AFCOM 2i, a training centre specialising in computing, has designed an original training offer, based on the tutored resource centre concept, including mobile tutored resource centres deployed on customers' premises. AFCOM 2i chose the MEDIAplus eLearning solution from Editions ENI because of its unique real environment learning feature. With an explosion in the number of resource centres being set up in the last 2 years, the success of this innovative offer is real and is contributing to the growth of AFCOM 2i. It allows them to provide an additional solution for businesses and keep up with their changing needs.
AFCOM 2i, a training centre that has specialised in computing for 22 years in the South-West of France, offers a complete range of educational solutions to meet its customers' different needs: class-based training, expert workshops, on-the-job support, training in virtual classrooms, and tutored resource centres.
Indeed, several years ago AFCOM 2i launched the tutored resource centre concept for its office application training courses. They have improved this concept as the years have gone by, resulting in a new type of resource centre today: the mobile resource centre or travelling classroom based on the customer?s premises.
"Particularly since the introduction of the DIF (Individual Right to Training), businesses' needs have changed and our classic class-based offer is not always appropriate to deal with the issue of different levels of ability and employee needs," explains Mrs Martine Bel Briffod, manager of AFCOM 2i. "We therefore turned towards the tutored resource centre concept to provide an additional solution," she adds. AFCOM 2i offers inter-company resource centres, intra-company centres on its own premises and intra-company centres on customer premises with travelling classrooms. "All our resource centres are systematically tutored by one of our trainers, this is a vital condition of the success of the system and a quality commitment towards our customers," she explains.
The inter-company resource centre is open every Friday on AFCOM 2i's premises. The trainees register for a day, half a day or several hours, and come to train on the software programs of their choice, according to their needs.
Businesses that have several employees to be trained in office applications can opt for the intra-company resource centre, either on their own premises, or on those of AFCOM 2i. This solution cuts the costs related to arranging individual training courses.
"We have a pool of travelling classrooms equipped with MEDIAplus eLearning which we install on the customer?s premises. In practical terms, our tutor-trainer travels with computers that are fully configured to work in the resource centres, and sets them up in a room provided by the company," explains Mrs Bel Briffod.
The resource centre concept allows for a high level of individualisation in training, according to each learner?s level and their specific needs. "Our tutor-trainer carries out an assessment of the learner?s real level in MEDIAplus eLearning and then puts together a personalised programme according to the learner?s job and the skills they expect to gain. They then support them throughout their MEDIAplus eLearning training at the resource centre, and intervene to provide additional insights. This is a very dynamic form of tutoring," she explains.
"Thanks to the MEDIAplus eLearning solution, which is the only solution to offer learning in a real environment, we can assess learners? real skills, but also train them in a non-simulated environment, which corresponds exactly to what they will find in their job. This functionality was a decisive factor for us when we chose MEDIAplus eLearning," explains Mrs Bel Briffod. "It is also the only solution that gives us the flexibility we need to set up our travelling classrooms on companies? premises," she adds.
"We also use the MEDIAplus eLearning solution in our training courses to prepare for the ECDL and Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, as it offers programmes that are specially adapted to these certifications," states Mrs Bel Briffod.
After several years of use, their final assessment is largely positive, since the number of resource centres being set up has increased considerably in recent years. "Far from what we imagined at the beginning, the concept has gone down very well, particularly among employees working in production. They greatly appreciate being able to train at their own pace, without having to worry about somebody watching them, in total independence. Yet they also feel very safe in the presence of the tutors who are there to support them," she explains.
The concept also works well among employees who do not want to book full days but want to train in sessions of 2/3 hours, for example.
It is also especially suitable for employees who are training as part of the DIF, as their individual needs are catered for particularly well.
"To set up this type of offer successfully, after several years working in this field, I strongly recommend nailing the technical facilities as completely as possible, especially at intra-company training centres on customer premises. Technically, everything must be perfect to avoid harming your image in the eyes of the company," she explains.
"The tutor-trainers must also have a thorough understanding of the MEDIAplus eLearning solution and must remain in a support role. This was not so easy at the start for trainers who were not used to this type of service," she explains. "However, they realised that their job would continue over the long term, and that tutoring 8/10 people with totally different needs and levels of ability was not that easy. You actually have to maintain a high level of educational quality while supporting them throughout their training. In any case, this is certainly not a third-rate service!" concludes Mrs Bel Briffod.