A four-day professional development program (PDP) workshop was offered for targeted K12 science and mathematics educators in the state of North Carolina in order to promote the use of active learning and hands-on experience pedagogy in K12 science education. Specifically, the use of a UV-visible absorption spectrophotometric determination of caffeine in selected sodas, teas, and energy drinks was conducted for the science educators in a guided-inquiry laboratory experiment (GILE) format. The determination of iron (Fe) content of selected fruits and vegetables (tomato, cucumber, apple, okra, bitter melon, eggplant, upo, grapes, peach, and squash) from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University farm by use of a microwave assisted sample digestion and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) analysis was conducted at the workshop to further train the educators in the use of FAAS analytical instrument.  The determined caffeine concentrations from the GILE by the educators favorably compared with the actual caffeine concentrations in the samples, as demonstrated by the low values of the relative errors of the analysis. The levels of the determined levels of Fe in fruits and vegetable samples ranged between 5.67 and 71.1 μg/g, with an overall average Fe concentration of 39.6± 18.2 μg/g. The results of the PDP workshop GILE exercises were utilized to discuss the real-world and practical application of the concept of molecular and atomic absorption techniques, the concept of experimental errors, and the use of Microsoft Excel. The PDP workshop was also used as an avenue to discuss and to create awareness among the K-12 educators of the health implications of excessive caffeine and soda intake among the school age students. Most importantly, the PDP workshop as resulted in a continued partnership between the STEM faculty and the PDP workshop participants to offer a science field-trip for  K12 students to NCAT campus laboratory.

UV-visible absorption spectrophotometric determination of caffeine contents in soda, tea, and energy drinks and FAAS analysis of Fe content of selected fruits and vegetables: Professional development workshop for K12 science educators

251st National Meeting (2016)

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