@SherryErney

I find PPoints to be overused.  One of the worst things I see from instructors is that their entire speech IS the PPoint.  They and the class read to screen verbatim...making it dull and uninviting. 

I try to create PPoints that are bullet points about what I am going to instruct...the highlights.

I also try to use some of the fancier tools to make the PPoint looking more interactive and also make sure my slides are not 100% text.

Question: I teach courses that have both math equations and terminology exams; the math problems require a calculator. Most individuals these days have a calculator on their cell phones; however they also have web access to look up terms, effectively a free cheat. Does anyone have suggestions on how to handle this?

When I first began some recent instruction, I was handed curriculum and syllabi examples of previous instructors. After teaching several terms, I found certain subjects were stressed more than others and I personally felt other areas did not get the attention they deserved. How far should I stray from previous course instruction if I feel it is unbalanced or deficient in areas?