Title: Can a combination of Kagan Cooperative learning driven by science labs improve the success rates of Exceptional Students in traditional classrooms?

Project Overview: Exceptional students within the traditional science classroom will be grouped in Kagan Cooperative learning groups and work within the structures during lab driven science classes to develop learning and social skills to improve their opportunities to be more successful learners. The idea is that by grouping all students within given criteria and then driving their learning experiences with hand-on lab experiences all students will become more successful learners.

The grant will provide the opportunity to purchase basic lab equipment including but no exclusives, lab glassware, scales, slides and a wi-fi microscope programmed for Android or i Pads. I have noticed that a number of the students within the the Autism Spectrum are attached to electronic devices. My hope is that the use of a microscope that is usable on their device will help my students to become more independent learners. Whenever we can give exceptional students opportunities to be successful intellectually and socially we increase the probability that students will become more successful as they move through their high school years.