#### 2.3.4 Use cases

Several use cases inform the design and development of the DITA Learning and Training Specialization.

Enable indexing, searching, and retrieval of learning content

By structuring content with DITA topics and maps as self-contained learning objects matched with appropriate DITA metadata, it is possible to enable fast indexing, search, and retrieval of learning content that meets specific learning goals and objectives.

Creating custom courses quickly

A company has a large inventory of topic-based content that is used to provide technical and troubleshooting information about a set of componentized software products. It desires to enable field engineers to quickly identify technical content that is suitable for providing on-site training. The DITA Learning and Training Specialization enables field engineers to draw on their inventory of topics and quickly assemble learning content to meet specific customer needs.

Making technical content available for direct sharing and reuse in learning and training

A DITA learning specialization makes it possible to define a context for and directly assemble and use existing technical content for delivery as learning and training. The DITA approach identifies consistent structures and patterns and leverages them to enable a consistent approach for sharing content across teams. The result is much more opportunity to share content between different providers and across areas of expertise, to learn from each other, and to deliver content and the learning experience consistently. As a result, instead of copy, paste, and make unique as the norm, we have write once and share with others as the new norm.

Resources

Previous Topic: 2.3.3 A learning objects approach to learning and training content

Next Topic: 2.3.5 Summary of learning topic, map, and domain designs

Parent Topic: Learning and training architecture

Sibling Topics:

2.3.1 Overview

2.3.2 Objectives of the DITA Learning and Training Specialization

2.3.3 A learning objects approach to learning and training content

2.3.5 Summary of learning topic, map, and domain designs

Related Topics:

"Recycling Knowledge with Learning Objects," by Ruth Clark.

"Thinking XML: Learning Objects Metadata," by Uche Obguji (IBM developerWorks, 2003).

"DITA in Education," by Dan Schneider, EduTech Wiki.

"An XML-based information architecture for learning content," by John Hunt and Robert Bernard (IBM developerWorks, 2005).

"Design patterns for information architecture with DITA map domains," by Erik Hennum, Don Day, John Hunt, and Dave Schell (IBM developerWorks, 2004).