Penn State University
Elementary Statistics—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 27% 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 Penn State and the completed course planning tool.
Cost Savings
By offloading many instructional tasks performed by faculty and GTAs in the traditional model of Elementary Statistics to interactive computer-based learning, the planned redesign will result in a 30% reduction in the cost-per-student—from about $176 to $123. The total number of students will remain the same. Faculty will spend less time preparing and delivering lectures and more time interacting with students. Overall, instructor time will decrease from 980 hours to 800 hours, or 45 hours less per instructor per term.
The primary savings will result from the reduction in GTA time, from 3,636 hours to 1,632, and from the reduction of the number of GTAs, from 12 to 6 with assistance from 8–10 undergraduate interns in the labs. Students will spend more time on computer lab applications. GTAs and faculty will provide assistance in the lab as students and groups solve problems. Additional personnel will provide clerical support for tracking students’ progress and technical support for maintaining the course Web site.
The savings that will be generated for one 240-student section is calculated to be $12,604, with a semester savings for four sections of $50,416. Because this course enrolls 2,200 students annually at the University Park campus, the redesign savings translate into annual savings of at least $116,600.
[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—Elementary Statistics
| Faculty | |
| Salary and Benefits | $70,037 |
| % devoted to instruction | 50% |
| % devoted to this course | 60% |
| $ devoted to this course | $21,011 |
| Contact hours for course | 45 |
| Out of class hours | 200 |
| Total hours | 245 |
| Cost per hour | $86 |
| Graduate TAs | |
| Salary of one TA | $14,130 |
| % devoted to instruction | 50% |
| % devoted to this course | 100% |
| $ devoted to this course | $7,065 |
| Contact hours for course | 105 |
| Out of class hours | 198 |
| Total hours | 303 |
| Cost per hour of one TA | $23 |
| Undergraduate TAs | |
| Cost per hour | $10 |
| Professional/Staff | $ per |
| Positions | Hour |
| #1 Web Tech Support | $15 |
| #2 Clerical Support | $10 |
Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course
Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Elementary Statistics
| Faculty | TAs/GAs | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $86 | Hourly rate = | $23 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | ||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | ||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lecture/presentations | 360 | $30,873 | ||
| 2. Learning materials/software | 720 | $16,788 | ||
| 3. Diagnostic Assessments | ||||
| 4. Assignments | 24 | $2,058 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 100 | $8,576 | ||
| Sub-Total | 484 | $41,508 | 720 | $16,788 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation/Training | 48 | $1,119 | ||
| 2. Staff meetings | 60 | $5,146 | 180 | $4,197 |
| 3. Attend lectures | 540 | $12,591 | ||
| Sub-Total | 60 | $5,146 | 768 | $17,907 |
| Total Preparation | 544 | $46,653 | 1488 | $34,695 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||
| 2. Presentation | 180 | $15,437 | 720 | $16,788 |
| 3. Student Interactions | 120 | $10,291 | 360 | $8,394 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | ||||
| Sub-Total | 300 | $25,728 | 1080 | $25,182 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 40 | $3,430 | 180 | $4,197 |
| 2. Tests/Evaluation | 96 | $8,233 | 888 | $20,705 |
| Sub-Total | 136 | $11,663 | 1068 | $24,902 |
| Total Delivery | 436 | $37,391 | 2148 | $50,085 |
| TOTAL | 980 | $84,044 | 3636 | $84,780 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $168,824 | |||
| Total # of students | 960 | |||
| Cost per student | $176 |
Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Elementary Statistics
| FACULTY | TAs/GAs | Undergrad TAs | Clerical Support | Web Tech Support | ||||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $86 | Hourly rate = | $23 |
Hourly rate = |
$10 | Hourly rate = | $10 | Hourly rate = | $15 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | ||||||||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 60 | $600 | ||||||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||||||||
| 1. Lecture/prepreparation | 120 | $10,291 | 180 | $4,197 | ||||||
| 2. Learning materials/software | ||||||||||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | ||||||||||
| 4. Assignments | 8 | $686 | ||||||||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 16 | $1,372 | 30 | $300 | ||||||
| Sub-Total | 144 | $12,349 | 180 | $4,197 | 90 | $900 | ||||
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||||||
| 1. Orientation/training | 48 | $1,119 | ||||||||
| 2. Staff meetings | 60 | $5,146 | 90 | $2,099 | ||||||
| 3. Attend lectures | 180 | $4,197 | ||||||||
| Sub-Total | 60 | $5,146 | 318 | $7,415 | ||||||
| Total Preparation | 204 | $17,495 | 498 | $11,612 | 90 | $900 | ||||
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||||||||
| 2. Presentation | 300 | $25,728 | 300 | $6,995 | ||||||
| 3. Interaction | 240 | $20,582 | 510 | $11,892 | 840 | $8,148 | 160 | $2,400 | ||
| 4. Progress monitoring | 180 | $4,197 | ||||||||
| Sub-Total | 540 | $46,310 | 990 | $23,084 | 840 | $8,148 | 160 | $2,400 | ||
| B. Evaluation | ||||||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 24 | $2,058 | 48 | $1,119 | 30 | $300 | ||||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 32 | $2,744 | 96 | $2,238 | ||||||
| Sub-Total | 56 | $4,803 | 144 | $3,358 | 30 | $300 | ||||
| Total Delivery | 596 | $51,113 | 1134 | $26,441 | 840 | $8,148 | 30 | $300 | 160 | $2,400 |
| TOTAL | 800 | $68,608 | 1632 | $38,053 | 840 | $8,148 | 120 | $1,200 | 160 | $2,400 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $118,409 | |||||||||
| Total # of students | 960 | |||||||||
| Cost per student | $123 |
Program in Course Redesign Quick Links:
Program In Course Redesign Main Page...
Lessons Learned:
Round 1...
Round II...
Round III...
Savings:
Round I...
Round II...
Round III...
Project Descriptions:
Sorted by Discipline...
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