Learning as Meaning Making PE 3 For Odisha B.Ed & Education Honours

Learning as Meaning Making

Introduction

Learning is not just about collecting facts or remembering answers. It becomes meaningful when students make sense of what they learn — when they connect it to their own life, understand it deeply, and use it in new situations.

This process is called “Meaning Making.” It sees the learner as an active participant, not a passive receiver of knowledge.

A. Concept of Meaning Making

Meaning making is the process where the learner tries to understand, relate, and use the knowledge in their own way.

Learners don't just copy what the teacher says; they think, ask, reflect, and create meaning from what they experience or learn.

Every child may create different meanings based on their background, language, culture, and previous knowledge.

Example: When a teacher teaches the water cycle, one child may imagine rivers and rains in their village, another may think of floods in the city. Each child connects it differently.

B. Process of Meaning Making

The process of making meaning usually involves:

1. Experiencing

Students experience or come in contact with new ideas, situations, or information.

2. Thinking and Reflecting

They think about what it means, how it connects to what they already know.

3. Questioning and Exploring

They ask questions, do activities, or observe things to understand more.

4. Understanding and Connecting

They finally understand the concept in a way that it becomes personally meaningful.

Indian example: A child learning about farming through school lessons, and then visiting their grandfather’s field to actually see how seeds are sown — that’s meaning making.

C. Learner as Meaning Maker

Every learner brings their own knowledge, language, culture, and experiences to the classroom. So, each child gives different meanings to the same lesson. A teacher must understand this and help every child make learning meaningful.

D. Characteristics of Learner as Meaning Maker

1. Curiosity

Children are naturally curious.

They keep asking “why,” “how,” and “what if.”

This curiosity leads to discovery and learning.

Example: A child asking why the moon changes shape — this is the beginning of meaning making.

2. Interest

Learners show more involvement when the topic connects to their life or is made interesting.

Teachers should relate lessons to local events, festivals, or activities.

Example: Teaching pollution during Diwali in cities — students understand it better because it is relevant to them.

3. Active Engagement

Learning happens best when students do activities, not just listen.

They should participate in discussions, projects, role-plays, and experiments.

Example: Students performing a skit on water conservation to understand its importance.

E. Role of Inquiry in Meaning Making

1. What is Inquiry?

Inquiry means asking questions, exploring answers, and thinking deeply. It is a powerful way to support meaningful learning.

2. Why is Inquiry Important?

Encourages students to think for themselves.

Makes them responsible for their own learning.

Helps them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Example: Instead of just telling students the causes of pollution, ask them to find out from newspapers, neighborhood, or internet.

F. Indian Context and Classroom Examples

In Indian classrooms, meaning making can be encouraged by:

Using local languages and stories.

Connecting topics to daily life and local culture.

Encouraging group discussions and question-answer sessions.

Allowing students to share personal experiences.

For instance, in rural India, when teaching about water conservation, teachers can connect it to the water scarcity in their own village, making it real and relatable.

Conclusion

Learning as meaning making is a powerful and natural way for children to learn. It involves not just understanding, but also feeling, questioning, and applying. Every child is a meaning maker — full of curiosity, interest, and ideas. The teacher’s role is to create a classroom environment where learners feel free to explore, ask, and connect their learning with real life. In the Indian setting, where learners come from diverse backgrounds, meaning making becomes even more important for inclusive and joyful learning.