Insect Collections -- What's The Point?

Everyone thinks that making an insect collection is about simply classifying an animal and placing it into a group.
I contend that it teaches much, much more:

The Purpose in Completing an Insect Collection

1) learn the techniques of naturalists in making a collection of representative species
2) learn to locate animals in their particular habitats
3) keen awareness of the diversity of animals in your community
4) learn how to preserve and display biological specimens
5) learn to notice the fine details and characteristics of animals in order to correctly identify them
6) learn to use field guides and other written resources to identify animals based on their appearance, similarities and habitats
7) appreciate the diligence and tenacity it takes to complete large collection and first-hand experience of "the quest" of finding and identifying elusive species
8)deploy a network of people - family and peers (or a community of "scientists") to acheive a goal and learn collaboration on a grand level
9) give the student a field experience in nature... and away from multimedia.

and lastly---

10) learn some of the basics of taxonomy and the importance of classification

Only #10 can really be done completely and thoroughly without using actual animals and a field experience.