Liminality

The student teachers with whom I'm working are presently developing some blogs which are intended to help them think about the meaning of core geographical concepts (e.g. space, place, globalisation) which are the central point of the new Key Stage 3 curriculum (for 11-14 year olds) for Geogrpahy in England. The intention is to give them some 'space' in which they can build a series of links, create some thoughts and generally 'play' with the ideas in a relatively informal, yet public, setting. As expected there are a variety of reactions, but for all there has been a clear willingness to search for interesting and creative material on the web and a belief that the exercise is helping them think more creatively and investigate resource sources that they would otherwise not have considered previously.

Can these perspectives and developments be seen as the creation of 'liminal space'? Liminality is an idea, popularised by Victor Turner (a cultural anthropologist) that focuses on rites and rituals of passage. As the individual passes from one section of society to another, they are at a point on a 'threshold', being neither a member of one or other part of society. This has seemingly been broadened out as a concept to cover the general notion of 'in-betweeness'! The students are developing their blogs, the end result being a twenty minute lesson which they must present to others in the group focusing on their given concept. As such, can the development of the blog and the learning which takes place there be seen as a liminal space? Are they moving through a transitional space from understanding a concept to some degree, to being able to teach other students about it? As such does this constitute liminality?