{"683136":{"#nid":"683136","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Flourishing Through Service: Innovation Incubator Grant to Enable Wellness Course Expansion","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELecturer\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/lesley-baradel\u0022\u003ELesley Baradel\u003C\/a\u003E and Senior Academic Professional\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/christie-stewart\u0022\u003EChristie Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E from the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E School of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E have been awarded an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ctl.gatech.edu\/ttl-innovation-incubator-faculty-grants\u0022\u003EInnovation Incubator grant\u003C\/a\u003E from the Institute\u0027s Transformative Teaching and Learning (TTL) initiative.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETTL grants support the development, implementation, and evaluation of transformative teaching projects in undergraduate courses. This third round of TTL grants focuses on community-based learning, an educational approach that integrates classroom instruction with meaningful community engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCommunity-based learning is a premier avenue for Georgia Tech to fulfill our mission in developing leaders who improve the human condition,\u201d says \u003Cstrong\u003EKate Williams\u003C\/strong\u003E, a senior academic professional at the Center for Teaching and Learning who leads faculty-facing efforts on behalf of the TTL initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EServing Georgia Tech \u2014 and beyond\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBaradel and Stewart will use the grant to introduce a community service component to their class,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EFlourishing: Strategies for Well-Being and Resilience\u003C\/em\u003E (APPH 1060). They co-created the course back in 2019.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe developed the class based on student feedback,\u201d says Stewart. \u201cStudents were very vocal about wanting a course where they could discuss emotional wellness and coping strategies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAPPH 1060 has become a popular course taken by hundreds of Tech students every year and fulfills one of three options to satisfy the Institute\u2019s wellness requirement. The class helps students improve their overall well-being by introducing strategies to build skills in coping, resilience, optimism, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe instructors teach separate course sections but coordinate class content.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWith support from the Innovation Incubator grant, Baradel and Stewart are reimagining the course\u2019s signature team project. Previously focused on campus wellness initiatives, the project will now connect students with community partners to address real-world needs and incorporate high-impact practices such as teamwork, leadership, and structured reflection. Based on their interests, students will choose from a list of community projects, then work in teams to implement solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe revamped APPH 1060 course will encourage students to consider happiness and well-being while also collaborating and strengthening the capacity of neighboring communities,\u201d says \u003Cstrong\u003ESarah Brackmann\u003C\/strong\u003E, director of community-based learning in the Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIn the past, the students came up with great ideas to improve wellness at Georgia Tech, but the projects rarely moved beyond the design stage. The TTL funding helps us transform ideas into action,\u201d explains Stewart.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe instructors plan to partner with organizations such as Hands On Atlanta \u2014 tackling Atlanta\u2019s most pressing needs\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand Once Upon a Room\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Edecorating hospital rooms for children.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe frequently talk with the students about gratitude and purpose,\u201d says Baradel. \u201cIncorporating a community service element gives them the chance to bring those values to life in a meaningful, measurable way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETo evaluate the project\u2019s effectiveness, Baradel and Stewart will use a mixed-method approach, including pre- and post-course surveys, student reflections, and feedback from community partners. In addition to measuring academic learning, the goal will be to assess students\u2019 personal growth, civic engagement, and emotional well-being.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe enhanced version of APPH 1060 will launch in Spring 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efollowing a year of planning, partnership development, and TTL workshops. Baradel and Stewart believe the new structure will lead to a more immersive and impactful version of the class, and they hope it can become a model for integrating wellness and service learning across campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe want our students to leave this course with more than just knowledge,\u201d shares Stewart. \u201cOur goal is to instill community service as a value and empower students to make a difference.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe are excited about what we can do with this grant,\u201d adds Baradel, \u201cnot just in the classroom, but in the community and in transforming students\u2019 lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Sciences faculty Lesley Baradel and Christie Stewart were awarded an Innovation Incubator grant to integrate community-based learning into their wellness course,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EFlourishing: Strategies for Well-Being and Resilience\u003C\/em\u003E (APPH 1060).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"College of Sciences faculty Lesley Baradel and Christie Stewart were awarded an Innovation Incubator grant to integrate community-based learning into their wellness course, Flourishing: Strategies for Well-Being and Resilience (APPH 1060)."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-07-15 13:50:08","changed_gmt":"2025-07-15 17:07:59","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677424":{"id":"677424","type":"image","title":"Lesley Baradel and Christie Stewart","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELesley Baradel and Christie Stewart\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1752595842","gmt_created":"2025-07-15 16:10:42","changed":"1752595842","gmt_changed":"2025-07-15 16:10:42","alt":"Two headshots of smiling blonde women","file":{"fid":"261320","name":"Baradelandstewart.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/15\/Baradelandstewart.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/15\/Baradelandstewart.png","mime":"image\/png","size":12326194,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/15\/Baradelandstewart.png?itok=_DwEzl-g"}}},"media_ids":["677424"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/blog.ctl.gatech.edu\/2025\/06\/03\/2025-2026-transformative-teaching-learning-innovation-incubator-grants-awarded\/","title":"2025-2026 Transformative Teaching \u0026 Learning Innovation Incubator Grants Awarded"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/two-college-sciences-faculty-earn-innovation-incubator-grants","title":"Two College of Sciences Faculty Earn Innovation Incubator Grants"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192865","name":"Transformative Teaching and Learning"},{"id":"88821","name":"health and wellness"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}