Tony K Betrus
Professor of Educational Technology; Department Chair, Advanced Studies in Education
In my roles as Professor and Department Chair, I am fortunate to work with people who value curiosity, creativity, and ingenuity. The world, and especially the world of education, is changing rapidly. If we expect our students to be flexible, adaptive, and open to change, then we should be willing to model those same qualities ourselves. I am proud of the work our department has done to update our programs and curriculum, especially our efforts to seek feedback, reflect on what we teach, and respond thoughtfully to the needs of our students and communities. I am especially thankful for our strong advisory boards, whose guidance and support have been invaluable along the way.
My primary research area is educational technology, with an emphasis on simulations and games in teaching and training environments, as well as artificial intelligence and its role in learning. In my classes, I use technology to create playful learning experiences, which can be a powerful tool if used properly. I have developed several educational games, including Teaching Bad Apples, a card game for teachers, along with two expansion packs. The game is designed for teacher professional development, and I am always willing to help facilitate sessions for those who are interested. I also created The Many Hats of an Instructional Designer, a game intended for people new to instructional design. Both games are available through The Game Crafter website. I have also created and delivered professional development for teachers to support implementation of the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards, with an emphasis on using AI as a thought partner.
I have had a long-standing relationship with athletics at SUNY Potsdam and have served as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative since 2004, as well as academic advisor for the Men's Soccer team. In 2019, I entered the esports conversation through a TEDx talk titled "Esports is Real Sports," which is available on YouTube. In that talk, I advocated for integrating esports into educational settings in ways that value participants similarly to those involved in traditional sports.
I also maintain ongoing partnerships with the National Education Foundation (NEF), now entering its 15th year, and the Ed for Tech Alliance (ETA), now entering its fifth year. Through these partnerships, I help introduce STEM learning opportunities into under-resourced schools and communities across the country and beyond. With the support of NEF, we created an open-source Digital Literacy course, most recently updated to its fourth edition. The course is free and intended for a general audience, from middle school through adult learners. Please contact me if you are interested in accessing the course. Through our partnership with ETA, we have also been fortunate to support the 21st Century Skills and Technologies program in helping Afghan girls develop coding and technology skills.
Looking back on my three decades at SUNY Potsdam, it is the relationships I have developed that I value most. I look forward to continuing to grow alongside my colleagues, students, alumni, partners, and the broader communities we serve.