Life in a Fishbowl: Student perception data for long-term center sustainability

Abstract

Communication center directors, staff and tutors must continually analyze student perception of the center space in order to promote long-term campus viability.  Thus, this manuscript addresses perceptions of communication center liberal arts students at a small, southern private university.  Through surveys, students were asked how they utilize the communication center space, what projects they worked on as communication center participants, and improvement for the future.  The measure for this study included a survey with questions that addressed Fishbowl use, technology or furniture use in the Fishbowl, the feedback process on student projects, and Fishbowl improvements. Situated learning theory is presented as a theoretical framework for communication center success and collaborative learning.