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CURRICULUM VITAE
BENJAMIN R. FORSYTH, Ph.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
University of Northern Iowa
Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations
617 Schindler Education Center
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0607
319.273.7901
EDUCATION
Michigan State University Ph.D., Education Psychology and Educational Technology, 2010
Dissertation Title: The Influence of Worldviews on Selective
Recall from Texts about History and Physics
Brigham Young University B.A., Physics Teaching, Mathematics Minor, 2004
Rose Hulman Inst. of Tech. Freshman Year, Physics and Mathematics, 1998-1999
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations,
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 2016-present
Assistant Professor Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations,
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 2010-2016
Graduate Student Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special
Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan,
2005-2010
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Pre-tenure Summer Fellowship (2014) Awarded by the Office of the Executive Vice President
and Provost, University of Northern Iowa ($4500)
Faculty Summer Fellowship (2013) Awarded by the Graduate College, University of Northern
Iowa ($3,666)
Faculty Summer Fellowship (2011) Awarded by the Graduate College, University of Northern
Iowa ($6,087)
University Distinguished Fellowship (2009-2010). Awarded by the Graduate School, Michigan
State University ($24,000)
Rumsey-Monson Scholarship (2009, 2010) Awarded by the Church Educational System of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ($2000)
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University Distinguished Fellowship (2005-2006). Awarded by the Graduate School, Michigan
State University ($23,000)
Full Tuition Scholarship, (2002-2004). Awarded by Brigham Young University.
Presidential Scholarship (1998). Awarded by Rose Hulman Institute of Technology ($5000)
HONORS
Nominated (2016) College of Education Faculty Award for Service
Nominated (2015) College of Education Faculty Award for Teaching
Participant (2015) Liberty Fund Colloquium. Do Economics and Business Studies Advance
Liberal Education and a Free Society? Logan, UT.
Nominated (2015) University Book and Supply Outstanding Teaching Award for Untenured
Faculty.
Participant (2012) AERA Division C New Faculty Mentoring Program (NFMP). Mentor: Dick
Anderson. Vancouver, BC.
Nominated (2011) University Book and Supply Outstanding Teaching Award for Untenured
Faculty.
Nominated, “Influential Teacher” by students through the Department of Residence Life,
Michigan State University (2008, 2009).
Graduated Magna Cum Laude (2004). Brigham Young University.
AWARDS
UNI Capacity Building Scholarship Grant (2013) Awarded by the Office of Executive Vice
President and Provost and Iowa NSF EPSCoR ($1000)
Dean’s Undergraduate Research Grant (2012). Awarded by the College of Education, University
of Northern Iowa ($500)
Professional Development Stipend (2011). Awarded by the Office of Continuing and Distance
Education ($1000)
Online Course Development Award (2011). Awarded by the Office of Continuing and Distance
Education ($3000)
Student Computer Fee Project Award (2010-2011). Awarded by the College of Education
($1429)
Dean’s Undergraduate Research Grant (2010). Awarded by the College of Education, University
of Northern Iowa ($500)
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Research Enhancement Award (2009). Awarded by the Graduate School and College of
Education, Michigan State University ($1500)
Research Travel Award (2009). Awarded by the Graduate School and College of Education,
Michigan State University ($1000)
Research Travel Award (2006, 2007). Awarded by College of Education, Michigan State
University ($200)
PUBLISHED PAPERS
Refereed Journal Articles
Cody, K.J., Rule, A.C., & Forsyth, B.R. (2015). Mathematical game creation assists students in
practicing newly-learned challenging concepts. Creative Education, 2015(6), 1484-1495.
Forsyth, B.R., & Beck, B.F. (2015). Epistemological world view preference predicts recall
patterns from a history text. The Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, 14(1),
143-160.
Forsyth, B.R. (2014). Students' epistemic worldview preferences predict selective recall across
history and physics texts. Educational Psychology: An International Journal of
Experimental Educational Psychology. Accepted March 2, 2014.
Forsyth, B. R. (2012). Beyond physics: A case for far transfer. Instructional Science, 40(3), 515-
535.
Book Chapters
Spiro, R. J., Morsink, P., & Forsyth, B. (2011). Principled pluralism, cognitive flexibility, and
new contexts for reading. In R. Flippo (Ed.), Reading researchers in search of common
ground (2nd ed.). New York: Taylor & Francis/Routledge.
PAPERS IN PROGRESS
Kuhn, M., Forsyth, B.R., & McDermott, M.A. (2016). The relationship between dialogic teacher
feedback and student outcomes on Standardized Science Assessment. International
Journal of Science Education. Under Review.
Forsyth, B.R., Kuffel, J., Hunnerdosse, K., & Nolte, C. (2016). Epistemic belief influences on
reading processes based on eye tracking data. Manuscript in preparation for The Journal
of Cognitive Education and Psychology
Ehlers, B., & Forsyth B.R. (2016). Where does your sidewalk end? Environmental issues,
literacy, and the next generation science standards. Manuscript in preparation for The
Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions.
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Forsyth, B.R., & Spiro, R.J. (2015). Defining far transfer via thematic similarity. Manuscript last
submitted to The Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology.
Forsyth, B.R., & Spiro, R.J. (2015). Instructional internet searches: A recommendation for
expanding the use of the web in classrooms. Manuscript in progress.
PRESENTATIONS
National and International Presentations
Forsyth, B.R. (2015). Epistemic beliefs effect on eye movement patterns in reading. Poster
presented for the 16th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Research in
Learning and Instruction, August, Limassol, Cyprus.
Forsyth, B.R., Kuffel, J., Hunnerdosse, K., & Nolte, C. (2015). The influence of epistemic beliefs
on reading processes based on eye tracking data. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting
of the American Education Research Association, April, Chicago, IL.
Forsyth, B.R., & Beck, B. (2013). A demonstration of selective recall via Stephen Pepper’s
mechanism and organicism. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American
Education Research Association, April, San Francisco, CA.
Forsyth, B.R. (2011). The effect of Stephen Pepper’s worldviews on selective recall from history
and physics texts. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Education
Research Association. April, New Orleans, LA.
Forsyth, B.R. (2010). An investigation of the influence of worldviews on selective recall from a
text. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Education Research
Association. April, Denver, CO.
Forsyth, B.R. (2009). Defining far transfer via thematic similarity. Poster presented at the
Annual Meeting of the 31st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. July,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Forsyth, B.R. (2007). Beyond physics into other subjects: A case for transfer. Poster presented at
the 29th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. August, Nashville, TN.
Forsyth, B.R. (2007). A case for far transfer. Paper presented at the Harvard Graduate School of
Education Student Research Conference. February, Cambridge, MA.
Local Presentations
Forsyth, B.R. (2014). The influence of epistemic beliefs on reading processes based on eye-
tracking data. Poster presented at the University of Northern Iowa Pre-tenure Fellowship
Symposium. October, Cedar Falls, IA
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Forsyth, B.R. (2014). ‘But I know they’ve already learned this!’: Why students don’t transfer
learning from one class to another and what you can do about it. Roundtable discussion
presented at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Faculty Session. March,
Cedar Falls, IA
Forsyth, B.R., Kuffel, J., & Hunerdosse, K. (2013). Epistemic belief influences on reading
processes based on eye tracking data. Poster presented at the Creative University
Conference. December, Cedar Falls, IA.
Hunerdosse, K., Forsyth, B.R., & Kuffel, J. (2013). Organicist and mechanist influences on
reading processes based on eye-tracking data. Poster presented at the Capacity Building
Scholarship Grant Poster Session. October, Cedar Falls, IA.
Hunerdosse, K., & Forsyth, B.R. (2013). Organicist and mechanist influences on reading
processes. Poster presented at the Sixth Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium.
April, Cedar Falls, IA.
Forsyth, B.R. (2012). Epistemic beliefs and the transfer of learning: Helping your students to
meaningfully connect their physics knowledge to other subjects. Paper presented at the
UNI Physics Update Conference, April, Cedar Falls, IA.
Beck, B., & Forsyth, B.R. (2012). The influence of mechanism and organicism on text
comprehension. Poster presented at the Fifth Annual Graduate Student Research
Symposium. March, Cedar Falls, IA.
Forsyth, B.R. (2011). The effect of Stephen Pepper’s worldviews on selective recall from texts
about history and physics. Paper presented at the University of Northern Iowa COE
Scholarship Forum. November, Cedar Falls, IA.
Forsyth, B.R. (2010). The influence of worldviews on selective recall from texts about history
and physics. Paper presented at the Michigan State University Graduate Academic
Conference, March. East Lansing, MI.
Forsyth, B.R. (2009). Far transfer via thematic similarity. Paper presented at the Michigan State
University Graduate Academic Conference, March. East Lansing, MI.
CURRICULUM MATERIALS
Fortus, D., Abdel-Kareem, H.A., Chen, J., Forsyth, B.R., Nordine, J., & Weizman, A. (2008).
Why do some things stop and others continue going? In J. Krajcik, B. Reiser, D. Fortus,
& L. Sutherland (Eds.), Investigating and questioning our world through science and
technology (IQWST). University of Michigan.
COURSES TAUGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
Learning and Instruction in Classroom Contexts (3148), Fall 2010-Spring 2016
Undergraduate course intended for pre-service teachers focusing on classroom
management, cognitive processing, motivation and instructional design
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Teacher as Change Agent (3128), Fall 2010-Spring 2012
Field experience in which students submit a Teacher Work Sample that links their
experience to theory and research learned in the co-requisite course 3148
Foundations of Instructional Psychology (6214), Fall 2011, Summer 2014
Online Masters course for in-service teachers. Course focus on historically situated
learning theories and contemporary perspectives on education from the field of cognitive
science
Educational Research (6205), Summer 2014, Fall 2014, 2015, Spring 2016
Masters course for in-service teachers. The course focuses on helping students become
informed, critical consumers of research; skilled in analysis and interpretation of data;
and capable of conducting and supervising action research
Contexts of Contemporary Education (7301), Fall 2010, 2012; Spring 2011, 2012, 2014;
Summer 2013
Doctoral course intended to examine issues in contemporary education through historical,
philosophical and sociological perspectives
Philosophy of Inquiry (7303), Spring 2013; Fall 2013, 2014, 2015
Doctoral course for all required EdD students that examines philosophical and historical
foundations of inquiry
COURSES TAUGHT AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Reflections on Learning, Fall 2007, 2008 Winter 2008, 2009 Summer 2009
Undergraduate course intended for pre-service teachers as an introductory Educational
Psychology course
Teaching Science for Understanding, Winter 2006, 2007, 2008
Cognitively based online Masters course intended to improve in-service teachers’
instruction generally for all subjects, especially for science
SERVICE—DEPARTMENT
Department Faculty Chair, Fall 2013-Summer 2015
Conducted monthly department meetings
Corresponded with department faculty for agenda items
Social Foundations Faculty Search Committee Member Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Resulted in the successful hiring of two new tenure-track Educational Psychology and
Foundations faculty
Learning Team Coordinator, Fall2014-Present
Met at least once per semester to coordinate updates on EDPSYCH 3148
Prepared yearly reports for department about learning team activities
Learning Team Co-coordinator, Fall 2013-Summer 2014
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Department Vice Chair, Fall 2012-Spring 2013
Online Teaching Policy Ad Hoc committee, 2012-2013
Non-standard teaching compensation working group, Spring 2012
Co-coordinator of MAE in Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers
(Educational Psychology and Foundations), Fall 2010-Spring 2012
Responsible for promoting and maintaining the program which includes coordination of
faculty advising responsibilities and developing a more fully online component for
fulfilling all program requirements.
Learning Team Committee Member, Fall 2010-Present
Aid in communication and facilitation of the Level II Field experience between the
Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations and the Price Lab School.
Social Committee Member, Fall 2011-Spring 2013
SERVICE—COLLEGE
College of Education Outreach Visit to Ankeny Centennial High School, Spring 2016
College of Education Scholarship Committee Member, Educational Psychology and
Foundations/Secondary Education Sub-committee chair, Spring 2016
With a team of four members took the lead on assigning awardees and alternates to 35
different scholarships
Interviewed finalists for the Strottman Scholarship—a $10000 academic scholarship
renewable for 4 years
Consulted with the larger COE Scholarship Committee about how to administer a more
centralized awarding system in future years
College of Education Technology Committee Member, Fall 2015-Present
Meet monthly to discuss disbursement of COE technology funds
Schindler Education Center Renovation Committee Member, Fall 2014-Present
Met monthly and often in the spring bimonthly or weekly to coordinate information
sharing between different stakeholders in the renovation process.
Acted as a go-between the architects and the Department of Educational Psychology and
Foundations
Prepared a survey to gather information from community stakeholders in the renovation
Helped in the coordination of relocating faculty during the renovation
Praxis II tutor to two teacher candidates for the Teacher Education Program, Fall 2014, Spring
2015
edTPA scorer for the Department of Teaching, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, 5 edTPAs scored
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College Feasibility Committee Member, Spring 2013-Spring 2014
Met monthly and often in the spring bimonthly to coordinate information sharing
between different stakeholders in the renovation process.
Acted as a go-between the architects and the Department of Educational Psychology and
Foundations when information was needed for the study
Clinical Field Experience Transition Team Member, Spring 2012-Fall 2012
College of Education Scholarship Committee Member, Spring 2011, 2012, 2013 (substitute)
Science Education Faculty Member, (College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences), Spring 2011-
Present
Curriculum and Instruction Intensive Study Area Member (College of Education), Fall 2010-
Present
Graduate Education Faculty Member, (Graduate College), Fall 2010-Present
Family Weekend Planning Committee Member, (College of Education), Fall 2010, 2011
SERVICE-UNIVERSITY
Teacher Education Faculty Chair, Fall 2016
Liason with upper administration concerning faculty needs in the Teacher Education
Program. Conduct Teacher Education Convocation twice a year. Sit on Secondary and
Elementary Teacher Education Senates, as well as the Teacher Education Executive
Council and Teacher Education Curriculum Committee
Teacher Education Program State Site Visit Team Member, Spring 2016-Present
Consult with the team about logistical needs for the upcoming Teacher Education
Accreditation Site Visit from the Iowa Department of Education for 2017
Participate in the construction of and assignments for writing the Accreditation Report
Professional Core Representative—Elementary Teacher Education Senate, Spring 2016-Present
Represent for the Elementary Senate all Teacher Education Program faculty who teach in
the Professional Core Sequence
Professional Core Representative—Secondary Teacher Education Senate, Fall 2011-Present
Represent for the Secondary Senate all Teacher Education Program faculty who teach in
the Professional Core Sequence
Important projects worked on during my time include a review of all professional core
sequence courses, adoption of the edTPA as a measurement of student teaching,
consultation regarding the closing of the Price Laboratory School, ongoing discussion
regarding the adoption of Praxis II or edTPA as a completion exam, development of a
new classroom management course for secondary education majors, and preparatory
work for the upcoming Teacher Education Accreditation process
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Teacher Education Curriculum Committee Member Fall 2011-Present
Review all curriculum changes that could potentially affect the Teacher Education
Program
Meetings are dependent upon the volume of curriculum requests
Teacher Education Faculty Member, Spring 2011-Present
Teacher Education Induction Convocation Marshall, Fall 2011, 2012 Spring 2012
SERVICE—PROFESSIONAL
Presentation, UNI Teacher Education faculty, April, 2016. Regarding the organization, content
and instruction of EDPSYCH 3148 Learning and Motivation in Classroom Contexts.
Attendee, Advances in Educational Psychology Conference, Washington, D.C., October 2014,
In group format sessions discussed and debated central concerns to Educational
Psychologists. Participated in the Principals and Mechanisms of Change Strand
Attendee, IES Product Feedback and Development Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 2013,
Reviewed What Works Clearinghouse and Regional Educational Laboratory materials
with an interstate panel of local and state education agency representatives
Proposal reviewer, American Education Research Association, 2013, Reviewed proposals for the
2014 Annual Meeting
Proposal reviewer, American Education Research Association, 2012, Reviewed proposals for the
2013 Annual Meeting
Proposal reviewer, Cognitive Science Society, 2009
Reviewed proposals for the 31st Annual Conference
SERVICE—COMMUNITY/OTHER
Site Visit Accreditation Team for the Iowa Department of Education, Northwestern College, Fall
2015-Spring 2016
Prepared preliminary review of Faculty and Diversity reports
Site Visit scheduled for March 2016
Creative Life Research Center (CLRC) Interdisciplinary Advisory Board Member. Spring 2013-
Present.
Consult with board members about goals and direction of CLRC and CLRC activities.
Helped to organize the Creative Life Reseearch Symposium in 2013 and a TEDxUNI
event in Spring 2015
Elementary Math Teacher Performance Scorer for Pearson/Stanford edTPA. Certified Spring
2014
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Secondary Science Teacher Performance Assessment Scorer for Pearson/Stanford edTPA. San
Antonio, October 2012
Spent three days benchmarking Science edTPA’s used to train edTPA scorers
Quality Matters Certified Reviewer for Online Courses Spring, Fall 2012: 2 courses reviewed
Event Judge for the 2012 State of Iowa Physics Olympics Competition. Regional competition
held on 3/21/2012
Event Judge for the 2011 State of Iowa Physics Olympics Competition. Regional competition
held on 3/23/2011. State competition held on 4/13/2011
Negotiated Junior Science World, http://juniorscienceworld.blogspot.com/, to put on a science
assembly at Hansen Elementary School. (March, 2011) Two 90 minute assemblies were
conducted
Classroom Volunteer (Hansen Elementary School) 2010-present
AP Curriculum Development Committee member (Pasco High School), 2004-2005
Discussed and developed scope and sequence details of AP curriculum
SERVICE—AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Panelist (MSU International Studies and Programs), Fall 2009
Fielded questions from a Malian delegation on exchange to the United States which
focused upon “Strengthening Civil Society through Dialogue on Faith and Community”
Research Apprenticeship Committee member (EPET program), Fall 2009
Student mentor member of committee for Doctoral Student, Alicia Trotman
Distinguished Speakers Committee member (MSU Cognitive Science Program), 2009-2010
Responsible for contacting, hosting and organizing Distinguished Speakers’ of Michigan
State University multidisciplinary Cognitive Science Program
Graduate Affairs Committee member (MSU Cognitive Science Program), 2008-2009
Conducted business related to enrollment, advancement and recruitment of students into
the Michigan State University multidisciplinary Cognitive Science Program
STUDENT ADVISING
Doctoral Advisor: 2 students
Dissertation Committee Member: 10 students
Master’s Thesis Advisor: 3 Students
Master’s Thesis Committee Member: 5 students
Honor’s Thesis Advisor: 1 student
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MEMBERSHIPS
American Educational Research Association
Teaching Educational Psychology SIG—AERA
American Psychological Association, Division 15—Educational Psychology
Cognitive Science Society
International Society of the Learning Sciences
European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction
Comprehension of Text and Graphics SIG—EARLI
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology—IQWST (David
Fortus, PI), Spring 2006 – Summer 2008
Created project based lesson plans of a national middle school science curriculum
Assessed a national sampling of students’ and teachers’ performance using IQWST
materials
Engineering for the 21st Century (Mary Lundeberg, PI), Summer 2006 – Fall 2007
Developed and implemented assessments for a case based undergraduate electrical
engineering course at Oklahoma State University
Learning Points (Barbara Schneider, PI), Summer 2006 – Fall 2006
Participated in the development of an online high school sociology course
Project POP (Dick Prawat, PI), Fall 2005 – Winter 2006
Helped develop, implement and assess multimedia tools via for improving middle school
students’ science understanding based on “realist constructivism” orientation
Assessments conducted across multiple districts
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OTHER RELEVANT TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Religion Teacher, Institute of Religion, East Lansing, Michigan 2007-2010
Physics Teacher, Pasco High School, Washington, 2004 – 2005
Dutch Language Teacher, Missionary Training Center, Utah, 2002 – 2004
Teen Counselor, Boys and Girls Club, Utah, 2001
Missionary, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Netherlands, 1999 – 2001
Assistant Football Coach, Kamiakin High School; Washington, 1999
Multivariable Calculus Tutor, Rose Hulman Institute of Tech, Indiana, 1999
Special Education Counselor, ARC of the Tri-Cities; Washington, 1998
