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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Anthony Betrus
Dr. Tony Betrus is a faculty member who is part of the Business Department here at Potsdam. Specifically, Dr. Betrus is the program coordinator for the Educational Technology Specialist (Ed Tech) Master’s program and the Organizational Performance graduate program here on campus. Dr. Betrus’ position is an intriguing one to learn more about, as many people never get a look behind the scenes of a grad school program. After taking a look inside the work space and course initiatives, the operation being run by Dr. Betrus and his colleagues is one that is truly unique and provides an applied learning experience like no other.
When walking into the Ed Tech and Organizational Performance workspace in Dunn Hall, the first thing that comes to mind is “Think Tank.” There is a large white board on one wall filled to the brim with what looks like ideas and brainstorming. There’s also a large arcade machine, along with a TV surrounded by a plethora of vintage gaming systems. After walking down a hallway lined with various offices filled with students diligently working, there is a large computer lab at the end with some of the higher powered computers out right now. When discussing this incredible work area, Dr. Betrus explains how the basis for this area was based on those epic think tank work spaces utilized by tech giants like Google. The idea behind the “think tank” model is that employees have a relaxed area to work in, allowing ideas to flow and develop without the stress or less vibrant feel that cubicles hold. Even before learning about the what these students are doing in the classroom, the work area that these students are learning in already has a realistic and extremely interesting feel.
While the work space echoes “applied learning” and real-life experience, what the students are learning in the classroom for the Master’s Program really is the piece that embodies those concepts. Dr. Betrus explains how he and his staff have ensured that virtually every project or assignment that these students are partaking in has aspects of applied learning. Students are either working closely with actual clients and businesses for an assignment or learning practical skills that can be applied in a real scenario. Dr. Betrus put it well when he said that learning applied learning in the classroom is like practice. Students get to deal with real life problems in a simulated and controlled atmosphere, so when they come upon these problems in their real-life jobs, they’ll have already seen it before.
Dr. Betrus also mentions how he teaches the first class and the last class in the Ed Tech program. He values the fact that he gets to see his students from the moment they enter the program, then see their progress at the very end. Dr. Betrus emphasizes the fact that the relationship between the staff in both the Ed Tech and Organizational Performance programs and their students is a close bond, as the staff serve as close mentors to these students as they grow. Another piece of the program that sets these programs apart from many others is that every student must partake in an internship in order to complete it. Dr. Betrus explains how important it is to do internships, as working in the field is the best way to really decide whether or not someone likes the career they have chosen.
While there could be at least five more pages on Dr. Betrus and the one-of-a-kind things happening in these programs, there is only room in this article for one more cool fact. But the best has been saved for last: one of the larger components of the classroom applied learning comes in the form of educational board games that teach real life and professional skills. One of these games is Teaching Bad Apples, a card game Dr. Betrus actually created and sells himself. While being program coordinator of a multiple graduate programs and mentoring a plethora of students at once, Dr. Betrus is also a successful board game entrepreneur. Talk about a jack of all trades!