Mindsmith exports lessons and courses as Dynamic or Static SCORM packages. Most content works in both. Features that need a live Mindsmith connection require a Dynamic package. Check the differences before building so content is not removed from the export without warning.
For how to actually export a package and the difference between SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004, see the SCORM Packaging guide.
Start here: the one rule that matters most
If a lesson uses the AI Conversation tile, export it as a Dynamic SCORM package. A Static export removes the tile because a self-contained file cannot provide its live server connection. Dynamic is the default and supports features that rely on Mindsmith while the learner takes the lesson.
Dynamic vs. Static in one line
Dynamic (recommended default): The package embeds the live Mindsmith player, and content loads from Mindsmith's servers at play time. Edits appear in your LMS with no re-upload, and live-dependent features such as Conversation and AI-graded short answers remain available. Requires learner network access; organizations that filter outbound traffic must allow the required domains below.
Static (self-contained): Supported lesson content and uploaded assets are bundled into the ZIP with no connection to Mindsmith at play time. Updates require re-exporting and re-uploading. A small set of live or AI features are dropped or downgraded, and external embeds still require access to their third-party hosts. Use Static for offline delivery or networks that cannot allow access to Mindsmith.
Feature support matrix
Feature | Dynamic | Static |
AI Conversation tile | Supported | Not supported: tile is removed from the package |
Short-answer tile: AI grading | Full AI grading | Downgraded: falls back to keyword or text-match grading |
Learner name and email collection | Supported when enabled in lesson settings | Not shown |
Completion certificates | Supported when enabled and available on the workspace plan | Not supported |
Automatic content updates | Yes | Manual: re-export and re-upload to update |
Staging and publish control | Yes (Enterprise plan) | Not applicable |
Learner analytics depth | Page and interaction level | Completion and score reported to a compatible LMS through SCORM |
Text, image, uploaded video, audio, and narration | Supported | Supported |
Interactive tiles | Supported | Supported |
Branching scenarios / Experience tiles | Supported | Supported |
Custom code tiles | Supported | Supported |
Embed tiles and external video | Supported | Supported. The learner still needs access to the third-party host. |
Custom branding / white-label | By plan | By plan (same rules for both types) |
What actually happens in a Static export
AI Conversation tile: removed
Static packages have no connection to Mindsmith at play time, and the Conversation tile depends on a live server round-trip for real-time AI, transcript evaluation, and scoring. During a Static export the tile is removed from the package rather than shown as a placeholder. A lesson built entirely around a Conversation tile would export effectively empty.
What to do: Export any lesson or course that contains a Conversation tile as Dynamic SCORM. (Learner conversations draw on your organization's conversation allowance and are billed separately from AI credits: see Billing & Credits.)
Short-answer tile: AI grading downgraded
AI grading of open-ended short-answer responses needs a server call, which a Static package cannot make. In Static exports these questions automatically fall back to keyword / text-match grading. The tile still works and still scores, but grading is stricter and less nuanced, and the author's "AI grading" choice is overridden. Choose Dynamic if AI grading quality matters for the assessment.
Automatic updates, staging & deeper analytics: Dynamic advantage
Because a Dynamic package streams the live lesson, edits reach learners without re-uploading, the Enterprise Staging workflow lets you publish changes on your schedule, and Mindsmith can capture page- and interaction-level analytics inside the app. Static packages still report completion and score back to a compatible LMS, but automatic content updates are Dynamic-only.
Network requirements for Dynamic packages
Dynamic packages load the lesson live from Mindsmith at play time. On locked-down corporate networks, firewalls or web filters can block that connection and leave some learners with a silent grey or blank screen. If your organization filters outbound traffic, ask the network team to allowlist the following domains. All traffic uses standard HTTPS on port 443.
Required: the lesson will not load if these are blocked:
app.mindsmith.aieu.mindsmith.ai(only required for EU region hosting)
Recommended: needed for images, video, and fonts to display correctly:
storage.googleapis.commindsmithusercontent.comeu.mindsmithusercontent.comfonts.gstatic.comandfonts.googleapis.com*.cloudflarestream.com(streaming video)*.googlevideo.com(embedded YouTube videos)
Lessons that embed third-party content (YouTube, Vimeo, Loom) also need access to those providers' domains. If allowlisting Mindsmith is not possible, use a Static package instead: supported bundled content does not reach Mindsmith's servers at play time, accepting the feature trade-offs above. External embeds still need their own network access.
Choosing quickly
Choose Dynamic (the default) when:
The lesson uses an AI Conversation tile.
You want AI-graded short answers.
You will update content and don't want to re-upload each time.
You want page- and interaction-level analytics in Mindsmith.
Learners have internet access and the domains above can be allowlisted.
Choose Static when:
Strict firewalls cannot allowlist Mindsmith, or you need offline delivery.
Content is stable and rarely changes.
There are no AI Conversation tiles in the lesson or course.
Completion and score reporting to your LMS is enough.
Related Articles:
SCORM Packaging: exporting, SCORM 1.2 vs 2004, and Dynamic vs Static basics
Sharing Content in Mindsmith: all sharing and export options
Conversation Tile: setup and configuration of the AI Conversation tile