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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: EDU512 - Physical Security for Schools

Course Title:	EDU512 - Physical Security for Schools
Department:	School of Education
Instructor:	Ed Piper, MS, BA, AA E-Mail - Vita
Credits:	4 Postgraduate Semester Credits
Tuition:	$300
Note:	Read about the EDU524 School Security Certificate Program

Course Description

This introductory course provides educators, School Resource Officers and other school stakeholders with a basic understanding of physical security principles for elementary, middle schools and high schools.

Course Objectives

1. To develop a better understanding of physical security for schools.
2. To examine a detailed review of physical security best practices based on a Department of Justice study
3. To reexamine the physical security practices of your own school system and to take positive action to improve your school’s security posture:

Required Texts  Online Bookstore

Websites or PDF Files to read: The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools, U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/178265.htm

Visit or Read: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/178265.htm

Written Assignments

This course requires extensive reading of The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools,. For that reason, assignments will be limited to answering weekly questions and emailing your responses to the instructor at the end of each week. Your responses must include page numbers from the text that support your answer. The responses each week are usually a series of ten questions valued at 1 point each. In some cases a series of questions will be presented with a higher point value.

There is also a requirement to prepare and submit a 5 page double spaced paper explaining the role of security technology in your school system. Describe what should be considered in selecting security technology for your school and the rationale for making security technology investments for you school. This paper is worth 20 points.

2 points will be subtracted for each incident of: sloppiness, poor grammar, poor spelling and poor punctuation. Late papers receive a grade of zero.

Total For Course: 120 Points

I will determine your final grade based on the total number of points you have accumulated at the end of the semester. I do not award letter grades for each paper or exam. Your grade will be determined as follows:

105 - 120 points	A
80 - 104 points	B
60 - 79 points	C
50 - 59 points	D
below 50 points	F

Student Assignments/Activities

Assignments: Read the assigned readings and email your answers to the instructor each week.

Week 1 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q1: Why should we invest in security technologies for schools?
Q2: What are the challenges of adding security staff?
Q3: Review the arguments for and against security initiatives. Add 2 more arguments that support security initiatives.
Q4: Determine the assets in your school.
Q5: Determine the current threats in your school.
Q6: Characterize your school’s environment in 2 paragraphs or less.
Q7: What is the relationship between students and school security?
Q 8: List at least 5 security needs for your school.
Q9: How often should you brief the school board on the risk and security needs of the school?
Q10: What is the most effective way to convince your school board to fund new spending initiatives?

Week 2: Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q11: Give an example of how school security would apply to your school.
Q12: Do you think exhibit 13 is an accurate reflection of a security system design? Why? Why Not?
Q13: How can this exhibit prevent you from investing in the wrong security solution?
Q14: Who should you consult before investing in any security program?
Q15: What does CPTED represent?
Q16: List at least 5 examples of CPTED in schools.
Q17:List the best example of CPTED on page 20.
Q18: What is the relationship between order, proper maintenance and crime at school?
Q19: Write two paragraphs to make the case for video cameras at schools.
Q20: Write two paragraphs to make the case against video cameras for schools.

Week 3: Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q21: Explain the benefits of black boxes for cameras on school boxes.
Q22: How do the seasons affect cameras?
Q23: Does seeing oneself on camera reduce crime?
Q24: How long can a person watch a video monitor and still be effective?
Q25: Describe the advantages and disadvantages of wireless systems.
Q26: What is the main advantage of a wireless system?
Q27: Why do school administrators need a basic understanding of camera technology?
Q28: What are lines of resolution and why are they important to security cameras?
Q29: List the elements of an entire CCTV system
Q30: What are the minimal criteria of a camera system to distinguish between a person and an animal?

Week 4 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q31: What is lens focal length and why is it important?
Q32: How does the F-number of a lens relate to operating a camera at night with artificial light?
Q33: What is the purpose of an adjustable iris?
Q34. What is the purpose of an electronic shutter?
Q35: What is the resolution considered acceptable for identifying most people?
Q36: Describe your environmental considerations for camera housing.
Q37: Why would it be a good idea to mount 2 cameras in a hallway?
Q38: What should we consider when placing and mounting equipment?
Q39: What lighting is best for exterior CCTV application?
Q40: What are the alternatives to lighting?

Week 5 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q41: What are the advantages of covert cameras?
Q42: What is the average life span of a modern solid-state camera?
Q43: Why is it important to carefully word an installation contract?
Q44: What are the reasons for placing signage describing the use of surveillance cameras?
Q45: What are the primary legal aspects concerning the use of surveillance cameras?
Q46: What are the disadvantages of using VCR’s with security cameras?
Q47: What are the advantages of digital recorders?
Q48: What are the limitations of metal detectors?
Q49: What is a misconception of metal detector?
Q50: What is the typical space for a metal detector?

Week 6 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q51: What factors do we take in to account for walk through metal detectors?
Q52: What can affect the performance of metal detector?
Q53: How many people can process through a metal detector in a minute?
Q54: List the instruction for the scanner?
Q55: The New York City Board of Education required how many officers to screen 2000 students?
Q56: When does a false positive occur?
Q57: List at least two items that interfere with a portable metal detector?
Q58: What is an acceptance test?
Q59: What is the average life of a portable metal detector?
Q60: What is the most important part of a handheld scanner program?

Week 7 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q61: Why should hand held metal detectors scanning take place in a public location?
Q62: How long should it take to scan one student?
Q63: What is the price range for a hand held detector?
Q64: What should you do if a handheld scanner alerts on a person?
Q65: What two factors influence the speed of the x-ray scanner?
Q66: How many items a minute can be scanned using an x-ray scanner?
Q67: In a typical school what do students place on a conveyer belt?
Q68: What are some of the less technical approaches to deterring unauthorized entry?
Q69: List some of the challenges of limiting access point in schools?
Q70: Does fencing keep students in or outsiders out?

Week 8 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q71 List 4 entry control approaches.
Q72: List the strengths and weaknesses of the 4 approaches.
Q73: Which approach would work best for your school? Why?
Q74-77: List 4 questions to ask a vendor about ID Cards
Q78-81 List 4 crisis situations that could impact a school?
Q 82-84- List the 3 overlapping types of duress alarms?
Q85-88 List the strengths and weaknesses of each type of alarm.
Q89: Which alarm would be best for your school? Why?
Q90: Which alarm would not be appropriate for your school? Why not?
Q91-94 Value 5 points- Provide an outline of all of the technology in your school.

*If you have no technology, explain the items you should have.

Week 9 Answer each question in a paragraph. Cite page number of publication and email answer to each question to instructor.

Q95-100 List the threats most likely to occur at your school.

Week 10 Email essay to instructor.

Essay: 20 points Write a 5 page double spaced paper explaining the role of security technology in your school system. Describe what should be considered in selecting security technology for your school and the rationale for making security investments in your school. Cite your sources and utilize any recognized writing style (Chicago, APA) for your paper. Points will be deducted for punctuation, spelling and grammar errors.

About Your Instructor:

Ed Piper has over 30 years of experience in school security, law enforcement, security, education, training and consulting. He designed the first college credit course in terrorism in Washington D.C. back in 1984 and has taught security at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University (active), Webster University Graduate School, Norwich University and a number of other colleges. He has served as Chief of Safety and Security for Harford Community College; Supervisor of School Security for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and is currently Director of Security and Emergency Planning at the Georgetown University Law Center. He has also served on the Maryland Governor’s Advisory Team for School Security. He also serves as President and CEO of Homeland Security Consultants, Inc.