Impact of Reflection and Training on Service-Learning Outcomes

A study was conducted to determine the impacts of Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders) on undergraduate and graduate student participants (N = 289). The results indicated that the frequency with which students' professors linked their coursework to SHINE, the importance placed on reflection, and the quality of students' training and ongoing support positively impacted on several outcome measures. The discussion emphasizes the importance of faculty and staff providing linkages between students' coursework and their service experiences to maximize positive student outcomes.