Program in Course Redesign

Portland State University

Introductory Spanish—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 for faculty teaching the course and includes a 24% benefit 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 Portland State University and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

Portland State University will use technology to increase the number of students taking Spanish, a bottleneck course, by 39% without a commensurate increase in instructional costs. TA responsibilities and hours will shift from time spent on course preparation (1800 hours to 1161 hours in the redesign) to increased time spent on delivery (1440 hours in traditional course to 2079 in the redesign). The interaction among TAs and students increases 945 hours annually from 180 hours in the traditional format to 1125 hours in the redesign. While the labor costs remain essentially unchanged, the student enrollments increase substantially from about 690 to 960 per year, yielding a reduction in the cost per student from $127 to $91.

[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—Introductory Spanish

Faculty


Salary and Benefits $69,378
% devoted to instruction 63%
% devoted to this course 42%
$ devoted to this course $18,357


Contact hours for course 120
Out of class hours 240
Total hours 360
Cost per hour $51


TAs/GAs


Salary and Benefits $23,895
% devoted to instruction 30%
% devoted to this course 100%
$ devoted to this course $7,169


Contact hours for course 120
Out of class hours 240
Total hours 360
Cost per hour $20


Support Staff Position $ per Hour


#1 Office specialist $11
#2 Office specialist 2 $12
Student worker $8

Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Introductory Spanish


 Faculty TAs/GAs Office Specialist Office Specialist 2 Student Worker

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

Hourly rate = $51 Hourly rate = $20 Hourly rate = $11 Hourly rate = $12 Hourly rate = $8
I. Course Preparation




















A. Curriculum Development 20 $1,020 36 $720





B. Materials Acquisition 10 $510 36 $720

40 $480 40 $320
C. Materials Development









1. Lectures/presentations 80 $4,080 720 $14,400





2. Learning materials/software 20 $1,020 180 $3,600

60 $720

3. Diagnostic assessments 12 $612 216 $4,320 25 $275



4. Assignments 20 $1,020 180 $3,600 25 $275



5. Tests/evaluations 12 $612 108 $2,160 25 $275



Sub-Total 174 $8,874 1476 $29,520 75 $825 100 $1,200 40 $320











D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training









1. Orientation 4 $204 36 $720 13 $143 12 $144

2. Staff meetings 30 $1,530 270 $5,400 5 $55 5 $60

3. Attend lectures 2 $102 18 $360





Sub-Total 36 $1,836 324 $6,480 18 $198 17 $204

Total Preparation 210 $10,710 1,800 $36,000 93 $1,023 117 $1,404 40 $320











II. Course Delivery




















A. Instruction









1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 8 $408 72 $1,440 30 $330



2. Presentation 80 $4,080 720 $14,400 35 $385



3. Interaction 20 $1,020 180 $3,600





4. Progress monitoring 12 $612 216 $4,320 20 $220

20 $160
Sub-Total 120 $6,120 1188 $23,760 85 $935

20 $160











B. Evaluation









1. Test proctoring 6 $306 108 $2,160





2. Tests/evaluation 24 $1,224 144 $2,880 30 $330



Sub-Total 30 $1,530 252 $5,040 30 $330



Total Delivery 150 $7,650 1,440 $28,800 115 $1,265

20 $160











TOTAL 360 $18,360 3,240 $64,800 208 $2,288 117 $1,404 60 $480











GRAND TOTAL
$87,332







Total # of students
690







Cost per student
$127







Step 3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Introductory Spanish


 Faculty TAs/GAs Office Specialist Office Specialist 2 Student Worker

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

Hourly rate = $51 Hourly rate = $20 Hourly rate = $11 Hourly rate = $12 Hourly rate = $8
I. Course Preparation




















A. Curriculum Development 20 $1,020 36 $720





B. Materials Acquisition 10 $510 36 $720



80 $640
C. Materials Development









1. Lectures/presentations 80 $4,080 324 $6,480





2. Learning materials/software 20 $1,020



60 $720

3. Diagnostic assessments 12 $612 108 $2,160 25 $275



4. Assignments 20 $1,020

25 $275



5. Tests/evaluations 12 $612 108 $2,160 25 $275



Sub-Total 174 $8,874 612 $12,240 75 $825 60 $720 80 $640











D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training









1. Orientation 6 $306 36 $720 13 $143 12 $144

2. Staff meetings 30 $1,530 270 $5,400 5 $55 5 $60

3. Attend lectures

243 $4,860





Sub-Total 36 $1,836 549 $10,980 18 $198 17 $204

Total Preparation 210 $10,710 1,161 $23,220 93 $1,023 77 $924 80 $640











II. Course Delivery




















A. Instruction









1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 8 $408 72 $1,440 30 $330



2. Presentation 80 $4,080 270 $5,400 35 $385



3. Interaction 20 $1,020 1125 $22,500





4. Progress monitoring 12 $612 216 $4,320 20 $220 20 $240

Sub-Total 120 $6,120 1683 $33,660 85 $935 20 $240












B. Evaluation









1. Test proctoring 6 $306 108 $2,160





2. Tests/evaluation 24 $1,224 288 $5,760 30 $330



Sub-Total 30 $1,530 396 $7,920 30 $330



Total Delivery 150 $7,650 2,079 $41,580 115 $1,265 20 $240












TOTAL 360 $18,360 3,240 $64,800 208 $2,288 97 $1,164 80 $640











GRAND TOTAL
$87,252







Total # of students
960







Cost per student
$91







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