates & Events“Every Contact Leaves a Trace”: A History of FingerprintingEarly Fingerprint PioneersBiographies of individual fingerprint pioneers:

Alphonse Bertillon Henry FauldsFrancis GaltonSir Edward Richard HenryWilliam James Herschel Fuseo Matsumur Juan Vucetich

AFIS and IAFISRecent advancements in fingerprint technology:

Farewell Fuzzy Fingerprinting? Chemical Imager Reveals “Invisible” FingerprintsSuperglue Fingers Bomb Suspects

Brief History of Fingerprint IdentificationA History of Latent Fingerprint AnalysisFingerprint Analysis- Famous CasesThe History of FingerprintsRidges & Furrows: Significant Dates & Events“Every Contact Leaves a Trace”: A History of FingerprintingEarly Fingerprint PioneersBiographies of individual fingerprint pioneers:

Alphonse Bertillon Henry FauldsFrancis GaltonSir Edward Richard HenryWilliam James Herschel Fuseo Matsumur Juan Vucetich

AFIS and IAFISRecent advancements in fingerprint technology:

Farewell Fuzzy Fingerprinting? Chemical Imager Reveals “Invisible” FingerprintsSuperglue Fingers Bomb Suspects

3. Student Activity1. Select one research topic from the list below. 2. Gather information about this topic from the sources on Slide 2. Use this

Cornell Notes 5W’s organizer to record your research notes; remember to cite your sources on the organizer.

3. Use this Microsoft Publisher template to create your timeline panel; directions are included on the template. For an example, see this model timeline panel for the topic First Users of Fingerprints, which will be the first panel in your class timeline.

4. Save or print out your completed timeline panel according to your teacher’s directions. All timeline panels should then be sequenced chronologically to create a class Fingerprint Factor Timeline.

• Note to teacher: Class timeline may be created in digital format by combining all timeline panels into one MS Publisher or PDF file; or, hard copies of all timeline panels may be printed out to create a class timeline wall display or packet.

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Research Topic List

1. Early Scientists (Nehemia Grew, Marcello Malpighi, Johannes Purkinje)2. Alphonse Bertillon3. Henry Faulds 4. Francis Galton5. Sir Edward Richard Henry6. William James Herschel7. Fuseo Matsumur8. Juan Vucetich9. FBI: AFIS and IAFIS 10. Recent advancements in fingerprint technology (2000- present)

Research Topic List

1. Early Scientists (Nehemia Grew, Marcello Malpighi, Johannes Purkinje)2. Alphonse Bertillon3. Henry Faulds 4. Francis Galton5. Sir Edward Richard Henry6. William James Herschel7. Fuseo Matsumur8. Juan Vucetich9. FBI: AFIS and IAFIS 10. Recent advancements in fingerprint technology (2000- present)

4. Assessment Activity 1 2 3 654 Next

After your class Fingerprint Factor Timeline has been sequenced and assembled, examine each panel of the timeline. Take notes in chronological order about each contribution to the development of fingerprint identification. You will need these notes to write a constructed response to the essential question:

How has the development of fingerprint technology affected the identification and prosecution of criminals? Support your answer with details from the timeline.

Your response may be graded using this scoring tool.

You may record your response in one of the following ways:

• Type your response in the interactive text box below, save, and turn in to your teacher’s folder on the Students (L:/) drive according to your teacher’s instructions

• Type your response in Microsoft Word and print out

• Write your response on notebook paper

5. Enrichment Activities

Read more about the recent developments and controversies involving the “fingerprint factor”:

Fingerprint matching techniques need reform FBI upgrade of fingerprint repository10 prints are better than 2, Homeland Security says

For the latest news on fingerprint technology, go to the Student Resource Center database, search on keyword fingerprints, and click on the News tab.

Explore other developments in the history of criminalistics and forensics on this interactive timeline from the companion website for the TruTV show “Forensic Files”

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6. Teacher Support Materials

Curriculum Standards for Criminalistics (AIM):O-4 Students will analyze the identification and use of friction

prints by the criminalist a a source of individuation.KSI- A1 Determine the individuals who have made significant

contributions to the acceptance and development of fingerprint technology.

Standards for the 21st Century Learner (AASL)Learners use Skills, Resources, and Tools to:

1: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge 1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format 2: Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge

National Educational Technology Standards forStudents (ISTE) 1. Creativity and Innovation:  Students demonstrate creative

thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

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Created by Kelly Ray, Library Media Specialist Last update: July 20, 2008

BCPS Slam Dunk Model, Copyright 2008 Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s

Slam Dunk Lesson module available at http://questioning.org/module2/quick.html. Images by subscription to www.clipart.com.

Lesson Objective: Students will use online information sources to create an annotated timeline documenting the development of fingerprint technology and its impact on the identification and prosecution of criminals.Time Management: One 90 minute class period in a computer lab for background reading, research, and creation of timeline panel; half period in classroom or computer lab for examination of class timeline and assessment. Differentiation Strategies: • Provide hard copies of the online readings• Allow students to work as partners• Provide extended timeLearning Preferences/Styles: Field Dependent/Independent, visual, auditory, tactile, reflective, global, sequentialNotes to the Teacher: The class timeline may be sequenced and published in digital or hard copy format:• All students’ timeline panels may be combined in chronological order into one MS Publisher file; this file could also be converted to PDF. Publish via teacher webpage or student drive.• Hard copies of all students’ timeline panels may be printed out to create a class timeline wall display or packet.