Participatory Post-Occupancy Evaluation (PPOE)
A Method to Include Students in Evaluating Health-Promoting Attribute sofa Green School
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.25.1.0004Keywords:
Photovoice, post-occupancy evaluation (POE), participatory research method, sustainable building, health-promotion, green schools, school buildings, school facilitiesAbstract
School environments exert a strong influence on the healthof approximately 55 million studentswho attend K-12 schools in the United States each day. Feedback from students about the health impact of their school environment is needed. Post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) are one way to gather this information; however, the inclusion of students in POEs in schools and methods for doing soare lacking in the U.S.We suggest a qualitative, participatory post-occupancy evaluation (PPOE) method adapted from Photovoice.The method responds to short comings of common quantitative approaches.We describe a pilot implementation ofthe method in a LEED® Gold elementary school.This paper includes a reflective discussion of the methodological limitations and benefits as well as future prospects for the method.
