Jason,
I’m not a teacher in the sense that you will be, but I do teach technical classes as part of my business. Here are a few thoughts:
Using PowerPoint
• I use a notebook computer connected to a Dell projector, with a remote control. The notebook is turned to face me, so that I can see what the students are seeing on the screen. This allows for good eye contact, for the reason that xendula mentioned earlier.
• Mix up the text with simple graphics, and don’t write out everything on the slide. Write it like an outline, not a manuscript. You want the student to focus on what you’re telling them, and not spending all of their time reading what you wrote on the slide.
• Create a simple theme for your slides, and use it consistently.
About the Students
In my previous line of work I was responsible for managing a large IT Support team that consisted of Help Desk, Field Staff and Technical Trainers. One of the best ways of helping all in the group to grow beyond their own imagined limitations was through a use of the Pygmalion Principle.
Basically this principle teaches that you often get what you expect. As a manager, this was a very powerful reality for me, one that I harnessed to work for the team. Keep in mind that it works both ways, if you expect less of a person, or in your case a student, that view can control performance in a negative way.
So, it’s your job to set and reinforce your expectations in a manner that supports and enhances the performance of your students.
In other words, if you expect great things from your students, and you express your confidence in them regularly, thus reinforcing your belief, they will perform better.
Read a little about the principle here:
http://www.gmp1st.com/mntp/mntp0299.htm
I personally am aggressive about it, because I'm always trying to improve.
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