Motion　estimation　(ME)　is　an　essential　part　of　digital　video　compression.　However,　in　H.264,　it　leads　to　high　computational　complexity,　which　can　significantly　affect　the　peak　signal-to-noise　ratio　(PSNR),　ME　time　and　bit　rate.　To　improve　the　coding　efficiency　of　inter-prediction,　many　fast　motion　estimation　algorithms　have　been　proposed.　Based　on　the　research　of　the　characters　of　educational　videos　and　fast　motion　estimation　(FME)　algorithms,　this　paper　proposes　a　motion　estimation　algorithm　to　optimize　this　process.　The　experiment　results　show　that　compared　with　the　algorithms　adopted　by　JM　reference　software,　the　proposed　algorithm　costs　less　ME　time　and　achieves　better　PSNR　with　little　change　in　bit　rate,　especially　in　the　field　of　educational　video　compression.　©　2011　IEEE.