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 context, the continuous improvement of employee skills is becoming a major challenge for companies. The objective? To remain competitive and in line with an ever-changing market. And to achieve this, online courses are becoming increasingly popular.

Although online training courses are seductive, they sometimes struggle to meet the needs of companies and learners alike. Overly generalized and not interactive enough, MOOC courses also show their pedagogical limits. This is where the SPOC ( Small Private Online Courses) format comes into its own! It's accessible to a small number of people, offers the possibility of private coaching, and promises a high rate of engagement. This approach is increasingly attracting organizations looking for more effective solutions and individualized support. It's a new teaching method that's really catching on!

What is a SPOC? What types of SPOC exist, and how do they differ from MOOCs or COOCs? Discover the advantages of SPOCs and our tips for creating your own!

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Definition of a SPOC, small-group online training

What is an SPOC?

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

The SPOC idea didn't come out of nowhere: it's part of the evolution of e-learning. As mass training courses (MOOCs) were no longer fully adapted to expectations, more targeted and interactive forms of learning emerged.

This concept really took off in the early 2010s, to fill the gaps left by MOOCs. Suffering from a lack of follow-up and a high drop-out rate, MOOCs were often criticized. The aim? Reproduce the effectiveness of traditional classroom teaching, but in a virtual classroom, with high-quality collaborative exchanges and real professional support. Today, companies and universities are using SPOCs to offer more engaging and professional training to employees and students.

What does SPOC mean?

The acronym SPOC stands for small private online courses.

• S for small: reserved for a small group of employees (15 to 50 participants), which enables the trainer(s) to provide real support.
  
  
• P for private: not open to just anyone, either because there is a selection process at the outset, or because it is created by a company for its employees on a specific issue.
  
  
• O for online: everything takes place online, allowing you to benefit from all the advantages of e-learning (low costs, flexibility, customized 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 follow-up by the trainer.

Types of SPOC

We distinguish between two types of SPOC:

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

And while the corporate SPOC format can be adapted to any problem, here are a few that have already proved their worth:

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

What's the difference between MOOCs, SPOCs and COOCs?

Despite the similarity of their 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.

On a corporate scale, 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 evaluation 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 a 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);
• the employee feels better guided and motivated. They have a privileged interlocutor who helps them to 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 training program, from which the employee will emerge with real skills. They are monitored and evaluated, not just passively given information.

Benefit no. 4: motivating pedagogy

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

Indeed, social learning, group dynamics and exchange (with the trainer and between learners) are fundamental to SPOCs. They help to maintain motivation and feed off the group's dynamism and collective intelligence for a rapid rise in skills.

Benefit no. 5: ROI and flexibility

Thanks to better-targeted training, participants find their place in this digital learning and are more willing to learn. The result? Drop-out is limited and learners are more engaged in the activity. ✅

With more employees completing the training program, your original investment pays off. Thanks to this professional training program, a real transfer of skills and knowledge is achieved, and you benefit fully from it.

What's more, the content available online is accessible at all times. Ideal for learning that fits in with the participant's schedule, without compromising productivity. With SPOCs, you can adapt distance learning to your company's needs.

The disadvantages of SPOCs

Although SPOCs offer many advantages, this type of training also presents challenges that can slow down its adoption or make it more complex to set up:

• Higher costs: SPOCs involve higher costs than MOOCs, or sometimes even face-to-face training. Indeed, it is often necessary to have a dedicated trainer and personalized content for employees.

• Strong commitment from the trainer: SPOC training for a small group is great, but it requires a huge commitment from the teaching professional. To ensure the success of the training program, the trainer needs to be in constant contact with employees, answering questions, providing information and monitoring progress. This represents a heavy workload, but is essential to the success of the SPOC. The trainer must also be able to adapt and evolve according to learners' needs.

• Difficulty in mobilizing small groups: the whole point of a SPOC is to get the right people involved. Depending on the group, the result will be different. People who are too passive or unmotivated will be detrimental to the training. Unlike MOOCs, exchanges and communication are essential for SPOCs.

• Technology required: SPOCs rely on e-learning platforms to manage modules, assessments and follow-up. If your company doesn't have the right technology, this could change the way the SPOC is carried out, and perhaps make it less effective.

Applications of SPOCs in training

With its more focused and flexible form, the SPOC is increasingly being integrated into schools and universities as a complement to traditional courses. It's no longer an approach reserved exclusively for companies. SPOCs are attractive in a number of ways:

• as a complement to conventional courses: they can be deployed in parallel with classroom training, enabling students to follow courses in a personalized way. For example, they can be used to deepen the understanding of concepts or provide additional resources.

• Remediation: to support a learner who has received a series of poor marks during his or her studies, or who is lacking in a particular subject. The individualized digital approach facilitates faster comprehension.

• Specialization: SPOCs enable you to develop a specialization in specific subjects, such as specific software, methods or technical issues.

SPOCs help better prepare students for the demands of the job market. 🤓

5 tips for creating your own SPOC

To create your own SPOC, follow our 5 tips!

Tip no. 1: frame before you launch

Define :

• your objectives,
• your target audience,
• the duration and pace of the course,
• its structure,
• different formats,
• evaluation methods, etc.
• A SPOC for medical students is not the same as a communications course.

And don't forget to define your budget. The cost of different tools and platforms, remuneration of contributors, design time... All this represents an investment. Realistic planning avoids unpleasant surprises. 🙌

Tip no. 2: build the scenario

A good SPOC relies on a fluid and engaging progression. Structuring the content into short, dynamic modules with varied activities avoids the online lecture effect.

Take care with the general framework, the topics to be covered and the sequence of chapters. To visualize the learning path, use a mind map or course map.

Tip 3: Create content

Once the learning scenario has been defined, it's time to create the content! Varied, interactive content (texts, videos, podcasts, etc.) is the best way to capture participants' attention. Encourage clear writing adapted to the level of the audience, and the use of short, effective videos and multimedia content.

When constructing assessments, consider regular quizzes and exercises to check learners' progress, and vary formats to avoid monotony.

Tip 4: Use serious games

Use serious games, scenarios and simulations to make the experience even more immersive and motivating! This learning mode is particularly effective at engaging learners and getting them to learn while having fun. 🤹

Tip 5: Use training tools to create your course

Use training tools to create your course (e-learning or digital adoption platform). Here's a selection of high-performance software:

• 🛠️ Apolearn: design complete, relevant and customizable 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 evaluation modes (quiz, fill-in-the-blank text, 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 functionalities and processes in real-life conditions.

Measuring the impact of a SPOC: indicators and best practices

To guarantee the effectiveness of your SPOC, it is essential to monitor key indicators (KPIs) and adjust the course according to the results:

• Completion rate and engagement:
  • Identify how many learners complete the course.
  • Analyze the time spent on each module and the level of participation in exchanges.
  • Identify any sticking points so you can learn from them and improve future sessions.
• Track progress :
  • Incorporate quizzes and regular assessments to measure your teams' progress.
  • Organize role-playing exercises or case studies to test under real-life conditions.
  • Encourage feedback for personalized support.
• Learner satisfaction and feedback:
  • Gather feedback through questionnaires and interviews.
  • Check each time that the content is still relevant and that the difficulty is appropriate.
  • Adjust the program according to feedback and any new needs.
• Long-term impact:
  • Compare skills before and after training.
  • Monitor the application of what you've learned in everyday life.
  • Check concrete benefits after a few months to adjust future sessions if necessary.

See all software Learning Management System (LMS)

SPOC: a bright future?

You've now 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 further developments.

One thing's for sure: 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 telecommuting, face-to-face learning is increasingly being called into question. E-learning and SPOCs still have a long way to go!