Program in Course Redesign

Carnegie Mellon University

Introduction to Statistical Reasoning—Course Planning Tool

The Course Planning Tool is a formatted spreadsheet that facilitates a three-step process for institutions to establish and compare the instructional costs before redesign (the traditional course) and the instructional costs after the redesign (the redesigned course).

Step #1 shows the calculation of all personnel costs associated with preparing and delivering the course expressed as an hourly rate. Annual salary for faculty listed is the average of all faculty teaching the course and includes a 23% benefits rate.Step #2 uses this initial calculation to determine the cost of preparing and delivering the traditional course. Step #3 calculates these costs for the redesigned course. More specific Course Planning Tool instructions are available.

Below are a summary of the cost savings anticipated at Carnegie Mellon University and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

The 1991 revision of Introduction of Statistical Reasoning reduced the cost-per-student by 14%, from $227 to $195. Building on the earlier model, the new redesign will change the current staffing model to make the course less labor intensive, while serving the same number of students. Only 5 TAs will be needed, instead of 10. The number of teaching assistant hours will decrease from 1580 annually to 790, a major capital for labor substitution. Thirty hours of staff time will be needed annually to maintain the software. The redesign using StatTutor further reduces the cost-per- student from $195 to $138, an additional 29% savings. The overall savings from both redesigns is 39%. Carnegie Mellon will use the savings to improve statistics teaching across the university.

[For more detailed information regarding their initial academic redesign, consult the project plan description.]

Step #1: Determine Instructional Costs per Hour

Instructional Costs per Hour—Introduction to Statistical Reasoning

Faculty  
   
Annual salary and benefits $90,000
% devoted to instruction 50%
% devoted to this course 33%
$ devoted to this course $14,985
   
Contact hours for course 30
Out of class hours 222
Total hours 252
Cost per hour $59
   
Graduate TAs/GAs  
   
Salary $20,260
% devoted to instruction 50%
% devoted to this course 50%
$ devoted to this course $5,065
   
Contact hours for course 15
Out of class hours 143
Total hours 158
Cost per hour $32
   
Undergraduate TAs  
Cost per hour $8
   
Professional/Staff $ per
Positions Hour
   
#1 $40

Step #2A: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Introduction to Statistical Reasoning

  Faculty   Graduate TAs/GAs  
  # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost
  Hourly rate = $59 Hourly rate = $32
I. Course Preparation     N = 10
         
A. Curriculum Development        
B. Materials Acquisition        
C. Materials Development        
1. Lectures/presentations 180 $10,620 300 $9,600
2. Learning materials/software        
3. Diagnostic assessments        
4. Assignments 180 $10,620    
5. Tests/evaluations 30 $1,770    
Sub-Total 390 $23,010 300 9600
          
D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training        
1. Orientation 6 $354 20 $640
2. Staff meetings 45 $2,655 150 $4,800
3. Attend lectures        
Sub-Total 51 $3,009 170 $5,440
Total Preparation 441 $26,019 470 $15,040
         
II. Course Delivery        
         
A. Instruction        
1. Diagnose skill/knowledge        
2. Presentation 90 $5,310 300 $9,600
3. Interaction 135 $7,965 150 $4,800
4. Progress monitoring        
Sub-Total 225 $13,275 450 $14,400
         
B. Evaluation        
1. Test proctoring 18 $1,062 60 $1,920
2. Tests/evaluation 72 $4,248 600 $19,200
Sub-Total 90 $5,310 660 $21,120
Total Delivery 315 $18,585 1110 $35,520
         
TOTAL 756 $44,604 1580 $50,560
         
         
         
GRAND TOTAL   $95,164    
Total # of students   420    
Cost per student   $227    

Step #2B: Determine Instructional Costs of First Redesign

Instructional Costs of First Redesign (1991-2000)—Introduction to Statistical Reasoning

  Faculty   Graduate TAs/GAs   Undergraduate TAs  
  # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost
  Hourly rate = $59 Hourly rate = $32 Hourly rate = $8
I. Course Preparation     N = 10    
             
A. Curriculum Development            
B. Materials Acquisition            
C. Materials Development            
1.Lectures/presentations 120 $7,080        
2. Learning materials/software            
3. Diagnostic assessments            
4. Assignments 120 $7,080        
5. Tests/evaluations 20 $1,180        
Sub-Total 260 $15,340        
             
D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training            
1. Orientation 4 $236 20 $640    
2. Staff meetings 30 $1,770 150 $4,800    
3. Attend lectures            
Sub-Total 34 $2,006 170 $5,440    
Total Preparation 294 $17,346 170 $5,440    
             
II. Course Delivery            
             
A. Instruction            
1. Diagnose skill/knowledge     150 $4,800    
2. Presentation 60 $3,540   $0    
3. Interaction 90 $5,310 450 $14,400 200 $1,600
4. Progress monitoring            
Sub-Total 150 $8,850 600 $19,200 200 $1,600
             
B. Evaluation            
1. Test proctoring 12 $708 60 $1,920    
2. Tests/evaluation 48 $2,832 750 $24,000    
Sub-Total 60 $3,540 810 $25,920    
Total Delivery 210 $12,390 1410 $45,120 200 $1,600
             
TOTAL 504 $29,736 1580 $50,560 200 $1,600
             
             
             
GRAND TOTAL   $81,896        
Total # of students   420        
Cost per student   $195        

Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Introduction to Statistical Reasoning

  Faculty   Graduate TAs/GAs   Undergraduate TAs   Professional Staff  
  # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost
  Hourly rate = $59 Hourly rate = $32 Hourly rate = $8 Hourly rate = $40
I. Course Preparation     N = 5        
                 
A. Curriculum Development                
B. Materials Acquisition                
C. Materials Development                
1. Lectures/presentations 120 $7,080            
2. Learning materials/software                
3. Diagnostic assessments                
4. Assignments 120 $7,080            
5. Tests/evaluations 20 $1,180            
Sub-Total 260 $15,340            
                 
D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training                    
1. Orientation 4 236 10 320        
2. Staff meetings 30 $1,770 75 $2,400        
3. Attend lectures                
Sub-Total 34 $2,006 85 $2,720        
Total Preparation 294 $17,346 85 $2,720        
                 
II. Course Delivery                
                 
A. Instruction                
1. Diagnose skill/knowledge     75 $2,400        
2. Presentation 60 $3,540            
3. Interaction 90 $5,310 225 $7,200 200 $1,600 30 $1,200
4. Progress monitoring                
Sub-Total 150 $8,850 300 $9,600 200 $1,600 30 $1,200
                 
B. Evaluation                
1. Test proctoring 12 $708 30 $960        
2. Tests/evaluation 48 $2,832 375 $12,000        
Sub-Total 60 $3,540 405 $12,960        
Total Delivery 210 $12,390 705 $22,560 200 $1,600 30 $1,200
                 
TOTAL 504 $29,736 790 $25,280 200 $1,600 30 $1,200
                 
                 
                 
GRAND TOTAL   $57,816             
Total # of students   420            
Cost per student   $138            

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