It is also difficult for some students to see the body parts of small specimens with a hand lens. The scope allows students to manipulate a larger tool and view their results on a TV screen, where results can be enlarged and more easily observed. The replay on the scope helps students view an observation many times to allow them time to absorb what they have seen. Observation of live invertebrates can be used as a theme-based study for most objectives in the animal unit. It also will work with a study of the fish tank ecosystem for other animal groups.
Invertebrate study can even occur with pictures of specimens or captured dead ones.
Teachers also can use the lending service from their local museum to expand their collection of animals to view and research. My students present their investigation of invertebrates in an oral report to the class. We usually use an overhead projector of the organism to detail body parts, or the students bring in a specimen. The scope expands the possibilities of student presentation by including live observation caught on tape or incorporating it into a slideshow presentation. This is achieved by scoping the organism onto the computer and importing it into an Excel program.