Mathieu BERTSCHI
Computing and Language Training Manager at the CPI
1/ Can you say a few words about your training centre?
The Centre de Perfectionnement Interprofessionnel (CPI) is the continuing education centre for the canton of Freiburg/Switzerland. The CPI provides training in all areas of continuing education for professional purposes: computing, languages, management, human resources, teaching, leadership or crafts and industry. Every year, around 3,000 people entrust the CPI with their advanced training needs. We offer “off-the-shelf” courses but also bespoke courses for private customers and businesses.
2/ Before using MEDIAplus eLearning, how were your office application training courses organised and what reasons led you to change this?
Before using MEDIAplus eLearning, we offered traditional courses. These were 30-session modules (for example: basic Word and advanced Word) scheduled every 2-3 months. These courses covered just one version (for example: basic Word 2003).
We changed the system as customers? needs were becoming increasingly specific (targeted content, different versions?). The levels were therefore very different and some programs (like Access for example) were only taught very rarely. What?s more, customers often had to wait for the course to start and sometimes the course could be cancelled. With our new way of working, waiting times have been cut from 2-3 months to 2-3 days.
3/ What did you like about MEDIAplus eLearning? And in concrete terms, what system have you set up?
What we liked about MEDIAplus eLearning was that this solution enabled us to meet specific needs, offer customers an immediate solution and be more flexible. We mainly use a blended learning approach for our training courses for the general public and companies. Participants can receive training at the CPI four times a week in French and once a week in German. The sessions are made up of participants with different levels of ability, being trained in different programs and different versions. They can start their training at any time during the year, except during the school holidays.
4/ What type of learner support have you chosen and why? How is it organised?
Participants are accompanied during every session by a trainer who guides them in their learning process, with regular personalised interventions. This way, participants can progress at their own pace, while having access to the trainers? skills throughout their course. We chose this solution because we wanted regular, human support for our customers.
5/ After several months of using the service, what is your overall opinion of it?
Very positive. This solution enables us to meet private demand and demand from various companies within a very short time frame. Users appreciate the flexibility of the system, the very short time frames between registration and the start of their training, and being able to personalise their training.
6/ Finally, what advice would you give to teaching managers who want to arrange an e-learning course?
The MEDIAplus eLearning solution is an ideal solution for office application training courses, given our customers? extensive and varied needs. In order to put a blended learning concept in place, it is essential to train and inform the trainers properly about this new type of training, and to make them aware of their new role as a “coach/mentor”. They must also have a very broad skill set to be able to deal with questions relating to the themes covered in MEDIAplus eLearning, and also to the other themes of each software program. Due to the flexibility of the system, customer advice is more specialised and must be adapted according to what is being offered. There must also be efficient management of trainee sign-ups.