Using power point

My student teacher is planning on using power point instead of the black board or an overhead for his classroom teaching. I have questions about that because power point is very passive. It is prepared and there isn't any way to engage the students interactively and write down notes of that interaction. My wife suggested using something like word as a way to do this, but in chemistry trying to type out chemical reactions in real time is very difficult because of subscripts used in chemical formulas. So, my question is, does anyone have any suggestions of how to use the laptop and LCD projector in an interactive way with students where you can record that interaction?

An incredible thang

Last night the caucus event was truly an incredible thing. Traffic on Summit and Grand was backed up from Ramsey Jr. High (2blocks west of snelling avenue) to Dale st. Even though they had multiple doors open we waited in lines that were blocks long just to get into the building. My precinct which met in a small classroom in the basement of the building had over 300 people come to vote for the presidential preference and over 100 stayed to show preference for the senate candidates. My precinct went 87% Obama, 12% Clinton, and 1% Edwards. It was an incredible night.

No Thang new

My students are in the writing phase of their research paper. One of the problems is the lack of access to computers in our school. My IB prep class is doing ok. but, my regular chemistry classes are complaining about not having enough time in class to work on the project. But, with computer access a problem, I can't come up with time in class that would be productive. Certain departments or people in my school sign up for the computer labs a week at a time and that makes it really difficult for someone who just wants a day or two to get in. Does anybody have any ideas about how you have solved this problem in your schools?