Educational formats

1 | Introduction: Rethinking learning

Today, digital education and training is more than just the mere provision of PDFs in a learning management system (LMS). Learners want interactive, accessible formats that work on any end device, can be used offline and still measure exactly when which learning objective has been achieved.

The Octopus service from data2type and parsQube provides with a modular architecture for this: from uncomplicated Word documents to deeply integrated XML production in DITA-LT or LCS, all steps can be automated. This text shows which educational formats are supported by Octopus and how they can be used seamlessly depending on the maturity of your content.

2 | Low-barrier entry: “Write – Click – Learn”

2.1 Word as an authoring tool

Many specialist authors prefer to work in Word rather than in an XML editor. That's why Octopus accepts unstructured or style-supported DOCX as input format. An integrated structure check (data2check) automatically checks Word styles and comments on errors directly in the document. This allows authors to get started with complex editing systems without extensive training.

2.2 From Word document to LBook

With one click, the Word manuscript becomes a fully-fledged LBook - an offline-capable webbook that:

• bundles all chapters into a single, lightning-fast HTML app,
• automatically creates a full-text index,
• optionally integrated an AI bot for research questions,
• H5P exercises and multimedia.

This makes the LBook suitable as a digital seminar document, technical documentation or as a learning guide for blended learning formats.

3 | Standards for LMS integration

3.1 SCORM 2004 / 1.2

Exported as SCORM packages, your courses run in all common LMS (Moodle, Totara, SAP SuccessFactors ..., etc.). Progress data, retention time or test results are reported back cleanly. The package specification is automatically adapted to your target LMS if required.

3.2 IMS Common Cartridge (IMSCC)

Octopus provides IMSCC archives for Canvas, Blackboard & Co. Structure, metadata and assessment objects are transferred without loss. Packages tested in Canvas can be imported immediately and versioned.

3.3 QTI 2.x

If you want to manage tests granularly, you can also create QTI items or entire test suites. Octopus supports the question types single/multiple choice, true/false, matching, gap match, inline choice, inline text entry and open questions. All items pass the QTI validator.

3.4 H5P

Interactive videos, presentations or drag-and-drop exercises are generated directly from the source. The resulting H5P file can be distributed on its own or embedded in SCORM packages.

3.5 Interactive PDF

If learning material needs to be printed, signed or archived offline , the Interactive PDF combines classic pages with up to eight exercise types and an optional digital signature. You define the layout, colors and logo centrally in the OFX stylesheet.

4 | Scalable production workflows

Thanks to the REST API, Octopus docks onto any CMS or content management system – including SiteFusion and XPublisher. Once imported, content moves into the OCF container, remains archived in a version-safe manner and can be republished at any time via a microservice – from the foreign language PDF to audio output with a natural Wavenet voice.

5 | Value-added functions around the formats

• Accessibility out of the box – All HTML and PDF outputs comply with WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA-1 requirements; MathML is converted to audio.
• Generic extensions – Custom exercise types, info boxes, or inline formats can be activated in any target format without programming.
• Analytics & xAPI – Experience API statements can be generated optionally to measure learning paths outside the LMS.
• Validation services – Schematron and SQF rules check DITA or LCS packages before delivery.
• CI-controlled layout – A central, simple configuration allows you to define colors, fonts, icons, and responsive breakpoints for all web formats simultaneously.

6 | Conclusion

Whether you want to spontaneously distribute a manual as an LBook, upload a SCORM course to Moodle or control complete DITA-LT modules from your CMS – the Octopus suite scales with your requirements. Authors can get started with familiar Word templates; technical teams can later integrate the same content into structured XML workflows, without having to create a single new chapter.

This way, your content is created once, used many times and remains open for future learning and publication channels.

Write in Word today – and publish as a web book, SCORM course or XML component tomorrow.

Integration partner

For demanding roll-outs, we work together with XPS eXtensible PublishingSolutions AG ( https://xps-ag.zuerich/solutions1/solutions) an integration specialist with decades of experience in the education and publishing sector. Feel free to contact us or XPS directly to discuss your project.