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HomeInternational Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Researchvol. 6 no. 12 (2025)

Learning in Forensic Chemistry Education: Impact on Criminology Students' Competence and Readiness

Charlie T. Anselmo | Jojo P. Bautista | Nissan B. Ramirez | Ariel M. Lioad | Christel A. Anselmo | Wilzar L. Gile

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This study explored how e-learning influences the development of fo-rensic chemistry skills and professional preparedness among crimi-nology students in the Philippines. A convergent parallel mixed-meth-ods design was utilized, incorporating a quantitative survey with 300 participants and qualitative interviews with students enrolled in a fo-rensic chemistry course. The survey instrument, adapted from exist-ing measures, was subjected to content validation and pilot testing, showing high internal consistency (a=0.86). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression analyses, whereas qualitative data were analyzed using thematic anal-ysis. The findings indicated that students had favorable views of e-learning in forensic chemistry, valued multimedia resources, and rec-ognized both challenges and opportunities. A strong positive correla-tion (p=0.754, p=0.001) was identified between perceptions of e-learning and readiness to use e-learning tools, with readiness signifi-cantly influencing positive perceptions (R=0.708+0.806). Qualitative themes such as enrichment, utilization, enhancement, resources, and foundation underscored the advantages and disadvantages of e-learn-ing in forensic chemistry education. The study concludes that well-crafted e-learning platforms can effectively connect theoretical knowledge with practical skills, improving students' comprehension and critical thinking. However, the absence of hands-on laboratory ex-perience remains a significant limitation. The findings suggest that a blended learning approach, which combines e-learning with tradi-tional practical training, is crucial for a thorough forensic chemistry education. Future research should broaden the study's scope, conduct longitudinal studies, and investigate hybrid learning models to en-hance the effectiveness of e-learning in forensic chemistry education.



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