ACADEMIC POOR PERFORMANCE
Understanding the Probable Causes
Common perceived causes
 Laziness
 Distractions
 Company of
students(e.g.,
friends not
academically
inclined)
 Poor teaching
techniques
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Evidence Based Causes of Poor
Performance
 PSYCHOLOGICAL
 SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
 NEUROLOGICAL-
COGNITIVE
 PHYSICAL/HEALTH
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Psychological - (individual/ emotional problems)
 Self-concept
 Psychological disorders-Most frequent psychological disorders include
examination phobia, conduct disorder, adjustment, separation anxiety,
anxiety, anger, fear, and learning disability.
 Personality-Conscientious people are defined as highly responsible,
achievement - oriented and industrious learners. Such characteristics
make them determined and resolved to gain high academic
attainments. (Bratko et al., 2006)
 Lack of commitment/motivation to study
 Time management.
 Medium of instruction at colleges/ universities is English.
 Problems with subject content and examinations
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Factors that intervene with
student’s motivation.
 Fear of making mistakes/ failure due to resulting
humiliation
 Lack of challenge- boredom ( inability to understand
or too easy to comprehend for “gifted’)
 Lack of meaning- no connection with own life;
inability to comprehend the experience e.g., a
dysgraphia may find writing irrelevant due to
repeated failures.
 Emotional problems- such as anger or fear.
 Attention seeking behavior- Problem with academics
can gain support and attention. Attention for
children is a powerful motivator.
 SLDRima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Social and Environmental reasons
Family
Neighborhood
School environment
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Familial factors
 A broken home -divorce, separation, death of one of parent and illegitimacy
 Lack of parental academic involvement, - lower maternal education and family background
 Parental academic involvement has been shown to have a strong effect on children living in disadvantaged localities (Greenman,
Bodovski, & Reed, 2011)
 Authoritative parenting has been shown to be a significant predictor of self-efficacy and resilience and positively correlates with
academic achievement. A justification available for this is perhaps by acting as influential role models parents add a shield against
deprivation by mitigating risk factors which reduces the achievement gap (Speight, N. P. (2010).
 Poverty- According to a research, children living below the poverty threshold are 1.3 times as likely as nonpoor children to experience
learning disabilities, cognitive and developmental delays.
 Abuse- Physical, Verbal or Sexual
 Drug addiction or Alcoholism.
 Incurable diseases (of one of the parents or close relatives).
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Neighborhood
 Lack of role models in the low academic progression
areas.
 Teaching work force and learning resources available in
schools in high poverty areas are not as rigorous as those
in posh/urban schools.
 High risk behaviours such as drug abuse—marijuana,
stealing, participating in group against group fight has
been commonly found in deprived localities.
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
School factors Teachers' behavior, attitude
 Teaching methods, Instructional style of the teacher
 Student perceptions of teachers and teacher’s
attitudes, teacher sensitivity can predict academic
performance and discipline.
 Students often did not attend school because of their
teacher’s expectation of success and for the fear of
humiliation in class (Whitehead, 2007)
 Positive teacher expectations, support and
motivation have progressive effects on students
regardless of their risk status and particularly for
lower income students (Gregory, A.,
& Huang, F.,2013)
 Lack of conducive and stimulating School
environment for learning- For instance-classroom,
teaching materials, class size, the school
environment, etc.
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Neuro-cognitive
• Below average intelligence
• specific learning disorder-such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia- A disorder that affects a
child's ability to interpret what they see and hear or to link information from
different parts of the brain.
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder- Three main signs, or symptoms, of ADHD. These
are:
• problems with paying attention,
• being very active (called hyperactivity), and
• acting before thinking (called impulsivity).
• Learning difficulties are more common than you think. Keep in mind that learning
difficulties don’t imply mental retardation.
• These difficulties can affect a child to a greater or lesser degree depending on the
case. It is always necessary to put into practice a sustainable strategy to solve the
problem.
• Unfortunately, due to a lack of information, the term “problem child” is often used
and the condition goes untreated. Detecting and treating the disorder will help
improve the child’s academic performance.
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
Physiological-Health factors
 Hearing loss
 Visualization impairment
 Allergy-related problems, asthma, sickle cell
anemia and childhood diabetic, may have
complexity in maintaining energy and
concentration towards institutions due to constant
exhaustion and the impact of medications.
 Motor impairments or orthopedic make it difficult
to interact with others and to explore their
environment.
 Neurological and physiological based learning
problems intrusive with their traits to learn.
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
PREVENTION POSSIBILITIES
 Firstly, identify the causes and nature of challenges in academics at an early age with the help of school
counsellor, teachers and parents.
 Thereafter, plan an Individualized intervention; reinforcing the efforts and improvements.
 Help students with self-determining learning and study skills during the institutional years. Lack of learning
and executive strategies lead to the stress of the higher grades
 Thirdly, in high institutions often underachievers require the motivational force to surpass the difficulties.
 Approaches using individualized profile of students’ study style and providing study skills, peer tutoring are
helpful.
 Recognize Individual Differences. Not everyone can excel in academics similarly.
Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org

Academic poor performance

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Common perceived causes Laziness  Distractions  Company of students(e.g., friends not academically inclined)  Poor teaching techniques Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 3.
    Evidence Based Causesof Poor Performance  PSYCHOLOGICAL  SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL  NEUROLOGICAL- COGNITIVE  PHYSICAL/HEALTH Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 4.
    Psychological - (individual/emotional problems)  Self-concept  Psychological disorders-Most frequent psychological disorders include examination phobia, conduct disorder, adjustment, separation anxiety, anxiety, anger, fear, and learning disability.  Personality-Conscientious people are defined as highly responsible, achievement - oriented and industrious learners. Such characteristics make them determined and resolved to gain high academic attainments. (Bratko et al., 2006)  Lack of commitment/motivation to study  Time management.  Medium of instruction at colleges/ universities is English.  Problems with subject content and examinations Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 5.
    Factors that intervenewith student’s motivation.  Fear of making mistakes/ failure due to resulting humiliation  Lack of challenge- boredom ( inability to understand or too easy to comprehend for “gifted’)  Lack of meaning- no connection with own life; inability to comprehend the experience e.g., a dysgraphia may find writing irrelevant due to repeated failures.  Emotional problems- such as anger or fear.  Attention seeking behavior- Problem with academics can gain support and attention. Attention for children is a powerful motivator.  SLDRima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 6.
    Social and Environmentalreasons Family Neighborhood School environment Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 7.
    Familial factors  Abroken home -divorce, separation, death of one of parent and illegitimacy  Lack of parental academic involvement, - lower maternal education and family background  Parental academic involvement has been shown to have a strong effect on children living in disadvantaged localities (Greenman, Bodovski, & Reed, 2011)  Authoritative parenting has been shown to be a significant predictor of self-efficacy and resilience and positively correlates with academic achievement. A justification available for this is perhaps by acting as influential role models parents add a shield against deprivation by mitigating risk factors which reduces the achievement gap (Speight, N. P. (2010).  Poverty- According to a research, children living below the poverty threshold are 1.3 times as likely as nonpoor children to experience learning disabilities, cognitive and developmental delays.  Abuse- Physical, Verbal or Sexual  Drug addiction or Alcoholism.  Incurable diseases (of one of the parents or close relatives). Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 8.
    Neighborhood  Lack ofrole models in the low academic progression areas.  Teaching work force and learning resources available in schools in high poverty areas are not as rigorous as those in posh/urban schools.  High risk behaviours such as drug abuse—marijuana, stealing, participating in group against group fight has been commonly found in deprived localities. Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 9.
    School factors Teachers'behavior, attitude  Teaching methods, Instructional style of the teacher  Student perceptions of teachers and teacher’s attitudes, teacher sensitivity can predict academic performance and discipline.  Students often did not attend school because of their teacher’s expectation of success and for the fear of humiliation in class (Whitehead, 2007)  Positive teacher expectations, support and motivation have progressive effects on students regardless of their risk status and particularly for lower income students (Gregory, A., & Huang, F.,2013)  Lack of conducive and stimulating School environment for learning- For instance-classroom, teaching materials, class size, the school environment, etc. Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 10.
    Neuro-cognitive • Below averageintelligence • specific learning disorder-such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia- A disorder that affects a child's ability to interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. • Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder- Three main signs, or symptoms, of ADHD. These are: • problems with paying attention, • being very active (called hyperactivity), and • acting before thinking (called impulsivity). • Learning difficulties are more common than you think. Keep in mind that learning difficulties don’t imply mental retardation. • These difficulties can affect a child to a greater or lesser degree depending on the case. It is always necessary to put into practice a sustainable strategy to solve the problem. • Unfortunately, due to a lack of information, the term “problem child” is often used and the condition goes untreated. Detecting and treating the disorder will help improve the child’s academic performance. Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 11.
    Physiological-Health factors  Hearingloss  Visualization impairment  Allergy-related problems, asthma, sickle cell anemia and childhood diabetic, may have complexity in maintaining energy and concentration towards institutions due to constant exhaustion and the impact of medications.  Motor impairments or orthopedic make it difficult to interact with others and to explore their environment.  Neurological and physiological based learning problems intrusive with their traits to learn. Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org
  • 12.
    PREVENTION POSSIBILITIES  Firstly,identify the causes and nature of challenges in academics at an early age with the help of school counsellor, teachers and parents.  Thereafter, plan an Individualized intervention; reinforcing the efforts and improvements.  Help students with self-determining learning and study skills during the institutional years. Lack of learning and executive strategies lead to the stress of the higher grades  Thirdly, in high institutions often underachievers require the motivational force to surpass the difficulties.  Approaches using individualized profile of students’ study style and providing study skills, peer tutoring are helpful.  Recognize Individual Differences. Not everyone can excel in academics similarly. Rima Sehgal PhD rima.sehgal@fulbrightmail.org