Determination of the 8th Grade School Students’ Awareness of Food Dye with the Use of Spectrophotometer

Abstract

In the current study aimed to create awareness of color dyes found in foods and beverages on 8th grade students through an experimental activity designed by the researchers. To this end, the experimental activity developed on the basis of 5E learning model including the use of spectrophotometer allowing the practical analysis of food dye was administered to the participants. This study was designed as a case study, one of the qualitative research methods. As the data collection tool, a semi-structured interview form, administered before and after the activity, was used to determine the participants’ awareness. By making use of science and technology integration through the developed experimental activity, students were enabled to make scientific observations on a problem encountered in their daily life. In the analysis of the data, content and descriptive analyses were used together. It was found that the activity was effective in raising the participating students’ awareness of color dyes in foods and with the inclusion of spectrophotometer into this process, the students’ interest was aroused. As a result, it can be suggested that with the inclusion of technological tools such as spectrophotometer into teaching-learning process, activities directed to raising students’ awareness of the issues directly related to their health can be enhanced.

Keywords

• Spectrophotometer
• food dyes
• experimental activity
• 5E learning model
• science education