The Diffusion Approach

At AFI, our objective is to offer you:

A training center that fosters learning:

Learning often takes place in a classroom with computers. However, to optimize the learning experience, the classroom must be organized to take into account the type of class being given, the space required, lighting, ventilation, equipment used, etc. Outside distractions must also be minimized. For example, if participants are constantly interrupted, they will not be fully engaged in their courses.

70% active participation, 30% listening:

At AFI, we recommend that participants be actively involved in their courses. We believe that the more they take part in their learning experience, the more they will apply what they learn in their daily work. AFI’s guiding principle is that participants spend 70% of their course time in action and 30%, listening to their trainer. Depending on certain constraints, such as time, it may sometimes be difficult to strictly adhere to this ratio.

AFI’s 5 phases of the diffusion process: 

Understanding and applicability

In adult education, participants must be shown that the content of a course will immediately meet their needs or will be a part of something that will directly impact them.

Building knowledge

Building knowledge is the phase in which participants assimilate course content. It is also during this phase that the course content is presented in theory and with demonstrations.  For example, traditionally, office users listened to a training give a presentation and then a demonstration. However, new educational strategies have become much more engaging and successful for participants.

Practice

Once participants have understood the theory, they must now put it into practice. Participants must interact with the content, use it and experiment with it. In a training session for office users, this phase is built around practical and simulation exercises, question-and-answer periods, etc.

Review

Practice sessions must then be reviewed. Again, participants must be engaged as much as possible. Simply giving the answers to exercises is not enough. Trainers must listen to participants and then share their own experiences, tricks and tips. This allows participants to learn through discovery. While encouraging the successes of students, the entire group also focuses on points in the course which were more difficult.

Integration

Integration is the final phase in which participants apply what they have learned in their daily work. This is known as transfer. In an ideal world, this phase would occur in the classroom. As is the case with the practice phase, a review is performed after integration is fully completed.
However, in most cases, integration occurs after the course.  In this case, supervision is done by mentors or support staff.