If theelearning traditional already included educational activities, online learning is now more dynamic and collaborative. The educational lines drawn by the MOOC have made it possible to design more active courses, including the SPOC or Small Private Online Course. Focused on corporate goals, this private digital training has become a real driver of success for organizations. Why implement this system in vocational training programs? What are the advantages of SPOC in the context of business? Overview.
Reduced costs
The first advantage of SPOC is common to other digital training courses: cost reduction. Accessible online, the training does not require face-to-face courses, allowing the company to reduce the resources to be mobilized.
Even if the SPOC is chargeable, this new generation training is economical in many respects:
- All expenses related to face-to-face training such as travel expenses, accommodation expenses, training allowances or canteens can be subtracted from the company bill. Employees can train without going to the organization's premises, via technological devices such as computers, tablets or smartphones.
- The delivery of courses is less restrictive, offering more flexibility and time savings for the company. The training schedules are easily adaptable to the calendar of its activities.
- There is no need to free up the meeting room or rent space to conduct the training. The platform makes it possible to attend virtual classes via videoconference sessions.
Targeted courses
Focused on business realities, the SPOC is a real economic lever. Indeed, while massive courses such as the MOOC include academic content, The SPOC offers professional courses focused on real business issues. The topics covered in the training aim at the acquisition of know-how that is directly applicable in the context of the company's activities.
Thus, the SPOC is dedicated to a small pre-selected group, which may be employees or collaborators of the company. In order to propose adapted solutions, its design is carried out after identifying the difficulties or sources of demotivation of the actors concerned. All training content is focused on the needs of learners, thus having a direct impact on their skills development. The pedagogical approach is specifically chosen to adapt to the level of knowledge of the participants.
Industry, trade, insurance, banking or even pharmaceutical... SPOC can be deployed in all sectors of activity. This type of private training is not necessarily designed by the company internally. Most of the time, the training is carried out by a specialized external provider who develops a tailor-made educational scenario. To facilitate its task, the company can also register its employees on a training platform that is already available, provided, however, that the theme addressed corresponds to its objectives.
A collaborative system
The collaborative nature of SPOC is a significant asset, not only for the company, but also for each learner. By valuing the social aspect of learning, training creates or strengthens team spirit among participants, and automatically increases their motivation. SPOC allows learners to collaborate and interact with others, unlike traditional e-learning which often puts them in an individual and isolated learning situation.
How does the collaborative component of training apply?
- Through sharing spaces such as discussion forums, in which learners can discuss a topic, ask questions, or share knowledge;
- Through group exercises that put them in a work and cooperative situation;
- Through videoconferences that allow them to participate as in a virtual classroom.
Thus “rehumanized”, online training can meet the interaction needs of learners while facilitating learning. The concept of Social learning is one of the bases of the pedagogical approach, allowing participants to consolidate their knowledge by transmitting it to others.
Personalized follow-ups
In addition to sharing between learners, SPOC also allows exchanges with trainers. The limited number of participants allows them to follow their students on an individualized basis. Everyone can explain their points of difficulty and receive support according to their level of skills.
For each learner to be active, a facilitator is responsible for stimulating learning. The training is oriented around the concept of “learning by doing” or active pedagogy, which encourages participants to remain active and to interact throughout the course. This dynamization system is particularly effective in arousing learners' attention and engagement. By joining an active group, the participant is reassured, motivated and becomes more cooperative.
Numerous devices are integrated into the SPOC in order to maintain this interactivity and ensure the follow-up of learners. Apart from discussion forums, some platforms offer chat tools that allow instructors to be contacted directly in private. Direct events via videoconferences are also diverse and organized regularly.
Valued achievements
If most of the solutions ofelearning While classical programs offer automated ratings, SPOC relies on real knowledge evaluations. Assessment systems do not focus on grades obtained, but focus on acquired values..
Two evaluation systems are applied by the SPOC:
- The quizzes, which allow the learner to self-assess and identify shortcomings. Based on his notes, he can then decide to do additional research or to ask questions in the discussion areas;
- Peer review, whose basic concept is based on “learning by teaching”. By correcting other participants' tests, learners can access additional explanations while enriching their knowledge.
This active pedagogical approach explains the high success rate of SPOC. The awarding of a certificate at the end of the course is also a source of motivation for learners.
In fact, the SPOC was designed to meet the evolving needs of employees and businesses. Since skills development is a prerequisite for success for organizations, this type of tailor-made training remains the best suited to their reality.
