Version control and change tracking are essential aspects of curriculum documentation when using DITA XML. These mechanisms ensure that educational content remains accurate, up-to-date, and can be efficiently managed across different programs and institutions.

Version Control

Version control in DITA allows educational organizations to keep track of changes and updates to curriculum documentation. Each topic or course module can have a version attribute, indicating the current version of the content. When changes are made, a new version is created, and the history of revisions is maintained. This is crucial for auditing and ensuring that the right version of the curriculum is used in different programs. For instance, if a course module is updated to align with new standards, the version control system ensures that the latest content is distributed while preserving the older versions for reference.

Change Tracking

Change tracking is another valuable feature in DITA for curriculum documentation. It allows content creators and reviewers to track modifications made to educational content. Changes can be marked and annotated, indicating who made the change and when. This feature is particularly useful when multiple authors collaborate on curriculum development. Change tracking helps maintain the integrity of the curriculum and ensures that all stakeholders are aware of updates and can review them. For example, if a curriculum developer revises a course outline, the change tracking feature highlights the specific modifications made, making it easy for others to review and approve those changes.

Example:

Here’s an example of how version control and change tracking can be implemented in DITA for curriculum documentation:

<topic id="mathematics101">
  <title>Mathematics 101: Introduction to Algebra</title>
  <version>2.0</version>
  <last-reviewed>2023-05-15</last-reviewed>
  <content>...
  <change-track>
    <change user="Jane Smith" date="2023-10-10">Updated learning objectives.</change>
    <change user="John Doe" date="2023-08-25">Revised quiz questions.</change>
  </change-track>

In this example, a DITA topic represents a curriculum module. It includes version information and a change tracking section, which highlights specific changes made to the content, such as updates to learning objectives and quiz questions, along with the authors and dates of those changes.