SPOC: focus on this e-learning format for training employees

Have you heard of the SPOC, an online training course offering an alternative to the famous MOOCs?

In an increasingly demanding economic climate, the continuous improvement of employee skills is becoming a major challenge for companies. The aim? To remain competitive and in line with an ever-changing market. And to achieve this, online courses are increasingly being adopted.

What is the definition of a SPOC? What types of SPOC exist, and how do they differ from MOOCs or COOCs? Discover the benefits of SPOCs and our advice on how to create your own!

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Definition of an SPOC, online training in small groups

An SPOC is a type of e-learning course inspired by MOOCs, but delivered in smaller groups. It aims to develop learners' skills in a specific area, by encouraging collaboration and discussion.

The acronym SPOC stands for small private online courses.

• S for small: reserved for a small group of employees (15 to 50 participants), providing real support from the instructor(s).
  
  
• P for private: this is not open to just anyone, either because there is a selection process on entry, or because it is set up by a company for its employees to address a specific issue.
  
  
• O for online: everything takes place online, so you can take advantage of all the benefits of e-learning (low costs, flexibility, customised content, etc.).
  
  
• C for courses: courses generally use a variety of media (videos, documents, videoconferencing, chat, quizzes, team workshops, etc.) and end with a certification or diploma depending on the context.

💡 The SPOC is a professional training course that adapts to the expectations of companies and guarantees greater attendance on the part of the trainee, thanks to precise targeting of their needs and better monitoring by the trainer.

Types of SPOC

There are two types of SPOC:

• inter-company SPOCs, which bring together employees from different organisations.
  
  
• intra-company SPOCs, which are tailor-made to meet the needs of a single company.

And while the corporate SPOCformat can be adapted to suit any problem, the following are some of the most tried and tested:

• improving language skills
• learning new software
• onboarding new employees
• implementing new working methods.

What is the difference between MOOCs, SPOCs and COOCs?

Despite their similar acronyms, these types of digital training meet different needs and complement each other on the market. But when it comes to training company employees, the SPOC seems to be the best option.

💡 Bonus: are you familiar with SOOCs? These Small Online Open Courses are free and open to all (like MOOCs). The difference is that they take place in small groups, because they deal with niche expertise that few people are suited to studying.

At company level, use DAPs (Digital Adoption Platforms).

Why choose a SPOC? Undeniable advantages

Advantage no. 1: an expert trainer

The SPOC is generally taught by an expert in the field, who passes on all his or her experience and know-how in a specific area of expertise.

Advantage no. 2: assessment and certification

The SPOC includes an assessment system, leading to a certificate of completion. This reassures the employer by attesting to the new skills acquired by the employee. The employee, for his or her part, can add value to these new skills on his or her CV.

Advantage no. 3: better follow-up than MOOCs

Thanks to the small number of participants, the trainer can monitor each learner's progress individually. Consequences:

• the SPOC guarantees a lower drop-out rate (which is still 93% for MOOCs, according to Boost Your Learning);
• employees feel better guided and motivated. They have a privileged contact who can help them move forward, solve problems, and with whom they can exchange ideas to move in the right direction;
• SPOCs offer companies the assurance of a comprehensive learning programme, fromwhich employees will emerge with real skills. They will be monitored and assessed, rather than just passively receiving information.

Advantage no. 4: motivating teaching methods

While SPOCs adopt the best practices of MOOCs (videos, quizzes, etc.), they are also characterised by the presence of practical, operational exercises and collaborative work.

Social learning, group dynamics and exchanges (with the trainer and between learners) are fundamental to SPOCs. They help to keep learners motivated and enable them to draw on the group's dynamism and collective intelligence to rapidly develop their skills.

5 tips for creating your SPOC

To create your own SPOC, follow our 5 tips!

• Tip 1: Set the scene before you start. Define your objectives, your target audience, the length and pace of the course, its structure, the different formats, the assessment methods, etc.
  
  
• Tip 2: Draw up the scenario (general outline, topics to be covered, sequence of chapters , mindmap, etc.).
  
  
• Tip no. 3: create the content (writing, constructing assessments, filming videos, etc.).
  
  
• Tip 4: use serious games, a particularly effective way of engaging learners and getting them to learn while having fun.
  
  
• Tip 5: Use training tools to create your course (e-learning or digital adoptionplatform ). Here is a selection of high-performance software:
  
  
  • 🛠️ Apolearn: design complete, relevant and customisable learning paths in over 200 different formats (from text to webinar to audio) for your MOOCs, SPOCs or face-to-face courses.
    
    
  • 🛠️ Créa Learning: quickly and easily create any type of content (video, sound, text) and test different assessment methods (quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, MCQs, etc.), all at a very attractive price.
    
    
  • 🛠️ K-studio: create training courses, step-by-step and interactive assessment exercises on an interface simulating your business software, where employees can get to grips with the functions and processes in real-life conditions.

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SPOC: a bright future?

By now you've learned your lesson and know everything there is to know about SPOCs. There's no doubt that this format will fit in perfectly with your company's ambitions... while you wait for the next developments.

One thing is certain: technological advances will offer ever more possibilities for enhanced learning experiences, in line with business challenges and changes in the professional world.

In these uncertain times of global pandemics and widespread teleworking, face-to-face learning is increasingly being called into question. E-learning and SPOCs still have a long way to go!

Updated article, originally published in June 2020.