The Next Session of the
Forensic FTO Virtual Academy
is Open for Enrollment!
Limited Seats Available - Act Now! Don't miss your chance to enroll in our exclusive Virtual Academy, designed to enhance your skills as a forensic field training officer. We only offer this program once a year, and seats fill up fast. Secure your spot now, or you'll have to wait until 2026 for the next opportunity to join.
Have you been searching for comprehensive, high-quality training to enhance your skills as a forensic field training officer that takes into account...
...limited training budgets
...time constraints from your busy schedule
...and the specific intricacies + challenges of training forensic professionals
And connects you to a community of subject matter experts and like-minded individuals that share similar experiences with you!
THE ANSWER:
Learn How to Become an Effective Trainer from the Comfort of Your Office!
We've created a 6-week Virtual Academy tailored to field training officers in Crime Scene + Latent Print + Evidence Units, where you'll learn how to be a more effective trainer, document and provide feedback on performance, deal with difficult trainees, build a better training program and more!
Listen, we know you have doubts, like:
>> "I'm concerned about the time commitment."
>> "I worry about staying focused and engaged during long lectures."
>> "I prefer face-to-face interaction and networking opportunities.
>> "I'm concerned about the effectiveness of virtual learning compared to in-person training."
>> "Cost is a major factor for me."
We've taken all the curriculum in our 40-hour Forensic FTO Course and converted it into a 6-week Forensic Supervisor Virtual Academy, including topics like:
- Cognition and Adult Learning Theory
- Ethics and legal considerations
- Learning Styles
- Safety and Liability
- Writing daily observation reports
- Addressing problem trainees
- Building training programs
- Evaluating your training program
- Top training mistakes
- and so much more!
Here's what past students had to say!
Next session starting March 2025...
Forensic FTO Virtual Academy
A 6-Week Virtual Workshop to Help You Learn How to Become an Effective Trainer from the Comfort of Your Office
Hi! It's Ashley Church and Erin West, co-Owners of Gap Science
In 2018, we both transitioned into supervisory roles - Ashley over the Crime Scene Unit and Erin over the Latent Print Unit at a local Sheriff's Office in Central Florida.
Neither unit had an established training program, trained FTOs, a process for documenting trainee performance... you get the picture! These projects were tough to tackle with minimal guidance, all while trying to improve our team morale.
Luckily we had each other to lean on, but we know many forensic professionals go through similar circumstances without much support. That's why we created Gap Science - to provide other forensic professionals with knowledge, training and resources we wished we had throughout our careers.
Unlike our in-person courses where you only have access to one or two instructors...
In the Virtual Academy you'll have the opportunity to learn from multiple Gap Science instructors!
Erin West
Roberto Caceres
Rebeca D'Jimas
Ken Pomeranz
Ashley Church
Here's what you'll learn in the Virtual Academy:
Welcome to the Forensic FTO Virtual Academy!
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Week One - Cognition, Adult Learning Theory and Learning Styles
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Week Two - Myers-Briggs Types, Ethics & Legal Considerations
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Week Three - Chronotypes, Safety & Liability Issues
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Week Four - Daily Observation Reports and Addressing Difficult Trainees
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Week Five - Building a Training Program, Roles & Responsibilities
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Week Six - Remedial Training, Evaluating Your Training Program and Managing Your FTOs
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You Did It!
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Next Steps: Keep Learning & Save with Exclusive Offers
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During the Virtual Academy, you'll have access to:
Live Instruction 1x per week
Replay links to lectures
Downloadable Handouts
Opportunity to ask questions
Private student community
Helpful links + resources
Still have concerns?
>> "I'm concerned about the time commitment."
We understand that taking an entire week off for training can disrupt your busy schedule and create backlogs of work. With our virtual academy, we've structured the content into manageable 5-hour sessions that happen one day a week, each week for the length of the academy. This allows you to balance your professional responsibilities while still gaining valuable knowledge and skills over a period of six weeks. It's a convenient and flexible option tailored to your needs. Replay links will also be available, so should you have to miss a live training session, you can always rewatch it later that day!
>> "I worry about staying focused and engaged during long lectures."
We've listened to feedback from past students who found it challenging to stay focused during 8-hour lectures for five consecutive days. That's why we've designed our virtual academy to deliver the content in smaller, digestible sections. Our live sessions are interactive, engaging, and foster collaboration among participants. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions, participate in discussions, and benefit from the collective expertise of fellow forensic professionals. By breaking the material into shorter sessions, we ensure maximum engagement and retention of knowledge.
>> "I prefer face-to-face interaction and networking opportunities."
While we understand the value of networking, our virtual academy offers unique advantages of its own. Through our virtual platform, you'll have the opportunity to connect with forensic field training officers from various law enforcement agencies across the country. Engage in discussions, share experiences, and expand your professional network within the comfort of your own office. Additionally, our virtual format allows for ongoing communication and collaboration beyond the six-week duration, fostering lasting connections with like-minded professionals.
>> "I'm concerned about the effectiveness of virtual learning compared to in-person training."
Rest assured, our virtual academy is designed with your success in mind. We leverage state-of-the-art technology to deliver a seamless learning experience. Engage with expert instructors through live video presentations, interactive exercises, case studies, and group activities. Our virtual platform allows for real-time interaction, ensuring your questions are answered and your learning objectives are met. Furthermore, with replay links provided for all sessions, you can review and reinforce your knowledge at your own pace.
>> "Cost is a major factor for me."
Attending an in-person training typically involves significant expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars, gas, tolls, and per diem. Our 6-Week Forensic FTO Virtual Academy eliminates these costs entirely, making it a budget-friendly option. We offer exceptional value without compromising on the quality of content and instruction. Invest in your professional development without straining your department's budget.
⍰ Frequently Asked Questions
When does the virtual academy start?
The next virtual academy will begin the week of March 24, 2025 and will end the week of April 28, 2025. The day of the week that the academy sessions will be hosted on will be determined based on instructor availability in late 2024. Once determined, this page and any registered students will be updated with the weekly dates of the academy live sessions.
What kind of electronic equipment will I need for the virtual academy?
Students will need to be able to access the academy's curriculum through the Teachable platform and will need to be able to view the live webinars via Zoom. Students will be expected to interact with the instructors and other students during a variety of activities, so students should log into the Zoom sessions on a computer that has both a microphone and camera.
When do I have access to the workshop materials?
We will drop the links for that week's live webinars, group discussions, and activities every Monday throughout the academy. You'll be able to go back to materials from previous weeks, but you will not able to skip ahead.
When are the live webinars?
We will host live webinars on the same day each week from 11:00am - 5:00pm EST with a one hour lunch break from 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST. The day of the week the live webinars will occur on will be determined based on instructor availability in late 2024. Once determined, this page and any registered students will be updated with the weekly dates of the academy live sessions.
What if I'm unable to attend the live sessions?
We know the day of any Forensic FTO is pretty unpredictable, so we will provide replays for each live webinar in case you have to miss the live session. The videos usually take a few hours to render, but we should be able to provide replay links to the session videos later that same day.
Will you offer a refund if I fall behind or am unable to complete the manual?
Due to the digital nature of this course, we do not offer refunds for the Forensic FTO Virtual Academy. It is your responsibility to schedule the virtual academy exercises and activities accordingly.
How can I apply my tax exemption certificate to the purchase of this eCourse?
Email us at [email protected] if you would like to pay for the academy with a tax-free invoice. We will email you the invoice, and once it is paid, register you for the academy.
If you purchase through the Teachable platform, and you or your agency qualifies for a sales tax exemption, you will need to provide Teachable with a tax exemption certificate and submit a refund request for any taxes paid to [email protected]. The refund request should include a copy of the purchase receipt showing the sales tax paid and Order ID. Teachable will issue a refund once the documentation has been reviewed and approved (usually takes about 7 days).
Forensic FTO Virtual Academy
A 6-Week Virtual Workshop to Help You Learn How to Become an Effective Trainer from the Comfort of Your Office
The Next Session of the
Forensic FTO Virtual Academy
is Open for Enrollment!
Limited Seats Available - Act Now! Don't miss your chance to enroll in our exclusive Virtual Academy, designed to enhance your skills as a forensic field training officer. We only offer this program once a year, and seats fill up fast. Secure your spot now, or you'll have to wait until 2026 for the next opportunity to join.