Central Tree Middle School - Post Occupancy Evaluation
Appendix

 

Preface & Executive Summary	Section 3e Space-Specific Evaluation
Section 1 & 2 Introduction & Methodology	Section 3f Space Specific Evaluation 2
Section 3a Overview	Section 4a The Exemplary Middle School
Section 3b Summary Chart	Section 4b Curriculum Goals & Implications
Section 3c Building Wide Evaluation	Appendix
Section 3d Building Wide Evaluation 2

 

Program | POE | Site | 1st Floor Plan | 2nd Floor Plan | Photos

 

 

 

 

 

The architecture firm of HMFH which designed this  building has hired Optimal Solutions to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of  the school.  The purpose of the POE is to evaluate the school building so that the design of future schools may benefit from both the successes and failures of this building.  The main objective of the study is to identify  the factors that make for an ideal middle school building by answering the question  : How does Central Tree Middle School exemplify this ideal and where does it fall short ? 

 

Purpose of Questionnaire

_________________________________

 

The following questions are intended to help us understand how well this building works for those who use it, that is,  how it works for you as teachers and how you think it works for the students.  How could it have been better ?  What are your favorite places in the school ?  How do you feel about specific design details ?

 

We would appreciate your effort in filling out this questionnaire.  Your input is very important because it will help us identify the critical issues in the design of the ideal middle school building.   Your answers will help us learn what has been done well and therefore, should be repeated in the design of other school buildingsand to identify what could be done better in the future.

 

Your names are not requested on this questionnaire and any information which appears in the report will not be associated with any specific individual.  Questions have been carefully developed to assess your experience working in this school building.   The more detailed your answers are, the better we can understand the parameters of an ideal middle school building.

 

Please return the completed questionnaire to the reception desk at the Principal’s office.  If you have any questions, additional comments, or would like to discuss further,  please feel free to contact:

 

Daphne Politis

Optimal Solutions

Six Dover Lane

Lexington, MA 02421

(781) - 862 -1780

e-mail: daphnep@ibm.net

 

We appreciate your cooperation in this evaluation and recognize the demands on your time that it makes, but it would be an incomplete evaluation indeed were it not for your input. 

 

Please complete and return by :

Monday, March 8 ,1999.

 

 

 

What grade level do you teach ?           __ 5                 __6                  __7                  __8

 

Which subject do you teach ?________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

1. What are your three favorite things about this school ? Why ?

            1.

 

            2.

 

            3.

 

 

2. What are your three least favorite things about this school ? Why?

            1.

 

            2.

 

            3.

 

 

3. In which ways is this school especially appropriate for middle school children?_____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

4. How is the corridor used ?  Please check the frequency you have experienced and/or observed.

.

Never  Sometimes      Often

___         ___               ___      by teachers for ancillary space during class time

___         ___               ___      by students for socializing

___         ___               ___      by teachers for informal exchanges with other staff members

___         ___               ___      by teachers for disciplining students

___         ___               ___      by students between classes for retrieval of homework, books, etc.

___         ___               ___      Other:_______________________________________________

 

 

5. Where in the school do you like to go when you have some free time ?_____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

6.  Are there appropriate types and amount of spaces for the kinds of after school activities

 provided ?  ___ Yes     ___ No             If no, please explain._____________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

7. Are there enough meeting spaces in the building for the following needs ?  Check yes or no and list the spaces in which these occur. 

 

Yes      No                                                      

__        __        meeting of 2-5 staff members________________________________________

__        __        teacher and one student______________________________________________

__        __        advisory groups (one teacher, 12 students)_______________________________

__        __        informal staff get-togethers___________________________________________

__        __        entire school community_____________________________________________

__        __        teacher and parents_________________________________________________

__        __        entire faculty and administration_______________________________________

__        __        one group of classroom students_______________________________________

__        __        two classrooms  together_____________________________________________

__        __        entire grade level___________________________________________________

__        __        group of students & parents___________________________________________

 

Comments:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

8. Are there any spaces which are underutilized or overcrowded ? ___Yes          ___No     If yes, which ones?_________________________________________________________________________

 

9.  Are there any needed facilities currently lacking? ___Yes      ___No               If yes,  please list.  ______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

10. Are there any spaces which should be located nearer to each other than they currently are, or conversely are there any spaces which should be further apart from each other than they are currently ?_____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

11. Are you satisfied with the availability and location of technology (computers, multi-media capabilities)?

 

Yes      No

__        __        in the classroom

__        __        in the Tech Lab

__        __        in the Learning Resource Center

__        __        throughout the building

__        __        Other:____________________________________________________________

 

 

 

12. What about this school building makes it seem especially appropriate to a middle school education?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

13. What about this space makes it especially appropriate to middle school ?

 

Classroom clusters_______________________________________________________________

Cafetorium_____________________________________________________________________

Gymnasium____________________________________________________________________

Technology Lab_________________________________________________________________

Learning Resource Center_________________________________________________________

Computer Lab__________________________________________________________________

Art Studio_____________________________________________________________________

Music Lab_____________________________________________________________________

Corridors______________________________________________________________________

 

 

14. How do you most frequently utilize the Learning Resource Center? (Please check)

 

Never  Sometimes      Often

            (once a week)   (More than once a week)

 

___         ___               ___      individual students

___         ___               ___      small groups    

___         ___               ___      entire class

___         ___               ___      more than one class at a time

___         ___               ___      Other:_______________________________________________

 

15. Are students using the Learning Resource Center most for: (Please prioritize - number 1-5.)

 

___      research

___      class-work support

___      audio-visual presentations

___      individual initiatives

___      Other:_________________________________________________________________

 

 

16. Are there any concerns you have regarding security or supervision in the Learning Resource Center?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

17.  What are your three favorite things about your classroom ? Why ?

            1.

 

            2.

 

            3.

 

 

18. What are your three least favorite things about your classroom ? Why?

            1.

 

            2.

 

            3.

 

 

 

 

 

19. In which space do you plan your lessons (prioritize by frequency, i.e. if you plan in the team office most of the time, write 1 before team office, in the classroom next in frequency, write 2 before classroom, etc.)

 

__ team office

__ classroom

__ conference room

__ learning resource center

__ staff dining room

__ Other: ______________________________________________________________________

 

20. In which room do you eat most often?

___staff dining room

___the team office

___ conference room

___Other :_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

The following checklist will help us understand your experience of the environment in which you work.  Please check those items that in your experience of the building could use improvement, noting why, or conversely are so good as to compel you to point them out as needing to be replicated in other middle schools, again telling us why.  Only check those qualities you feel strongly about whether negatively (needs improvement) or positively (should be replicated).

 

 

 

1. Building-wide

 

___                  ___                  layout of classroom clusters_____________________________

___                  ___                  separation of academic & non-a uses ______________________

___                  ___                  appearance of  bldg.exterior_____________________________

___                  ___                  appearance of bldg. interior______________________________

___                  ___                  adequacy of circulation (stairs, corridors)___________________

___                  ___                  adequacy of storage____________________________________

___                  ___                  adequacy of display space_______________________________

___                  ___                  Other:_______________________________________________

 

 

2. Team Office/Team Storage

___                  ____                size                   _______________________________________

___                  ____                location             _______________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of storage ___________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of room__________________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

3. Classrooms

___                  ____                size       _____________________________________________

___                  ____                location _____________________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of storage ___________________________________

___                  ____                ability to accommodate different activities__________________

___                  ____                ability to rearrange furniture_____________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of room__________________________________

 

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

 

 

 

4. Science Room (5th and 6th grade)

 

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                adequate storage space__________________________________

___                  ____                adequate sink space____________________________________

___                  ____                adequate safety features_________________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

5. Science Room (7th and 8th grade)

 

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                adequate storage space__________________________________

___                  ____                adequate sink space____________________________________

___                  ____                adequate safety features_________________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

6. Cafetorium

___                  ___                  size_________________________________________________

___                  ___                  location_____________________________________________

___                  ___                  relationship to adjacent spaces___________________________

___                  ___                  Other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

 

7. Faculty Cafeteria

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of room__________________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Gymnasium

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                flooring material______________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of space__________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of locker/shower areas__________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

9. Learning Resource Center

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of space__________________________________

___                  ____                ability to accommodate various activities___________________

___                  ____                adjacency to computer lab_______________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

10. Computer Lab

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of space__________________________________

___                  ____                adjacency to Learning Resource Center____________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

11. Technology Lab

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                attractiveness of space__________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of storage____________________________________

___                  ____                ability to accommodate various activities___________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

 

 

 

12. Art Studio

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of storage____________________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

13. Music Room

___                  ____                size_________________________________________________

___                  ____                location_____________________________________________

___                  ____                adequacy of storage____________________________________

___                  ____                relationship to adjacent spaces___________________________

___                  ____                other:_______________________________________________

 

What is your favorite thing about this room?__________________________________________

What is your least favorite thing about this room?______________________________________

 

14. Corridors

___                  ____                size

___                  ____                attractiveness

___                  ____                ability to accommodate informal uses

___                  ____                Other:_______________________________________________

 

 

15. Administrative, Support, & Other Space

 

Note any outstanding issues -- either positive or negative -- with regard to the following spaces:

 

___                  ____    Principal’s office_____________________________________________

___                  ____    Guidance counselor’s office____________________________________

___                  ____    Nurse’s office_______________________________________________

___                  ____    Principal’s secretary/reception__________________________________

___                  ____    School Store________________________________________________

___                  ____    Conference rooms____________________________________________

___                  ____    Assistant Principal’s office_____________________________________

___                  ____    Special Needs_______________________________________________

___                  ____    Special Ed__________________________________________________

___                  ____    Staff Bathrooms_____________________________________________

___                  ____    Student Bathrooms___________________________________________

 

 

 

 

16. Design Details

 

Note any comments on the following design details:

 

___                  ____                main entrance to building _______________________________

___                  ____                tiles on the floor_______________________________________

___                  ____                tiles on the wall _______________________________________

___                  ____                “peak” windows to gym________________________________

___                  ____                stair landings with sections of glass wall____________________

___                  ____                double-height ceiling in cluster area_______________________

___                  ____                color scheme_________________________________________

 

 

Which is your favorite design detail? Why?___________________________________________

Which is your least favorite design detail ? Why?_______________________________________

 

 

 

 

17. Is there anything else, either negative or positive that you would like to tell the architects of this school building ? Please write below and feel free to use the back of this paper or to add additional sheets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of References

________________________________________________________________________

 

Anderman, Lynley Hicks and Midgley, Carol, “Motivation and Middle School Students,” ERIC Digest, June 1998. EDO-PS-98-5.

 

Beane, James, “Integrated Curriculum in the Middle School,” ERIC Digest, EDO-PS-92-2.

 

Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. Shaping the Future.  Fanning/Howey, Inc.:1998.

 

Lounsbury, John, “Key Characteristics of Middle Level Schools,” ERIC Digest, November 1996, EDO-PS-96-13.

 

National Middle School Association, NMSA Research Summary #3: Numbers of Middle Schools and Students.

 

National Middle School Association, NMSA Research Summary #4: Exemplary Middle Schools.

 

National Middle School Association, NMSA Research Summary #5: Young Adolescents’ Developmental Needs.

 

National Middle School Association, NMSA Research Summary #11: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Programs.

 

National Middle School Association,  “Frequently Asked Questions at the Middle Level.”

 

Rutherford, Barry and Billig, Shelley, “Parent, Family, and Community Involvement in the Middle Grades.” ERIC Digest, October 1995. EDO-PS-95-11.

 

Schumacher, Donna, “The Transition to Middle School,” ERIC Digest, June 1998. EDO-PS-98-6.

 

Sullivan, Kevin, “Middle School Program and Participatory Planning Drive School Design,  Middle School Journal, Vol. 27, No.4, March 1996.