Teacher Resources
Convert SMART Notebooks: Save Your Lesson Plans
Transform trapped teaching materials into lasting learning resources.
The Hidden Cost of Locked-Away Lessons
When lesson plans remain inaccessible in proprietary formats, both teachers and students lose out on valuable opportunities. Every time a teacher needs to recreate a lesson from scratch because they can't access their old Smart Notebook files on a new device or after switching schools, precious planning time is wasted.
Time that could be spent refining instruction, providing feedback, or simply recharging is lost to technical limitations rather than educational improvement.
Why Preserving Your Lessons Matters More Than You Think
Building on past success
Your lesson plans are a record of what worked. That creative way you explained fractions using pizza slices? The interactive timeline that finally made the Civil War click for your students? These aren't just lessons—they're proven teaching strategies refined through real classroom experience.
When you preserve these materials in accessible formats, you create a foundation to build upon rather than starting from zero each year. Great lessons evolve over time, and preservation enables that evolution.
Creating a Personal Teaching Library
Experienced teachers know that great lessons evolve over time. By preserving your lesson plans in editable, accessible formats, you create a living library of resources that can be adapted, improved, and customized for different student needs.
This year's basic lesson becomes next year's differentiated masterpiece when you can actually access and modify your original work. The ability to iterate and improve depends on having accessible source material.
Supporting Student Review and Absent Learners
When lessons exist only in proprietary formats tied to specific classroom technology, students lose access to these materials the moment they leave your classroom. Preserved lessons in universal formats can be shared with students who were absent, need to review concepts at home, or want to revisit material before assessments.
This accessibility transforms one-time lessons into lasting learning resources that extend education beyond the classroom walls.
Collaboration and Sharing with Colleagues
Teaching doesn't happen in isolation. When your lessons are preserved in widely accessible formats, sharing best practices with colleagues becomes effortless. New teachers benefit from experienced educators' materials, grade-level teams can build cohesive curricula, and departments can ensure consistency across different sections of the same course.
The collective wisdom of a teaching team becomes accessible to all members when individual lessons can be easily shared and adapted.
Adapting to Changing Technology
Educational technology evolves rapidly. The interactive whiteboard software that was cutting-edge five years ago might be obsolete today. By preserving your lessons in flexible, platform-independent formats, you future-proof your teaching materials against technological change.
Your content remains valuable regardless of what hardware or software your next classroom might have. This technological independence ensures your pedagogical investments remain accessible.
Professional Portfolio Development
Your lesson plans represent your professional growth and expertise. Preserved in accessible formats, they become part of a teaching portfolio that can support job applications, professional development presentations, or National Board Certification.
They're concrete evidence of your instructional design skills and subject matter expertise, showcasing your ability to create engaging, effective educational experiences.
Making the Transition: Why Google Slides Makes Sense
Google Slides has emerged as a natural platform for educators looking to preserve and modernize their lesson materials. Its universal accessibility, collaborative features, and familiar interface make it an ideal destination for lessons previously locked in Smart Notebook files.
Unlike proprietary formats, Google Slides works on any device with internet access, automatically saves your work, and allows real-time collaboration with colleagues and students. Converting your Smart Notebook files preserves the interactive elements and visual design that made your original lessons effective while enabling future innovation and adaptation.
Preserving Your Teaching Materials
How do I access my SMART Notebook files without a SMART Board?↓
Can I share SMART Notebook lessons with students who don't have the software?↓
What happens to my lesson plans if I no longer have SMART Notebook?↓
How do I future-proof my teaching materials currently in SMART Notebook?↓
Is it worth converting old SMART Notebook lessons I haven't used recently?↓
How do I preserve my lesson plans when switching schools or retiring?↓
Can I edit converted lessons to adapt them for different classes?↓
Keep reading
Bulk Convert SMART Notebooks: ZIP Upload Feature
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September 12, 2025SMART Notebook Conversion: Technical Challenges
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September 25, 2025SMART Notebook to Google Slides: Convert Free Online
From proprietary files to modern presentations in minutes, not hours.