In order to offer their trainees more than just a company event, the Sparkasse came up with a special concept for their apprentices. The 25th Sparkassentag was designed to be an event with added value for the trainees. Often, a separate event for trainees is organized in terms of space and program. At the Sparkasse, the apprentices were integrated into the process in order to create sustainable value for them. Especially for newcomers in the company, it is important to get to know the other employees.
Sparkassentag: Room for Interactions
The Sparkassentag 2016 was embedded in a series of tasks for the apprentices. The recipe for success here was to offer room for interaction, whether offline or online. The concept was developed by agateno and implemented with blink.it.
These touchpoints were implemented in a variety of ways:
Getting to know each other via video chat
The virtual kickoff for the Sparkassentag was conducted in a webinar. Small groups of trainees from different regions were put together. Each group attended several virtual meetings under the guidance of a mentor. During the video chat meetings, the participants got to know each other better and worked on tasks together. The results were presented at the Sparkassentag. In this way, the apprentices were able to meet and collaborate with other trainees.
Learning and interacting with video impulses
To prepare for the Sparkassentag, agateno created short impulse videos for the Sparkasse trainers. This personal approach was well received. Each video contains short content and ends with a question. Questions were built into the videos to avoid passive consumption. The trainees answer these questions and write their opinions and comments in the discussion feature. These video impulses with exchange enable the sharing of experiences and reflection before the event. An elegant solution to combine learning and interaction. We were impressed by how intensively the apprentices used the comment function on blink.it.
Couchsurfing with a mentor
During the event, it's not off to a hotel but to the couch! The participating trainees look for "couch hosts" at the event location and stay overnight with other Sparkasse employees. What better way to convey corporate culture?
Learning-by-doing with the help of video
During the Sparkassentag, two trainees accompany each other and document their experiences. During the "follow me around", the apprentices create their own videos using their smartphones. This "learning by doing" approach is probably the best way to improve media literacy and offer trainees exciting tasks. At the same time, the trainees produce authentic content for the company. This content does not need to be highly polished. Once a minimal standard is achieved (bright light, clear sound, and a stable picture), the self-produced content is much more credible to viewers. Not only were videos contributed, but impressions of the Sparkassentag were also captured with smartphone cameras and shared via the Sparkasse's social media channels.
The apprentices report on how they experienced the Sparkassentag themselves: http://www.ausbildung-sparkasse-mainfranken.de/erstes-azubi-camp-am-sparkassentag-2016/
Conclusion from blink.it: This was Sparkassentag 2016
The combination of digital impulses, joint exchange, and personal encounters shows how a single event can be expanded into an overarching learning experience.
The cooperation with agateno and the Sparkasse was very exciting for us. Combining offline and online in preparation for the event fully matches our motto: "...the best of both worlds". Do you also host or accompany large-scale events? We are interested in your ideas and would be happy to help you find out what possibilities exist with blink.it.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
How were online and face-to-face formats combined at Sparkassentag?
The trainees got to know each other in virtual groups before the event, worked on joint tasks, and used video impulses for preparation. At the Sparkassentag, these activities were complemented by personal encounters and practical tasks.
What role did videos play in preparation?
Short impulse videos conveyed content and ended with questions that were answered by the trainees via the discussion feature. In this way, knowledge transfer, reflection, and exchange were linked together.
How were the trainees actively integrated into the concept?
The apprentices worked in groups, exchanged ideas online, and documented their own experiences using smartphones during the event. They were therefore not just participants, but shaped the content themselves.
What can be derived from this practical example for blended learning?
The example shows that digital elements can sensibly prepare for and follow up on a face-to-face event. The key is that online and offline activities are linked in terms of content and encourage active participation.
