Bets, Substance, Speed and iPads [Higher-Ed Snapshot 8/13]

Photo via gadgetdude, under Creative Commons

UPDATED 4:10 p.m. 

Don't keep up on what's going on at colleges and universities in the area and across the country? No worries-- Connect2Mason's new Senior News Editor for Off-Campus & Community Jordan J. Frasier has you covered. Here's a round up of higher education headlines from down the street and around the country.

Consider them five things you should know. 

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Making the Grade by Making a Bet?
A year-old company, Ultrinsic, lets students place bets on their ability to earn certain grades. The company promotes the program by saying it motivates students to perform well academically, but education officials have reservations about the program’s impact on students. If a student wins a bet, the company pays them. If a student loses a bet, they pay the company.  Read the full Inside Higher Ed story here.

Out with the Textbooks and In with the iPad?  
Select courses this fall at Oklahoma State University will use electronic textbooks based on the iPad. Professor Bill Handy, whose class will be using the iPad, hopes to use the opportunity to test the effectiveness of the technology as a teaching tool. Some question how the iPad and similar devices will affect learning. Read the full USA Today story here.

Kinesiology Major Gaining Speed in Terms of Popularity
According to the American Kinesiology Association, the study of body movement has become one of the fastest growing areas of study in the nation. Students with degrees in kinesiology go on to careers in quickly growing fields like physical therapy, athletic training, and a variety of medical fields. Read the full Inside Higher Ed story here.

Suggestion: Shoot for Substance over Speed while Applying to College
Some school officials say that for students filling out applications to university, the thoughtfulness of the application counts more than the speed of submission. According to admissions officials at NYU, a significant delay exists between a student submitting an application and having it reviewed. The officials in this piece say that reality allows students time to put thought into their application.  Read the full New York Times story here.

Technology's Role in College Cost
Since 1981 the list price of higher education has increased six-fold, and in a new Forbes article Robert B. Archibald and David H. Feldman look at what goes into the price of higher education. Their findings show that technology has not lowered the cost of higher education like in other industries. Read the full list from Forbes here.

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Did Jordan miss something? Shoot him a tweet at @jordanjfrasier to tell him what you think should have been included, and feel free to give him a heads up a during the week.