Baseball Used to Teach Kids About Math and Science Through Sports Byte Competition

Released on: August 4, 2008, 11:31 am

Press Release Author: Hot Lava Software

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: At minor league baseball stadiums, children ranging in age
are learning the science and math behind the sport all while having a good time
watching the game courtesy of the Ewing Kauffman Foundation and powered by Hot Lava
Software.

Press Release Body: WARRENTON, Va-August 4, 2008-The Ewing Kauffman Foundation
realized that a growing problem in our society is the lack of interest in the math
and science fields of study, especially in the up and coming generation of students.
With an interesting play on learning and enabled by Hot Lava Software, kids are
"head faked", using the words of Randy Pausch, into learning about the science
behind the game of baseball.

Minor League teams such as the Frederick Keys, Bowie Baysocks, Wilmington Blue Rocks
(click link to see an example of the Sports Bytes competition), Delmarva Shorebirds,
Kansas City T-Bones, and Alberdeen Ironbirds have already started participating in
this new-age learning program.

At home games, between innings, a nutty professor takes the stage on top of the home
team dugout. Quickly catching the attention of the audience, a cell phone ring is
played over the loud speaker. The professor challenges the audience, "Are you
smarter than me, the professor?"

Now that the audience is enticed, "the professor" asks a science-based question
about the game of baseball such as "Which has more drag, a smooth ball (sporta) or a
rough ball (sportb)?"

Using the technology by Hot Lava Software, answers are text messaged to a number
that is displayed up on the big screen and immediately the user receives a text
message back that states if the answer provided was correct along with a hot link to
a site with more educational information about baseball. Out of all the
participants, one is chosen to receive a prize package including things such as team
paraphernalia all the way to a free Kajeet cell phone.

Audiences seem very interested in this technology-enabled between inning game. The
pre-teen to teen ages especially show great interest in participating in a game at a
baseball stadium where they are the target audience and they can utilize their cell
phones. It is a change to the activities that focus more on younger children.
So far tens of thousands of baseball fans have been reached through this method of
learning simply by attending a baseball game. Without even knowing, all of these
users have experienced more than just a baseball game when the last pitch is thrown;
they have been taught the physics behind the game and a few walk away inspired to
learn more.

About the Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City is a private, nonpartisan
foundation that works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and
improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established
in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Information about the Kauffman Foundation is available at www.kauffman.org

About Hot Lava Software, Inc.
Hot Lava Software Inc. is the leading provider of mobile authoring, publishing,
delivery and tracking solutions. Using Hot Lava Software's content development and
publishing system (LMA) integrated with the Hot Lava Mobile Delivery and Tracking
System TM (MDTS) allows organizations to have the tools and knowledge needed to
launch and track mobile initiatives faster, with more cost efficiency. Hot Lava
Software provides mobile content solutions and a mobile content design, authoring
and publishing solution to corporations, government and universities around the
world. More information is available at http://www.hotlavasoftware.com/

Joy Torchia
(816) 932-1045
jtorchia@kauffman.org

Bob Sanregret
(540) 428-2988
bobs@hotlavasoftware.com

Web Site: http://www.hotlavasoftware.com

Contact Details: 50 Culpeper Street
Warrenton, Va 20186
540-428-2988

  • Printer Friendly Format
  • Back to previous page...
  • Back to home page...
  • Submit your press releases...
  •