Cost evaluation of instructional strategies

Abstract

Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses are rapidly be coming more common in the field of education. With the economic problems of education continuing, it is safe to assume that calls for such analysis will continue. If cost eval uation is to be used effectively to solve instructional prob lems (rather than as a threat to intimidate educators), those working at the design level need to become aware of the analysis process and start developing solutions to some of the problems that have been discussed or touched on above. First among these problems is the need for output measures that are educationally as well as economically justifiable. Until a learning measure is developed that can be related to both instructional strategies (therefore instructional costs) and to the “higher” goals of education, there will be legitimate criti cism of cost evaluation. Also, there is a need to establish standard terminology and procedures for determining and re porting instructional costs. The development of such stand ards should lead to the establishment of a consistent and ac cessible data base on the costs of instructional technology and make possible the application of cost-effectiveness evalu ation in the formative stages of instructional development where it has the highest potential payoff.