How to Use the Course Estimation Worksheet

A practical guide for instructional designers who want to generate clear, consistent, and professional course‑development estimates.

Start With Your Company Information

This section personalizes the estimate and ensures your branding appears on the printed output.

What to Enter

  • My company name.
  • My company logo URL.
    This is optional, but it looks great on the printout.
    Note that this setting must use a web-based source like https://mydomain.com/images/image.png, etc.
  • My hourly rate.
    • This overrides the default BaseRatePerHour in the settings file.
    • It affects all in‑house person‑hour calculations.

This information appears at the top of the printed estimate.

Enter Customer Details

These fields help you keep track of which estimate belongs to which project.

  • Customer name.
  • Project name.

Both appear on the printed estimate header.

Apply Any Discount

If you're offering a percentage discount for this project, enter it here.

  • The discount applies to the final total, not individual line items.
  • The printed estimate will show the discount and the adjusted total.

Define the Course Scope

This is one of the most important sections. It determines how the estimator interprets the rest of your inputs.

Choose One of Two Available Modes

In some cases, the customer will be focused more directly on either the total running time of the course or upon the specific amount of work to be done. The mode helps to accommodate that difference.

Training time (total minutes) In this mode, you enter the total running time of the course, also referred to sometimes as presentation time.

This mode allows the team to discuss the entire project in terms of how long its presentation will last, rather than focusing directly upon how many slides will be developed. The total number of slides is calculated below and printed on the estimate.

Slide Count You enter the total number of slides.

This mode is more direct than the training time mode and is focused only upon the specific number of slides to be developed.

Additional Options

  • Display total person‑hours.
    Shows the estimated total number of person-hours (labor hours) on the printed estimate.
  • Previously existing source material available.
    This reduces the Storyboard and/or script development cost for the following processes on teaching styles that define a PreviousExistingSource rate.
    • Click to learn: Rise.
    • Click to learn: Storyline.
    • Instructor-led training (PowerPoint).

Select One or More Teaching Styles

Each teaching style defines its own number of slides to be developed.

  • Click to learn: Rise. An interactive e-training course created and managed in Articulate Rise.
  • Click to learn: Storyline. An interactive e-training course created and managed in Articulate Storyline.
  • Instructional Video. An instructional video presentation of a specified duration.
  • Instructor-led training (PowerPoint). An in-person instructor-led training course with presenter's notes and a PowerPoint presentation.
  • Pick your own adventure. An interactive instructional experience designed so learners actively shape their path through the material. Instead of moving through a fixed, linear sequence, participants make choices at key moments, much like the classic adventure books, leading them down different segments, challenges, or outcomes.
  • Storytelling. Instead of presenting facts in isolation, the material is woven into a narrative with characters, tension, and meaningful choices. That structure taps into how people naturally make sense of the world.

You may select multiple styles if the project blends formats.

Each style contributes a proportional share of the total time or slide count.

Select Processes

Processes represent the optional or required production tasks that add cost to the project.

They fall into the two following categories.

Integrated

The following properties scale with course size and have no settings.

  • Language translation.
  • Storyboard and/or script development.
  • Slide development.
  • Student guide.
  • Word animation and object transitions.

Standalone

The following elements are separately priced services with a measurement unit.

Name Measurement Unit Description
2D animation per running minute We will include up to {Count} minutes of studio-quality 2D animation in your specified subject.
3D animation per running minute We will include up to {Count} minutes of studio-quality 3D animation in your specified subject.
3D object design per image We will add up to {Count} custom 3D objects, where applicable, to convey meaning.
Basic custom graphics and illustrations per image We will add up to {Count} custom graphics, illustrations, and infographics to convey meaning.
Hours of revision rounds per hour We will dedicate up to {Count} hours of work per revision round.
Job Aids per page We will create up to {Count} pages of job aid material.
Language translation per word Each language requires one layer per slide.
Learning needs analysis per hour We will invest up to {Count} hours in learning needs analysis on the subject.
Live in-person rehearsal and facilitation per hour We will rehearse presenting the material then present the instruction to your group in-person. You will provide the venue.
Live webinar rehearsal and facilitation per hour We will rehearse presenting the material then present the instruction to your group using a web-based webinar or online meeting channel.
Meetings And Communication per hour We will dedicate up to {Count} hours to real-time meetings and communication about the project.
Photography per image We will add up to {Count} custom professional photographs of your specified subject.
Project Management per hour We will dedicate up to {Count} hours in background project management.
Research and Discovery per hour We will invest up to {Count} hours in background research and discovery on the subject.
Revision Rounds each We will conduct up to {Count} free revision rounds per milestone.
Screen Recording per running minute We will record up to {Count} minutes of screen presentation and narration video.
Stock images per image We will locate, purchase, add and edit up to {Count} stock images approved by you.
Subject matter expert (external) per hour We will consult a qualified external subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours.
Subject matter expert (ours) per hour We will consult our internal subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours.
Subject matter expert (yours) per hour We will consult with your subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours.
Video Processing per running minute We will process the video for up to {Count} minutes of screen presentation, animation, and narration.
Videography per running minute We will add up to {Count} minutes of professionally edited video on your specified subject.
Voice-over narration per word We will provide narration audio services for up to {Count} spoken languages of audio.

How to Use the Selected Processes

  • Check the box to include the process.
  • If the process has a quantity field, enter the number (hours, pages, images, languages, etc.).
  • The estimator automatically conducts the following activities.
    • Determines whether the process is integrated or standalone.
    • Applies the correct unit conversion.
    • Adds commission for outsourced services.
    • Calculates line totals.

Review the Estimate Section

Once all inputs are set, the estimator generates the following layout.

  • A detailed line‑item table.
  • Unit rates (with commission where applicable).
  • Quantities.
  • Line totals.
  • Subtotals.
  • Discount.
  • Final price.

If the option Display total person‑hours is checked, the estimate also displays the total number of estimated labor hours.

This section is fully print‑ready.

Press Ctrl + P to print or export the estimate as a PDF.

The printed version features all of the following traits.

  • All controls are hidden.
  • Your custom logo is displayed at the top, if you have specified one.
  • A clean, professional estimate is prepared out for your customer.

Customization

This course estimation worksheet can run from your local hard drive or from a website. If you want to run it on your local machine or web server, just download the file CourseEstimation.zip from this directory, and unzip it to the target folder where you wish to use it.

We arrived at these battle-tested values through a combination of our own practical experience and details we learned from the Association for Talent Development.

However, you are also free to customize the page in any way you see fit. If you would like to make any changes to the calculations on this page, you can edit your version of scripts/courseestimationdata.js with a normal text editor like VS Code then save those changes before using your updated version.

Configuration Settings Reference Table

In the following table, you will find a complete breakdown of the configurable calculation settings used by the estimator.

Area Setting Description Default
settings BaseRatePerHour Your organization's hourly rate. 95
settings OutsourceCommissionPercent Markup applied to outsourced services. 15
settings SpokenWordRatePerMinute Words spoken per minute (for voice-over and translation) 150
settings ImagesPerPage Used for image‑based cost conversions. 1.5
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles InstructorLedTraining . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the Instructor-Led Training teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnStoryline . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the Storyline Click to Learn teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles ClickToLearnRise . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the Rise Click to Learn teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Storytelling . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the storytelling teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Storytelling . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the storytelling teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Storytelling . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the storytelling teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles Storytelling . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the storytelling teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles Storytelling . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the storytelling teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Storytelling . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the storytelling teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Adventure . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Adventure . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Adventure . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles Adventure . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles Adventure . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Adventure . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the Pick your own adventure teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Video . SlidesPerMinute Slides consumed per minute of teaching time in the Instructional Video teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Video . SubjectMatterExpert SME hours per production hour in the Instructional Video teaching style. 2
Teaching Styles Video . Inhouse . Default . HoursPerSlide Number of default internal person-hours required to produce each slide in the Instructional Video teaching style. 0.1
Teaching Styles Video . Inhouse . Storyboard . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to produce the storyboard for each slide in the Instructional Video teaching style. 0.375
Teaching Styles Video . Inhouse . Storyboard . PreviousExistingSource Number of hours required to prepare for storyboard provided by external customer in the Instructional Video teaching style. 0.25
Teaching Styles Video . Inhouse . SlideDevelopment . HoursPerSlide Number of internal person-hours required to develop each slide in the Instructional Video teaching style. 0.25
Process Selections None Course assembly from customer-provided elements. Not guaranteed to be fully accessible. If storyboard, images, animations, audio, translations, and other media or processes are to be used, they will be provided by the customer. Previously existing content will be converted. 0.2 person-hours/slide
Process Selections LearningNeedsAnalysis We will invest up to {Count} hours in learning needs analysis on the subject. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections Storyboard We will create a storyboard layout and voice script for the course. 0.25 person-hour/slide
Process Selections SlideDevelopment We will provide slide development. 0.5 person-hour/slide
Process Selections Transitions We will add basic screen level transitions such as fade, swipe, fly-in, etc. 0.25 person-hour/slide
Process Selections WebFacilitation We will rehearse presenting the material then present the instruction to your group using a web-based webinar or online meeting channel. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections InPersonFacilitation We will rehearse presenting the material then present the instruction to your group in-person. You will provide the venue. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections ScreenRecording We will record up to {Count} minutes of screen presentation and narration video. {BaseRatePerHour} * 1.5/presentation-minute
Process Selections VideoProcessing We will process the video for up to {Count} minutes of screen presentation, animation, and narration. {BaseRatePerHour} * 1.0/presentation-minute
Process Selections JobAid We will create up to {Count} pages of job aid material. {BaseRatePerHour} * 2.5/page
Process Selections StudentGuide We will create a printable student guide that allows the student to follow along, take notes in the margins, ask and answer questions, solve worksheets, and look up important references. 0.25/person-hour/slide
Process Selections Illustrations We will add up to {Count} custom graphics, illustrations, and infographics to convey meaning. 45.00/image
Process Selections StockImages We will locate, purchase, add and edit up to {Count} stock images approved by you. 12.00/image
Process Selections 3DObject We will add up to {Count} custom 3D objects, where applicable, to convey meaning. 240.00/image
Process Selections LanguageLayer Each language requires one layer per slide. {Count} * 0.25/person-hour/slide
Process Selections Language . Outsource We will translate the course into {Count} languages other than English. {WordCount} * 0.1
Process Selections VoiceOver . Outsource We will provide narration audio services for up to {Count} spoken languages of audio. {WordCount} * 0.15
Process Selections Photography . Outsource We will add up to {Count} custom professional photographs of your specified subject. 187.50/image
Process Selections Videography . Outsource We will add up to {Count} minutes of professionally edited video on your specified subject. 1000.00/presentation-minute
Process Selections 2DAnimation . Outsource We will include up to {Count} minutes of studio-quality 2D animation in your specified subject. 2000.00/presentation-minute
Process Selections 3DAnimation . Outsource We will include up to {Count} minutes of studio-quality 3D animation in your specified subject. 12000.00/presentation-minute
Process Selections SubjectMatterExpert We will consult with your subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections SubjectMatterExpertI We will consult our internal subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections SubjectMatterExpertX We will consult a qualified external subject matter expert for up to {Count} hours. {Count} * {BaseRatePerHour} * 2
Process Selections ResearchAndDiscovery We will invest up to {Count} hours in background research and discovery on the subject. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections RevisionRounds We will conduct up to {Count} revision rounds per milestone. 0
Process Selections HoursPerRevisionRound We will dedicate up to {Count} hours of work per revision round. 1.0/person-hour/revision
Process Selections ProjectManagement We will dedicate up to {Count} hours in background project management. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour
Process Selections MeetingsAndCommunication We will dedicate up to {Count} hours to real-time meetings and communication about the project. {BaseRatePerHour}/person-hour