Mindsmith exports your lessons and courses to your LMS in two SCORM package types: Dynamic and Static. Most content works in both, but a few features depend on a live connection to Mindsmith and therefore require a Dynamic package. This guide explains which features are package-dependent so you can choose the right type before you build, and avoid having content silently drop out of your export.
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, you must export it as a Dynamic SCORM package. In a Static package the Conversation tile is removed entirely, because it needs a live server connection that a self-contained file cannot provide. When in doubt, choose Dynamic (the default) — it supports every feature.
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 every tile and feature is supported. Requires learner internet access and network allowlisting (see below).
Static (self-contained): All text, media, and assets are baked into the ZIP with no connection to Mindsmith at play time. Updates require re-exporting and re-uploading. A small set of live/AI features are dropped or downgraded. Ideal for strict firewalls or offline delivery.
Feature support matrix
What works in each package type:
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 / text-match grading |
Automatic content updates | ✅ Yes | ➖ Manual — re-export & re-upload to update |
Staging & publish control | ✅ Yes (Business+ plan) | ➖ Not applicable |
Learner analytics depth | ✅ Page & interaction level | ⚠️ Completion & score (via SCORM + offline xAPI) |
Text, image, uploaded video, audio & narration | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Interactive tiles | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Branching scenarios / Experience tiles | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Custom code tiles | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported |
Embed tiles & external video | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported* |
Custom branding / white-label | ✅ By plan | ✅ By plan (same rules 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 Business+ Staging workflow lets you publish changes on your schedule, and Mindsmith captures page- and interaction-level analytics inside the app. Static packages still report completion and score back to your LMS (via SCORM and offline xAPI), so your LMS remains the system of record — but the in-Mindsmith granularity and automatic 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 the course shows a silent grey or blank screen — sometimes for only some learners. 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 is not possible, use a Static package instead — it is self-contained and never reaches Mindsmith's servers at play time, accepting the feature trade-offs above.
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