• Many teachers use SMART Boards instead of chalkboards, and the Board's Notebook features make lesson planning simpler.Woman in Front of an Old Chalkboard image by Empath from Fotolia.com
  
  Interactive white boards have changed how educators present information. SMART Technologies, a popular manufacturer, uses SMART Notebook software to help teachers create, deliver and manage their lessons. Teachers can use Notebook tools to create interactive lessons that incorporate different media and allow students to be a part of the lesson experience.
  
  

Make Multimedia Lessons

• The SMART Board Notebook software allows teachers to create multimedia lessons. According to SMART Tech, teachers can insert audio, video or Flash files into any lesson. The Notebook software also has a library of audio and video clips, and teachers can incorporate these into their lessons to keep students engaged.
  
  

Work Collaboratively

• A SMART Board's Notebook tools are accessible over a network, so teachers on the same network can share ideas, lesson plans and multimedia files. Also, system administrators can monitor all the building's SMART Boards at once when they're connected via a network.
  
  SMART Tech also offers the SMART Exchange, a database with SMART Board lessons. Many of these activities help students review for upcoming assessments or learn a new topic. The Jeopardy template, for instance, allows teachers to create a content-based Jeopardy game for their students. Other lessons, such as The Morning Calendar, teach students basics, such as number and shape recognition. Each of the SMART Exchange lessons identifies what age group it's geared toward, and some even detail what learning outcomes and standards the lesson covers. Teachers can do a general search for lesson downloads, or they can search by grade level, subject and/or content standards. The SMART Exchange also features a forum for teachers to connect with other teachers and ask questions, give advice and find ideas from other teachers.
  
  

Writing Tools

• When teachers are using a SMART Board lesson that incorporates Notebook learning software, they have the option of allowing students to interact with the lesson with the writing tools. The magic pen, for instance, allows students and teachers to spotlight, zoom or magnify an image. In addition, this tool allows the user to write notes that will disappear 10 seconds later. The Notebook software can detect words written digitally with the pen and transform them into text. Students and teachers also can change font colors and sizes.