Future-proofing process for online learning launched

Press Release in the UK
April 2003

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), which has one of the world’s largest teams for the design and development of custom-built learning solutions, has developed a process that has mastered the art of ‘intelligent’ conversion of existing – ‘legacy’ – learning materials into e-learning.

The product – named ‘a2<X>’, which is short for ‘anything to XML’ – can convert materials to XML that have been developed in a wide range of formats, including Quark, PDF, HTML, Word document, PageMaker and PowerPoint.

Sambit Mohapatra, head of TIS in the UK & Europe, commented: “Converting this material to a fully extensible format - which XML is - and adding further tools and processes to make the material even more extensible, gives you the flexibility to re-engineer and update these learning materials at any point in the future.”

Hailing the a2<X> product as a major step towards making e-learning content ‘future-proof’ in terms of developments in delivery technology, Mohapatra added: “The a2<X> product also maintains the integrity of asserts like images, Flash/Shockwave files and media files by storing them on a Digital Asset Management System. What’s more, a2<X> can also create learning management system (LMS)-compatible files for such LMSs as those produced by Docent, Saba, Solstra, LearningSpace, BlackBoard, WebCT and eCollege.

“The a2<X> process is particularly effective if you want to re-purpose content to make it searchable, or if you want to reuse graphics or media files,” he continued. “It is also useful if you need to maintain consistency in standards and visual design.”