Dynamic Components

What is Dynamic Content?

Dynamic Content allows CMS editors to build richer page layouts from reusable content components.

Rather than placing everything inside a single Rich Text field, components can provide structured layouts and interactions such as two-column sections, accordions, videos, images and knowledge checks.

Dynamic Content can be used for different purposes across Shapeshift:

• Learning content, particularly within Lessons.
• Marketing content, such as Course and Learning Path information pages.
• General layout, including text sections, images and spacing.

The components available can vary between implementations. Shapeshift is configured to expose the components that are appropriate for each type of content.

Adding Dynamic Content

Where Dynamic Content is enabled, use the Dynamic Content field in the CMS to add a component.

Select the component you want to use and complete its available fields. Components can then be reordered to build up the page.

Some components also contain their own items, such as the individual sections within an Accordion.

Dynamic Content is designed so that editors can create these layouts without developer involvement. Additional bespoke components can also be developed where an implementation requires something that is not covered by the standard component library.

Visibility

Dynamic Content can be configured for:

• All users
• Logged-in users
• Logged-out users

This can be useful where a marketing page needs different content depending on whether the visitor already has an account.

Dynamic Content does not provide audience targeting by learner, Organization or Sub-Group.

General components

Text Column

Creates a structured single-column content section.

Unlike placing text directly into the Rich Text Editor, a Text Column provides additional control over the section's width, alignment, background, text colour and call-to-action. It is useful when content needs to be visually separated from the sections around it.

Two Text Columns

Creates a responsive two-column section with independently managed content on the left and right.

Each column can contain its own heading, rich text and call-to-action, while the overall section can control its background, text colour, alignment and width.

Text + Image

Places rich text alongside an image, with the image positioned on either the left or right.

The component can also include a call-to-action and additional visual configuration. It is useful for creating structured editorial sections without relying on tables or manually positioning content in the Rich Text Editor.

Image

Creates an image-led section rather than simply placing an image inline with rich text.

The Image component supports an image with overlaid headings and content, a call-to-action, configurable overlay opacity, text colour and different container widths. Use an inline Rich Text image for an image that belongs within the flow of an article, and the Image component when the image forms part of the page layout itself.

Quote

Displays a quotation or highlighted statement using a dedicated visual treatment.

This is useful for drawing attention to an important statement, learner takeaway or quotation without manually styling it in rich text.

Icon List

Displays a styled list where each item can be accompanied by an icon or image.

Use this where a standard bullet list does not provide enough visual emphasis.

Accordion

Displays content within expandable and collapsible sections.

An Accordion can contain multiple items, each with its own heading and content. It is useful for FAQs, supplementary information and longer pages where showing everything at once would make the page difficult to scan.

Video

Places a video within the flow of a Dynamic Content page.

This is useful where video forms one section of a richer page, for example:

Text → Image → Video → Accordion → Text

The component supports the video providers configured for the implementation and different content widths.

For the primary learning video of a Lesson, use the dedicated Video field on the Lesson instead. The dedicated field is integrated with Lesson-specific functionality such as video duration and timestamped Notes.

Spacer

Adds a controlled amount of vertical space between components.

Editors can specify the size of the space and its background colour. This can also be used to create visual separation between larger page sections.

Learning components

Quiz

Embeds a lightweight Quiz directly within Dynamic Content.

This is useful for knowledge checks within a Lesson where the learner should answer questions without navigating to a separate Quiz module.

An embedded Quiz should not be used where formal assessment controls are required. Features associated with full Quiz modules, such as enrollment-based progress, retake restrictions and time limits, should not be relied upon for an embedded Quiz.

For a formal assessment, add the Quiz as a separate Course module instead.

Reveal

Initially hides one or more of the Dynamic Content components that follow it.

The learner selects the Reveal action to display the hidden content. This is useful for activities such as:

• Think about a question before revealing the explanation.
• Attempt an exercise before viewing an example answer.
• Hide supplementary information until the learner chooses to see it.

The editor controls how many of the following components are included within the Reveal.

Marketing components

Some Dynamic Content components are intended primarily for Course, Learning Path or other marketing-style pages rather than Lessons.

Library Carousel

Adds a carousel of learning content within a page.

It extends the carousel patterns used by the Course Library, allowing relevant learning content to be promoted partway through a richer marketing page.

Library Carousels are generally intended for marketing and discovery pages rather than Lesson content.

Testimonials and Reviews

Where enabled, testimonial and review components allow customer or learner feedback to be incorporated into richer marketing pages.

Different layouts may be available depending on the implementation, such as individual testimonials or testimonial sliders.

These are marketing components rather than learning interactions and would not normally be used within a Lesson.

Predefined Embeds

Some implementations provide predefined embeds for external services.

Rather than allowing an editor to enter arbitrary embed code, the available integration is developed and configured in advance. An editor can then select the appropriate predefined embed from the CMS.

Examples might include a booking service, marketing form or another approved external application.

The available embeds are specific to each implementation.

Choosing between Dynamic Content and Rich Text

Use the Rich Text Editor when the content is primarily an article or continuous piece of text containing headings, lists, links, tables and inline media.

Use Dynamic Content when the page needs distinct visual sections, structured layouts or interactive elements.

The two can be used together. For example, a Lesson might contain an introductory rich-text section followed by an Image component, a Text + Image section, an embedded Video, a Quiz knowledge check and an Accordion containing supplementary information.

Component availability

Not every Dynamic Content component is enabled everywhere.

The available set is configured according to the type of content and the requirements of the implementation. Learning-focused components can be made available within Lessons, while marketing-focused components can be used on Course and Learning Path pages.

Where an implementation needs a reusable layout or interaction that is not covered by the standard components, a bespoke Dynamic Content component can also be developed.