Virtual Booth

Forensic science education requires students to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical investigative and decision-making skills. However, conventional crime scene practical sessions can be limited by the time, cost, space and resources required to construct realistic scenarios. Providing students with repeated exposure to a variety of forensic cases can also be challenging. SMART Move is a proposed interactive, gamified digital forensic learning platform designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The platform is designed to place students in the role of a Crime Scene Investigator, allowing them to progress through evidence-based simulated cases involving crime scene examination, evidence collection, suspect investigation, decision-making and case resolution. SMART Move is intended to incorporate continuous assessment, automated scoring and feedback, performance tracking and a lecturer portal to support student assessment and progress monitoring. The platform can accommodate various forensic disciplines, including fingerprint examination, document analysis, fire investigation and forensic toxicology, allowing diverse cases to be introduced without repeatedly constructing physical crime scenes. Through realistic, repeatable and scalable digital simulations, SMART Move aims to enhance critical thinking, investigative decision-making, practical readiness and student engagement while supporting lecturers in delivering and assessing practical forensic learning. The proposed innovation highlights the potential of gamification and digital simulation as an accessible and flexible approach to forensic science education.