@unpublished{pittir33343,
           month = {December},
           title = {Photovoice project assessing lived experience at local Pittsburgh School},
          school = {University of Pittsburgh},
          author = {Emma Hosman},
            year = {2017},
        keywords = {Photovoice, school, public health, healthy schools,},
             url = {http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/33343/},
        abstract = {Background: In the fall of 2017, approximately 50.7 million students attended public elementary and secondary schools. School-aged children are more vulnerable to contaminants and toxins because their organs are developing during the years they attend school and children breathe in more air per pound of body weight compared to adults. However, there is a relative lack of information on how children perceive the environments in which they attend school.  Purpose: To utilize a community-based research method to assess the needs and strengths of a local, private Christian school, within the context of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model.  Methods: Using the photovoice method, 3rd and 7th graders were asked to answer, ?What is it like to go to school at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School (PUCS)?? Twenty-four students took photos of the school environment to answer this question. Students discussed the photos and decided on themes. Results: Themes of creativity, community, learning, accomplishments, and exploration were discussed in their photographs.  Conclusions: While some physical environment issues were mentioned, the social, emotional, and learning climate was more important to the student?s perceptions of their experiences at school.   The public health significance of this work is that photovoice can be an effective method to investigate student experiences of the school environment broadly including the physical, social, and emotional environment.}
}