## We're going to talk about **COOCs**, **MOOCs** and **SPOCs** A hint? OC stands for _Online Courses_. Switch on your computers, tablets or smartphones, we're talking about the **digitization** of **educational resources** and **e-learning**! The word **digitization** is on everyone's lips these days. Among the new digital, collaborative and interactive practices, **professional training** has taken the turn of the web to adapt to the new needs of **learners** and **trainers**. According to a September 2019 study by the Observatoire du Digital Learning FFFOD, 73% of companies and training organizations plan to accelerate their digitalization process for training, and 17% of them are already using MOOCs, SPOCs and COOCs. **Training yourself**, choosing your **content** and **modules**, signing up for a **virtual class**, is becoming the norm for acquiring **new skills**, without time or geographical constraints. Are you an **HR manager** looking to **support** your organization's **digital transformation** by developing your teams' skills? Are you a current employee or retraining, looking for the best educational solution to enhance your CV without going back to school or to a **training organization**? We'll explain what a COOC is and how it differs from MOOCs and SPOCs, the **new training courses** available on the move, thanks to digital media and tools. ## What is a COOC? ### COOC: definition This acronym stands for **_Corporate Online Open Course_**. The French translation could be "formation ouverte prodiguée en ligne par une entreprise". It's **digital learning** within a company, aimed not only at employees, but also at candidates, suppliers, customers and prospects. ### Benefits and objectives of a COOC The COOC offers : - a **customized program, designed by and for the company**, - a mix of theory and practice, - knowledge sharing by both facilitators and learners, via dedicated chats and forums, - a wide range of content, making it highly entertaining: webinars, quizzes, MCQs, videos, exercises, etc, - affordable cost. **Advantages of COOCs for employees :** - **acquire new skills**, - **develop know-how**, - take control of their training, - assimilate learning content more easily, thanks to its **fun**, **interactive** aspects, - schedule learning sessions flexibly and anywhere, - **_peer-to-peer learning_**. **COOC benefits for the company:** - share **corporate culture**, - provide the same level of access to training and transmit common knowledge to all employees, especially for large, multi-site or multinational companies, - **motivate teams**, notably by awarding symbolic certifications at the end of the COOC, - build loyalty through in-house training and the prospect of career development, - **stimulate collective intelligence**, **collaboration**, innovation and **knowledge sharing**, - **detect talent** and leverage **human capital**. ### Example of a COOC La Poste has produced a COOC with 24 videos to enable its 260,000 employees to learn more about the Group, its organization, branches and subsidiaries, as well as its development prospects and objectives. ## New trends in digital learning The COOC is part of the new trends in e-learning, or digital learning: mobile learning, serious games, virtual reality, augmented reality, with interactivity as a common vector! Here we introduce you to MOOCs and SPOCs, and how they differ from COOCs. ## The difference between COOC, MOOC and SPOC It all sounds very similar to what you've already read about MOOCs and SPOCs? But there are a few differences... ### What is a MOOC? A **MOOC**, or **_Massive Online Open Course_**, is, as its name suggests, an online course **open to all**, with free access on the Internet. This is quite **different from a COOC**, which is offered by a company to its own community. Originating in American universities in the early 2000s, MOOCs have become more popular since the 2010s. It is now offered by training organizations, or companies with accreditation (the Rue89 media outlet, for example), and enables them to communicate their expertise to a large community. In short, a MOOC : - is usually free of charge; - takes place over a specific period of time; - is divided into several modules, with knowledge validation at each stage; - features videos, quizzes and a forum; - encourages collaboration through knowledge sharing and peer grading; - can be **certifying** for learners who complete the course, in return for an affordable fee, which can be paid for out of your **CPF** (Compte Personnel de Formation). ### What is a SPOC? A **SPOC**, or **_Small Private Online Course_**, is a private **training program** like a COOC, but limited to a certain number of participants. It is therefore more expensive, and meets a more specific need for a company or for professionals undergoing retraining, for example. Cost and content depend on the organization or accredited specialist providing the training. It can also be paid for by the company's **OPCA** (organisme paritaire collecteur agréé) or by the CPF. The SPOC in brief : - offers a more personalized **training program** and support **(tutoring**), - enables a more rapid **rise in skills**. The course is not open to all, its audience is more targeted, and the trainer is an expert in his or her field. Like the MOOC, it can offer an evaluation system and certification. ## Tools dedicated to digital learning Good news for the Human Resources department: solutions exist to support and manage your learning paths: **_Learning Management Systems_** (LMS). Also known as **e-learning platforms**. The advantages of an e-learning platform include - integrated **gamification**, assessment and certification functionalities, - centralized, secure storage of learning resources, - a system for analyzing and monitoring learner performance, - personalization of the e-learning experience, - multi-device accessibility. You'll find many references to Unow, Visiplus Academy, TheMoocAgency, 360° learning, France Université Numérique. ## Welcome to professional training in the digital age Just as management methods are becoming more participative, a pedagogical approach offering a less vertical and more collaborative model is responding to new usages. Logically, these web-based training courses are particularly well-suited to web professions such as **webmarketing** and **digital communications**. The COOC, the corporate version of the MOOC, has introduced e-learning to the corporate world. It's in every company's interest to integrate e-learning into its training strategy, in order to engage and retain its teams. Why not use it as a complement to on-site training, in a **_blended learning_** approach, a mix of face-to-face and distance learning? Are you interested in e-learning? Personally or within your company?