Dynamic SCORM
Dynamic SCORM is a lightweight package type that loads your course content live from Slate’s servers instead of bundling everything into the ZIP file. Upload once to your LMS, then update your content anytime - learners always see the latest version without you needing to re-upload.
How it works
Section titled “How it works”With a traditional (static) SCORM export, all course content, media, and player files are bundled into a single ZIP file. If you update your course, you need to re-export and re-upload the entire package to your LMS.
Dynamic SCORM takes a different approach. The exported ZIP is tiny (around 5 KB) and contains only the instructions your LMS needs to load the course. When a learner opens the course, it pulls the latest content directly from Slate.
Static vs Dynamic
Section titled “Static vs Dynamic”| Static SCORM | Dynamic SCORM | |
|---|---|---|
| Package size | 10 - 500 MB (includes all media) | ~5 KB |
| Content updates | Re-export and re-upload to LMS | Click Publish Update in Slate |
| Internet required | No (fully self-contained) | Yes (content loads from Slate) |
| Media handling | Images bundled in package | Images loaded from Slate |
| Video embeds | YouTube/Vimeo remain external | Same behavior |
| SCORM versions | 1.2, 2004 3rd, 2004 4th | 1.2, 2004 3rd, 2004 4th |
| Tracking | Completion, score, bookmarking | Same tracking capabilities |
| Plan required | Free (1.2 only), Standard, or Pro | Pro |
Exporting a Dynamic SCORM package
Section titled “Exporting a Dynamic SCORM package”- Open your course in Slate
- Click Download in the Publish menu
- In the export dialog, select LMS Package from the left panel
- Choose your SCORM version (1.2, 2004 3rd Edition, or 2004 4th Edition)
- Under Package Type, select Dynamic SCORM
- Click Export
- Upload the downloaded ZIP to your LMS
The ZIP works just like any other SCORM package from your LMS’s perspective. It follows the same upload process and reports the same tracking data.
Updating published content
Section titled “Updating published content”After you’ve uploaded a Dynamic SCORM package to your LMS, you can push content updates at any time:
- Make your changes in the Slate editor
- Open the Publish menu
- Click Publish Update
- Confirm in the dialog that appears
All active Dynamic SCORM packages for that course are updated immediately. Learners currently in progress will see the updated content on their next session.
When to use Dynamic SCORM
Section titled “When to use Dynamic SCORM”Dynamic SCORM is a good fit when:
- You update course content frequently (compliance training, onboarding, product updates)
- You want to fix typos or update information without going through your LMS upload process
- You want to skip the re-testing cycle - no need to re-upload to your staging LMS, re-verify, and redeploy to production every time you make a change
- You manage courses across multiple LMS platforms and want a single update point
- Your courses don’t need to work offline
Static SCORM is a better fit when:
- Learners need offline access
- Your LMS is not connected to the internet
- You need a fully self-contained archive of the course
- You’re distributing the package via USB or email
Assessment and passing score changes
Section titled “Assessment and passing score changes”Certain changes to your course require exporting and uploading a new Dynamic SCORM package. You cannot use Publish Update for these changes because they are written to the SCORM manifest file at export time, and your LMS reads them from the manifest when the course is first registered.
Changes that require a new package:
- Adding or removing an assessment - the manifest includes scoring and sequencing data only when an assessment is present. Toggling assessment on or off fundamentally changes the manifest structure.
- Changing the passing score - the passing threshold (for example, 80% or 7 out of 10) is set in the manifest. Updating it in Slate does not change the value your LMS is using.
For these changes, export a new Dynamic SCORM package and upload it to your LMS as a replacement. Content-only updates (text, media, new lessons, reordering) continue to work through Publish Update as normal.
Slate will warn you when you’re about to make one of these changes on a course that has active Dynamic SCORM packages. You’ll see a warning banner in the assessment configuration or delete dialog, or a confirmation prompt when adding an assessment. These warnings are informational - you can always proceed with the change, but you’ll need to re-export afterwards.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”- Pro plan - Dynamic SCORM is available on Pro plans
- Active Slate account - your Slate account must remain active for learners to access the content
- Internet connection - learners need an internet connection to load the course
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”What happens if my Slate account is inactive?
Section titled “What happens if my Slate account is inactive?”Learners will see an error message when they try to open the course. The course data is no longer accessible if your account is deactivated.
Can I use Dynamic SCORM with any LMS?
Section titled “Can I use Dynamic SCORM with any LMS?”Yes. The exported ZIP follows the standard SCORM specification. Any LMS that accepts SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 packages will work with Dynamic SCORM.
Does Dynamic SCORM track the same data as Static SCORM?
Section titled “Does Dynamic SCORM track the same data as Static SCORM?”Yes. Completion status, scores, bookmarking, and question interactions (SCORM 2004) all work identically.
How quickly do content updates reach learners?
Section titled “How quickly do content updates reach learners?”Updates are available immediately after you click Publish Update. Learners will see the new content the next time the course loads.
Can I convert a Static SCORM package to Dynamic?
Section titled “Can I convert a Static SCORM package to Dynamic?”No. You need to export a new Dynamic SCORM package and upload it to your LMS. The two package types are separate exports.