11.015 - Cost and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Educational Programs

Session Type: Professional Development Course

Abstract

This one-day session is designed to help researchers, analysts, evaluators, and decision-makers apply the ingredients method to estimate the costs and cost-effectiveness of educational programs. While AERA participants are likely to be familiar with multiple methods for estimating effectiveness of educational programs, the goal of this workshop is to build capacity for estimating costs and combining them with available effectiveness data to evaluate programs and make efficient resource allocation decisions. Activities will include a mix of lecture, discussion, demonstration, hands-on exercises, small group work, and presentations. The workshop will begin with a discussion of why cost analysis is important and a description of the ingredients method for estimating costs. Participants will practice identifying the ingredients of an educational program and be introduced to a computer-based Cost Tool Kit. The tool allows users to enter ingredients of an educational program and facilitates the estimation of costs associated with each ingredient, including adjustments for inflation, geographical location, and, for multi-year programs, the calculation of Net Present Value. Users will assign costs to different funders to investigate the burden of costs among sponsors of a program. After walking through an example of how to use the Cost Tool to estimate costs of an educational program, participants will work in groups to identify ingredients and use the Cost Tool to estimate costs of an educational program of their choice. Laptops and basic knowledge of Excel are required.

Sub Unit

• Professional Development and Training Committee

Instructors

• Henry M. Levin, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Fiona M. Hollands, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Robert Shand, Teachers College, Columbia University