In schools we worry when heads are down; we worry when hoods are up. Are students secretly texting each other, listening to music, watching YouTube? Several years ago, at a Multi-Media Advisory Meeting, Mark Sturges from Autodesk, Inc. was asked what courses he thought schools should be teaching; he answered, “multi-media for hand-held devices”. Did we listen? But then came the multi-media power widget to the rescue - sprouts!

Schools understand the power of information but possibly under-estimate the power of multi-media. With schools competing, because of declining enrollments, the school web page is the first stop for parents. What if, instead of the traditional web site, parents and potential students found multi-media sprouting everywhere: sprout jukeboxes with the latest band or choir concerts, multi-page sprouts containing video highlights of each sport offered on campus, slideshows touring the classes and labs, welcoming audio from the principal and sprouts showcasing outstanding student works. Now that is power!

And heads-up . . . it’s free.