Program in Course Redesign

Drexel University

Computer Programming—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 26% 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 Drexel University and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

In the traditional format, Drexel University is teaching two versions of computer programming – Computer Programming B and Computer Programming I. Below the first two spreadsheets represent the traditional course in the two formats, with different enrollments and different costs per student. The third spreadsheet depicts the anticipated redesign. After the redesign is completed, all students will have the same modular model, offering the variety and levels of learning experiences described in the full project plan.

The cost savings for Drexel University will result from the combination and modularization of the introductory Computer Programming courses. Duplication of effort is removed and more students will be taught using fewer personnel. In the traditional model, multiple faculty assisted by TAs were each spending over 270 hours per term to teach the two courses; in the redesign model one faculty member assisted by TAs will teach the content of both courses each term. Four lecture sections and 52 lab sections will serve 1300 students, rather than the model used in the traditional format of 23 lecture sections and 30 lab sections serving only 1024 students.

The Drexel team estimates that the redesigned course will reduce per-student costs by 36% compared to the present Computer Programming I (from $156 per student to $100) and 52% for Computer Programming B (from $208 to $100). Savings will be used to handle anticipated increases in enrollment and to shift faculty to upper level courses where enrollment is also increasing.

[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—Computer Programming I and Computer Programming B


 CP I CP B

Faculty Course Coordinator Course Coordinator Auxiliary Faculty Adjunct Faculty





Salary and Benefits $96,520 $53,340 $53,340 $4,000
% devoted to instruction 50% 100% 100% 100%
% devoted to this course 17% 8% 8% 100%
$ devoted to this course $8,043 $4,445 $4,445 $4,000





Contact hours for course 20 20 20 30
Out of class hours 261 261 152 99
Total hours 281 281 172 129
Cost per hour $29 $16 $26 $31





TAs/GAs








Salary and Benefits $32,000


% devoted to instruction 100%


% devoted to this course 11%


$ devoted to this course $3,556







Contact hours for course 0


Out of class hours 76


Total hours 76


Cost per hour $47







Professional/Staff $ per


Positions Hour







Assistant $10


Step #2A: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Computer Programming I


 Faculty Coordinator Auxiliary Faculty Adjunct Faculty TAs/GAs Hourly Students

# of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost

Hourly rate = $29 Hourly rate = $26 Hourly rate = $31 Hourly rate = $47 Hourly rate = $10
I. Course Preparation




















A. Curriculum Development 5 $145







B. Materials Acquisition 10 $290







C. Materials Development









1. Lectures/presentations 20 $580

45 $1,395



2. Learning materials/software









3. Diagnostic assessments 2 $58

2 $62



4. Assignments 70 $2,030 7 $182 7 $217



5. Tests/evaluations 15 $435 15 $390 7 $217



Sub-Total 122 $3,538 22 $572 61 $1,891














D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training









1. Orientation 2 $58 2 $52

2 $94 2 $20
2. Staff meetings 11 $319 11 $286

11 $517 11 $110
3. Attend lectures 2 $58 3 $78





Sub-Total 15 $435 16 $416

13 $611 13 $130
Total Preparation 137 $3,973 38 $988 61 $1,891 13 $611 13 $130











II. Course Delivery




















A. Instruction









1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 6 $174 6 $156





2. Presentation 20 $580 20 $520 30 $930



3. Interaction 66 $1,914 66 $1,716 11 $341 20 $940 20 $200
4. Progress monitoring 42 $1,218 32 $832 11 $341 10 $470 10 $100
Sub-Total 134 $3,886 124 $3,224 52 $1,612 30 $1,410 30 $300











B. Evaluation









1. Test proctoring 4 $116 4 $104 4 $124 4 $188 1 $10
2. Tests/evaluation 6 $174 6 $156 12 $372 29 $1,363 29 $290
Sub-Total 10 $290 10 $260 16 $496 33 $1,551 30 $300
Total Delivery 144 $4,176 134 $3,484 68 $2,108 63 $2,961 60 $600
TOTAL 281 $8,149 172 $4,472 129 $3,999 76 $3,572 73 $730
# Lecture Sections Taught 1
5
10
9
11
TOTAL Personnel Combined 281 $8,149 860 $22,360 1290 $39,990 684 $32,148 803 $8,030











GRAND TOTAL 3918 $110,677







Total # of students
710







Cost per student
$156







Step #2B: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Computer Programming B


 Faculty Coordinator Auxiliary Faculty Adjunct Faculty TAs/GAs

# of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost

Hourly rate = $16 Hourly rate = $26 Hourly rate = $31 Hourly rate = $47
I. Course Preparation
















A. Curriculum Development 5 $80





B. Materials Acquisition 10 $160





C. Materials Development







1. Lectures/presentations 20 $320

45 $1,395

2. Learning materials/software







3. Diagnostic assessments 2 $32

2 $62

4. Assignments 70 $1,120 7 $182 7 $217

5. Tests/evaluations 15 $240 15 $390 7 $217

Sub-Total 122 $1,952 22 $572 61 $1,891










D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training







1. Orientation 2 $32 2 $52

2 $94
2. Staff meetings 11 $176 11 $286

11 $517
3. Attend lectures 2 $32 3 $78



Sub-Total 15 $240 16 $416

13 $611
Total Preparation 137 $2,192 38 $988 61 $1,891 13 $611









II. Course Delivery
















A. Instruction







1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 6 $96 6 $156



2. Presentation 20 $320 20 $520 30 $930

3. Interaction 66 $1,056 66 $1,716 11 $341 20 $940
4. Progress monitoring 42 $672 32 $832 11 $341 10 $470
Sub-Total 134 $2,144 124 $3,224 52 $1,612 30 $1,410









B. Evaluation







1. Test proctoring 4 $64 4 $104 4 $124 4 $188
2. Tests/evaluation 6 $96 6 $156 12 $372 29 $1,363
Sub-Total 10 $160 10 $260 16 $496 33 $1,551
Total Delivery 144 $2,304 134 $3,484 68 $2,108 63 $2,961
TOTAL 281 $4,496 172 $4,472 129 $3,999 76 $3,572
# Lecture Sections Taught 1
2
4
10
TOTAL Personnel Combined 281 $4,496 344 $8,944 516 $15,996 760 $35,720









GRAND TOTAL 1901 $65,156





Total # of students
314





Cost per student
$208





Step 3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Computer Programming I/B


 Faculty Coordinator Auxiliary Faculty TAs/GAs Hourly Students

# of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost

Hourly rate = $29 Hourly rate = $26 Hourly rate = $47 Hourly rate = $10
I. Course Preparation
















A. Curriculum Development 5 $145





B. Materials Acquisition 10 $290





C. Materials Development







1. Lectures/presentations 20 $580





2. Learning materials/software







3. Diagnostic assessments 3 $87





4. Assignments 70 $2,030 7 $182



5. Tests/evaluations 16 $464 15 $390



Sub-Total 124 $3,596 22 $572












D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training







1. Orientation 15 $435 15 $390 5 $235 8 $75
2. Staff meetings 22 $638 22 $572 7 $329 11 $110
3. Attend lab sessions 12 $348 6 $156



Sub-Total 49 $1,421 43 $1,118 12 $564 19 $185
Total Preparation 173 $5,017 65 $1,690 12 $564 19 $185









II. Course Delivery
















A. Instruction







1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 6 $174 6 $156



2. Presentation 10 $290 10 $260



3. Interaction 66 $1,914 66 $1,716 30 $1,410 30 $300
4. Progress monitoring 22 $638 22 $572 15 $705 15 $150
Sub-Total 104 $3,016 104 $2,704 45 $2,115 45 $450









B. Evaluation







1. Test proctoring



11 $517 11 $110
2. Tests/evaluation



8 $376 10 $100
Sub-Total



19 $893 21 $210
Total Delivery 104 $3,016 104 $2,704 64 $3,008 66 $660
TOTAL 277 $8,033 169 $4,394 76 $3,572 85 $845
# Lecture Sections 1
3
24
28
TOTAL Personnel Combined 277 $8,033 507 $13,182 1,824 $85,728 2366 $23,660









GRAND TOTAL 4974 $130,603





Total # of students
1300





Cost per student
$100





Savings:







Computer Programming I
36%





Computer Programming B
52%





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