Preview of DITA Learning Specialization in Action

Almost exactly two years ago I posted here with enthusiasm for the idea of using DITA to produce topic-based learning objects. Well, yesterday I participated in an OASIS DITA Learning and Training Content Specialization Subcommittee conference call and caught an early glimpse of the group's work in action.

During the call John Hunt demonstrated DITA to SCORM content and manifest publishing using the Open Toolkit. After publishing, he packaged the content and loaded it into the SCORM conformance test suite without errors. Next he showed functional Learning Management System navigation, discussed best practices for integrating relational topic links, and for a finale demonstrated dynamic sequencing based on pre-assessment test results. Nice! For those who have not been keeping track, support for the DITA Learning and Training Content Specialization will be included in the forthcoming DITA 1.2 release.

So while last time around I could only speculate on the natural fit between DITA and SCORM (I am currently fond of saying they go together like peanut butter and chocolate), now I can quote a colleague with confidence and say "it just works!"