Faculty & Staff

Carolyn Bjartveit, PhD

Academic title: Associate Professor

Office: T389
Email: cbjartveit@mtroyal.ca
Phone: 403.440.6214
She/Her 

Education
PhD, University of Calgary
MEd, University of Calgary
BSc, University of Toronto

 

Carolyn is coordinating the Bachelor of Child Studies, Early Learning and Child Care Program. Her teaching experience spans from pre-k to post graduate levels in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Carolyn’s teaching and research examines how historical, philosophical, and cultural perspectives shape early years learning and education. Her areas of research include the history and philosophy of ECE, cultural and curriculum studies, inclusive practice, and child-activism through the visual arts (artivism). Through her work, Carolyn explores how creative and inclusive pedagogies can foster equitable and meaningful learning experiences for young children. Carolyn collaborates with educators and community partners to bridge research and practice to the field of Child Studies.

 Areas of Instruction
  • Community-based Research and Evaluation
  • Contemporary Issues in Child Studies
  • Leadership and Collaboration
  • Roles of Early Childhood Educators
  • Curriculum Planning

Areas of Scholarship

  • History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
  • Cultural Studies
  • Inclusion and Belonging
  • Child Rights and Activism
  • Art and Visuality
  • Early Childhood Teacher Education

Selected Publications

Bjartveit, C. & Kandola, S. (2026). Tightrope Walking: Balancing Leadership Roles and
Partnerships with Undergraduate Student Assistance in SoTL Research. Imagining
SoTL, 5 (2), 44-57. https://doi.org/10.29173/isotl876

Henderson-Dekort, E., Bjartveit, C., Bagshaw, A., & DeCecco, E. (2026). The dos and
don’ts of practicing artivism: Pedagogical insights for embedding child rights and
addressing social issues in early childhood education. Contemporary Issues in Early
Childhood, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14639491261416141

Bjartveit, C. (2025) Melting the clock: Dalian concepts of temporality and pedagogical documentation in early childhood education. Journal of Childhood Studies. https://doi.org/10.18357/jcs501202522467

Bjartveit, C., Bear Chief, R., Gordon, H., & (2025). Becoming Unsettlers: Dismantling and Disrupting Colonialism through Experiential Learning and Town-Gown Collaboration. In M. Buzzelli (Ed.), Experiential Learning and Community: Examining the University's Teaching Mission, University of Toronto Press.

Bjartveit, C. (2023). “Seeing” Nana: Haunting portraits and playful historical thinking in the early childhood education classroom. Journal of Applied Hermeneutics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11575/jah.v2023i2023.77982

Gariepy, C. & Bjartveit, C. (2023). The importance of “love” in authentic decolonization work and SoTL practice. Imagining SoTL 3(2), 2-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29173/isotl702

 

Selected Presentations:

Bjartveit, C. & Henderson-Dekort, E. (2026). The Dos and Don’ts of Practicing Artivism:
Pedagogical Insights for Embedding Child Rights and Addressing Social Issues in Early
Childhood Education. Seen and Heard: Young People’s Voices and Freedom of
Expression Conference, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta (February 6).

Bjartveit, C. & Satarasinghe, O. (2025). Music as a Metaphor for Self-Identity:  Exploring International Students' Sense of Belonging and Educational Experiences in the Canadian Postsecondary Classroom. 2025 CSSE’s 53rd Annual Conference, George Brown College, Toronto Ontario (June 10).

Bjartveit, C. & Henderson-Dekort, E. (2025). Child Rights and Art/IVISM: Exploring Preschool Children's Activist Roles in Opposing Environmental Injustice. Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference, Toronto (June 10).

Bjartveit, C., Kandola, S. & Khan, A. (2024). Exploring Immigrant Students’ Partnership with Faculty to Increase Cultural Awareness and Inclusion in the Post Secondary Classroom. SoTL Symposium, Banff, Alberta (Nov. 8)

Bjartveit, C., DeCecco, E. & Bagshaw, A. (2024). Self-study reflections: Child rights and practicing craftivism in early childhood education settings. The International Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference. Chicago Illinois (Nov. 4)

Relevant Community Service

Facilitator – Community of Practice for post-secondary ECE faculty across Alberta, focused on decolonizing curricula and programming.

Instructor and Facilitator – Community-based capstone project with Kids Cancer Care (KCC) Foundation of Alberta (2025/26). This work is a collaboration involving BCST students, and KCC staff, children, youth and families.