Course Development

Duration of course (hours)

Difficulty Level to design
course

Multimedia Level
Experience Level of
Designers
Number of Instructors per
hour of training
Learners
Total number of learners to
be trained
Class Size
Travel cost
Average pay of learner
Misc (in dollars)
Equipment
Outside vendor
Consultant
Video
Other

Enter data
in this
column
2
40

1.5
0.8

0.5

20
4
$1,200.00
$23.00

$350.00
$0.00
$0.00
$600.00
$160.00

Hours
Enter 30 for average class, 40 for more advanced training
classes, or 50 for highly technical training
Enter 1 for little or no multimedia, 1.5 for some multimedia,
and 2 if the course is composed mostly of multimedia
Enter 1.2 for new designers, 1 for average skill sets, and
0.8 for designers with advanced skills
If course is blended learning, then enter percentage of time
instructors will be used. For example, if 1/2 the class is
asynchronous elearning, then enter 0.5

Enter average travel cost for a participant

per hour

Results are are given in the "Training Estimates" worksheet

Note: Enter your own data in column

B. In addition, you might have to
adjust the numbers in column C to fit
your own organization
This tool is part of a larger set at:
http://nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/templates/templates.html

Cost

Note that the calculations on this page are based upon the data enter into the "Input Data" spreadsheet

Needs Assessment
Prepare Project Plan
Conduct Course Content/Learning
Analysis
Develop Instructional Media Design
Package
Develop Prototype Lesson
Develop Flowcharts
Develop Script/Storyboards
Produce/Acquire Media (Photos, audio,
video)
Author Course
Evaluate the Course (In-Process Reviews)

Percentage
of Time
Hours
3%
2.88
2%
1.92
5%

4.8

10%
5%
3%
19%

9.6
4.8
2.88
18.24

13%
30%

12.48
28.8

10%

9.6

100%
Instructor Prep Time

Instructional Designer labor cost

Instructor labor cost
Learner's wages
Travel costs

Misc Costs:
Equipment
Outside vendor
Consultant
Video
Other

Total Hours
to create
96 course
3 hours

Labor Cost
$2,768.64
$230.72
$460.00
$24,000.00
$27,459.36 Total

$350.00
$0.00
$0.00
$600.00
$160.00
$28,440.36 Grand Total

o the "Input Data" spreadsheet

Note: You might have to adjust

the percentages to fit your
organization, if so, ensure the
percentage add up to 100%

Produce a video

$2,000.00

Produce slides

$25.00

Produce audio tape

$75.00

Student guide

$88.00

Instructional Designer

$28.84

Management or Organization Specialist

$38.46

Outside Consultant or Specialist

$85.00

Instructor Preparation:
3
2.5
2

per-finished-minutes (PFM) depending upon concept, locations,

talent, special effects, etc.
per slide
per minute
four to eight hours development time to produce 1/2 to 2
pages
based on salary of $60,000 per year
based on salary of $80,000 per year
per hour
(Dugan Laird, in "Approaches to Training and Development,"
(1985) Based on U.S. Civil Service estimate):
Course is five days or less, then 3 hours of preparation for
each hour of training.
Course is between five and ten days, then 2.5 hours of
preparation for each hour of training.
Course is over 10 days, then 2 hours of preparation for each
hour of training.