Reflection: Linking Service and Learning

Eyler, J. (2002). Reflection: Linking service and learning—Linking students and communities. Journal of Social Issues, 58(3), 517-534.

Eyler advocates not only for service learning, but for thoughtful and involved reflection throughout the entire process. Service projects do not naturally guarantee deep reflection or personal connection on the students part. A teacher must purposefully structure that time and energy for reflection to provide students a deeper understanding of why and to explore their own relationship to the work. Eyler spends the last half of the article providing concrete examples of reflection practices for before, during, and after the service project.