Content Reuse A Case Study

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• Content Reuse A Case Study

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Points of Discussion

• Case overview
• The reuse problem
• The reuse solution (work in progress)

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Case Overview

• Educational print publications
• Textbooks, course guides, flash cards
• Document management system
• eLearning
• Online learning modules
• Learning management system

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The Reuse Problem

• Content created in separate systems
• Content authored for a textbook does not easily
  translate into a logical set of online learning
  screens
• Content changes require duplication of effort
  across products

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Analysis

• Define a more granular form for the content
• Decompose textbook chapters into learning
  objects, each meeting a specific educational
  objective
• Use XML as content format

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Analysis

• Define the processes and technologies needed to
  author, manage, reuse, and publish content
• Centralized content management necessary
• Component-based technology solution necessary

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The Reuse Solution

• Content development
• Content management
• Print publishing
• Online learning
• Managing it all
• Lessons learned (so far)

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Content Development

• Defining granular content for reuse led to
  selection of DITA as the XML foundation
• Tool selection
• In.Vision Xpress Author for writing content (DITA
  topics)
• XMetaL Enterprise for assembling content into
  products (DITA maps)

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Content Management

• Legacy document management system is Documentum
• Analysis of other content management systems did
  not hold up
• Selection of DITA seen as a good fit with
  Documentums object-based architecture

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Print Publishing

• Publishing needs are more sophisticated than XSL
  transformations of the source XML content
• Page layout and design an important aspect
• Tool selection
• Typefi Publishing Solution
• DITA Open Toolkit

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Online Learning

• Online screen development will reuse content from
  a learning object using DITA conrefs
• Screen XML will be fed into Flash to produce
  interactive online learning modules

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Managing it all

• Project management
• Vendor management
• Change management

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Lessons Learned (so far)

• Topic-based authoring is a HUGE process change
  for an organization
• Design-centric XML publishing is an option
• Component architecture for the overall solution
  provides best of breed tools for the major
  component pieces

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Questions and Discussion
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Thanks!

• Jacquette Consulting
• 710 Providence Road
• Malvern, PA 19355
• 610-644-4485
• www.jacquette.com