Health education teachers’ historical bodies : constructing teacher identity and teaching information evaluation

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p><em>Purpose:</em> This article describes how Finnish health education teachers verbalise and construct their teacher identity based on their lifestyle, subject area and relationships with their students.</p><p><em>Design/methodology/approach:</em> Narrative interviews were conducted amongst eight secondary and upper secondary school teachers. The nexus analysis was used to analyse teachers’ methods of teaching students information-seeking, evaluation and critical thinking skills.</p><p><em>Findings:</em> The teachers’ historical bodies — their skills, interests, information-seeking habits and familiar sources — impacted the chosen teaching methods. The results indicate that teacher identity is constructed along different paths and is constantly performed and transformed in the classroom through interactions with students.</p><p><em>Originality/value:</em> The study illustrates the reconstruction of teacher identity through interaction in interviews. Teachers act as role models, information gatekeepers and trustees who guide students to choose credible health information sources.</p></div>