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

Step #2A: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Computer Programming I

Step #2B: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Computer Programming B