Course

Please note: This course is currently in draft form

You are viewing a draft version of the Clarus MOOC. The course is currently being reviewed and tested, and some content may be updated or refined based on the feedback we receive.

Some of the Digital Detectives comics included throughout the course are also presented in draft form. The final illustrated comics are currently in production and will be added to the course once complete.

Some video content is also still in production and will be added to the final version of the course.

We really appreciate you taking the time to review the course at this stage. Your feedback will help us improve the content, accessibility and overall learning experience before the course is finalised.

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This course follows the journey of digital evidence in a criminal investigation. Through this story, you will understand how the interaction between people and processes impacts on how digital evidence is examined, interpreted and understood.

Why take the course?

You will gain a better understanding of why clear communication matters and how small decisions about language, information and communication can have consequences.

Digital evidence plays an increasingly important role in criminal investigations. Using real research findings from the Clarus project alongside the fictional Digital Detectives investigation, the course introduces some of the everyday communication challenges faced by police officers, digital forensic practitioners and others working across the criminal justice system.

What will it cover?

You will explore how professional roles, organisational cultures, terminology and different ways of communicating can influence how information is understood and shared. Some of this work is applicable to all organisations but the pressures within a criminal investigation can highlight it more acutely. 

Digital forensics is a rapidly developing area that often includes cross-border collaboration. Drawing on research carried out with investigative teams from across Europe in the Clarus project, you will explore how digital evidence is collected, examined, interpreted and communicated, and consider where misunderstandings, errors and bias can arise.

The course will also introduce practical resources developed, including the Clarus Multilingual Lexicon for Digital Forensics, designed to support clearer understanding of digital forensic terminology, and the Clarus Clarity Checker, which encourages users to reflect on clarity and potential bias in written communication.

Do I need any knowledge?

No previous knowledge of digital forensics is required. The course is designed for anyone interested in digital evidence and communication, including members of the public, students, researchers, and professionals working in policing, forensic science, law and criminal justice.

Before you start

Before continuing with the Digital Detectives course, please take a moment to complete the short form below. This will help us understand a little more about who is taking part in the course and how you found out about it. It should only take a minute to complete. 

COMPLETE THE ANONYMOUS FORM HERE