University of Colorado at Boulder

Introductory Astronomy—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 the University of Colorado at Boulder and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

Colorado's redesign will initially be developed in one large section with the intent of implementing it throughout the course. The course-planning tool shows the cost of the traditional course as taught in both large and moderate-sized sections and the impact of redesign on both formats. Faculty preparation is reduced by 50%, and GTA time is reduced from 600 to 200 hours in the large section and eliminated entirely in the moderate-sized sections. ULAs provide 720 hours of interaction time in the large redesigned sections and 450 hours in the moderate-sized redesigned sections to support students’ learning.

In the redesign, the cost-per-student in the large sections will decrease from $146 to $125, a 14% saving, reflecting the fact that the large lecture model is already relatively inexpensive. The cost-per-student in the moderate-sized sections (approximately 80 students) will shrink from $304 to $199, a 35% cost savings. Taking the two configurations together, the cost-per-student is reduced from $171 to $137, a 20% savings that translates to a total course savings of $34,910 each term.

[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 Astronomy

Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Large Sections—Introductory Astronomy

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Moderate Sections—Introductory Astronomy

Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Large Section—Introductory Astronomy

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Moderate Section—Introductory Astronomy