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.

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 tips for creating your own!

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Definition of an SPOC, small-group online training

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

The acronym SPOC stands for small private online courses.

• S for small: reserved for a small group of employees (15 to 50 participants), offering real support from the instructor(s).
  
  
• 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 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 SPOCformat 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 trainingmeet 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.

5 tips for creating your own SPOC

To create your own SPOC, follow our 5 tips!

• Tip 1: Set the scene before you start. Clearly define your objectives, your target audience, the duration and pace of the course, its structure, the different formats, the evaluation methods, etc.
  
  
• Tip 2: Build the scenario (general framework, topics to be covered, sequence of chapters, mindmap, etc.).
  
  
• Tip no. 3: create the content (writing, construction of assessments, filming of videos, etc.).
  
  
• Tip 4: Use serious games, a particularly effective way of engaging learners and making them learn while having fun.
  
  
• Tip 5: Use training tools to create your course (e-learning or digital adoptionplatforms ). 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.

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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'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!

Updated article, originally published in June 2020.