Diablo Highway User Guide

  • The Crime Scene

    There are two parts to the crime scene in Diablo Highway: where the bodies were found and where the car was found. Each represents a close approximation of the crime scenes as they were discovered in early April 1938.

    • Exploring the Crime Scene

      Fig-1 How to explore the crime scene.
      Fig-2 After finding evidence, zoom into to examine by clicking on the magnifying glass icon.

      Fig-1 Click and drag to look around until the progress bar around the magnifying glass fills and turns green and blinks.

      Fig-2 Select the magnifying glass icon to zoom into this piece of evidence.

    • The Evidence Drawer

      Fig-3 How to examine and collect evidence.
      Fig-4 How to view the Evidence Drawer.

      Fig-3 Once you zoom into the evidence, tools for collecting the evidence will appear under the magnifying glass icon on top right. Select these tools to collect and/or photograph the evidence.

      Fig-4 Select the Collected Evidence icon on the top right and the Evidence Drawer will slide out from the left displaying the evidence that has been collected thusfar.

  • Lessons

    Fig-5 Colorful 3D graphics help communicate science concepts.
    Fig-6 Each lesson is easily accessible by clicking your selection in the left-panel navigation menu.
    There are 11 high-quality, media-rich lessons in Diablo Highway including the Story of the Crime, Crime Scene Mapping, Blood Typing, Hair Analysis, Fingerprint Analysis, DNA Profiling, Shoeprint Impressions, Tire Impressions, Fiber Analysis, Firearms Identification.
  • Quizzes

    Each lesson includes an auto-graded quiz.

    • Taking Quizzes

      Fig-7 Quiz questions and answers are randomized for each student to discourage "sharing."

      Quizzes consist of a number of multiple choice and true/false questions. Quiz progress is saved automatically but is only graded by the function after it is submitted. Incomplete quizzes cannot be submitted.

      Fig-7 represents a sample of the Fabric Analysis quiz. The student's grade is available to the student and the teacher after submission.

    • Grading Quizzes

      Quizzes are graded automatically when they are submitted. The teacher can show the student the details of their quiz results by printing the student's quiz from their teacher acccount and distributing it to the student.

  • Labs

    In the labs, Diablo Highway features 3D models of the control samples and evidence.

    • Examining 3D Evidence

      Fig-8 How to manipulate control samples and evidence in the lab.
      Fig-9 How to make a side-by-side comparison.

      Fig-8 Select the lab from the navigation panel on the left and the lab will load into the main viewing area.

      The control samples for that lab are provided and will load in automatically along with the evidence for that lab that has been found at the crime scene. Only the evidence for that lab that has already been found will load in with the control samples. If evidence is missing, go back to the crime scene and find the missing evidence first so that the lab can be completed.

      Then, after the control samples and evidence load in, select one to place it in the examination area. Click on the model, left-click and hold to rotate it; mousewheel in or out to zoom in or out; right-click and hold to move the model vertically or horizontally. Select the red X to remove the model from the examination area.

      Fig-9 In some labs, such as Fingerprint Analysis, it's helpful to compare the control samples and the evidence side-by-side. To do so, select two models to examine, then position them in the examination area.

    • Crime Scene Mapping

      Fig-10 Available tools for Baseline Mapping.
      Fig-11 How to use the Draw and Erase tools.

      The map can be controlled using the tools seen in Fig-10, either by using a mouse, touchpad, or by touch screen. Click/tap and drag to pan around the map and use the mouse wheel or a pinch gesture on a touch screen to zoom in and out. Zooming in on the map can make it easier to precisely start a new line or read a label.

      To get started with Baseline Mapping use the Draw Line tool and click/tap and drag to draw a baseline between two fixed objects. The first line drawn will always be the baseline. After the baseline is drawn, the Draw Line tool switches automatically out of baseline mode to allow lines to be drawn to items of interest on the map. See this in action in Fig-11. Lines should be drawn starting at an item of interest and ending at the baseline. Each line will be labeled with two values which must be recorded in the Data Recording Panel.

      While dragging, the line being drawn will appear as a dashed line. Once a line is completed successfully, it will change from dashed to solid. If a line does not become solid when you finish drawing it, the most likely errors are that it does not start at an appropriate spot (mid-point, leading edge, or trailing edge) on an item of interest or that the other end did not make contact with the baseline. If you make a mistake or draw an accidental line, use the Erase Line tool. Once toggled on, the Erase Line tool allows you to click on lines to remove them. Press the Erase Line button again to leave eraser mode. The baseline cannot be erased if there are still other lines on the map. In order to draw a new baseline you must first erase all your lines and then erase the baseline.

    • Recording Data

      Fig-12 How to record data.
      Fig-13 How to easily access lesson while in the lab.

      Recording data in the labs is easy using the handy slide-in Data Recording Panel.

      Fig-12 To record data. select the Record Data icon on the top right and a data recording panel will slide in from the left. Selecting the Lock icon will keep this data panel open while you examine the control samples and evidence. Data is recorded by making a selection in the dropdown or, in some cases, filling in a text field with your answer. When all your data is entered, select Submit Lab on the bottom of the panel. Incomplete labs cannot be submitted.

      Fig-13 While working in the lab, students can easily reference the lesson for the current lab. Select the View Lesson icon on the top right and the lesson will slide in on a panel from the right. For ease of navigation, select the Index icon on the top right and you can jump to the information you need.

    • Grading Labs

      Labs are graded automatically when they are submitted. The teacher can show the student the details of their lab results by printing the student's lab submission from their teacher acccount and distributing it to the student.

  • Solve the Crime

    Fig-14 How to submit the final report.

    The last lesson in the activity is called Solve the Crime. Here, students choose the culprit and support their conclusion with a short written report based on facts, evidence, data and science.

  • Student Dashboard

    Fig-15 How a student can view their own results through the dashboard.

    In the Student Dashboard, the student can view his or her own progress and performance. By selecting the activity, then Quiz, Lab or Evidence, the student can drill down for detail.

  • Teacher Account

    • Student Progress

      Fig-16 How a teacher can view student results through the dashboard.
      Fig-17 How to filter topics and activities in the gradebook.
      Fig-18 How to export and download the gradebook.

      Students' progress can be monitored by selecting the Gradebook in the teacher dashboard. By selecting the student's name and then the lesson name, a teacher can drill down to view a student's progress and performance.

      The gradebook can be filtered to only show certain topics and/or activities. See Fig-17 to learn how to activate and deactivate gradebook filters.

      The contents of the gradebook can also be exported and downloaded as a CSV formatted spreadsheet. The gradebook can be downloaded in its entirety or can the export function can be used in conjunction with filters. This for example would allow exporting a spreadsheet containing only quiz grades. See Fig-18 to learn how to use the export tool.

    • Lesson Plan

      Fig-19 The Lesson Plan page
      Fig-20 The main menu updates to reflect the current lesson plan for both teachers and students

      Use the lesson plan to enable or disable topics and activities. This allows you to control the pace of Diablo Highway or to limit your class to specific activities.

      Please note that even if a topic is disabled students will still be able to find evidence associated with that topic at the crime scene.

    • Grading Short Answer

      Fig-21 In the teacher dashboard, a handy rubric helps to grade the student's submission based on five criteria.
    • Managing Classes and Student Accounts

      Fig-22 Easy-to-use dashboard provides quick access to managing your Learn Engines activities.
      Fig-23 Student accounts can be easily managed - passwords changed, licenses assigned.

      Your Learn Engines account is the control center where you manage all of your Learn Engines digital lab activities, classes, students and licenses. To manage your classes and student accounts, visit your Learn Engines dashboard.

  • How to Buy Diablo Highway

    See cost calculator and how to buy with Purchase Order or credit card.