Guidelines on Home-Based Learning for Improving the Body-Mass Index and Achievement of International Primary School Students in Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract
Home-based learning (HBL) was widely implemented during the Covid pandemic, with limited research into its effects on students’ mental and physical wellbeing or academic performance. After two-years of HBL, 40% of the students from the study were classified as overweight based on their body-mass index (BMI). Academically, the number of ‘high achievers’ decreased by 30% on average, while ‘low achievers’ increased exponentially.
The purpose of this research was to identify during HBL, if there was a correlation between increased BMI and academic performance, and to propose guidelines to improve HBL platforms. The research questions were to determine the average BMI and grade-point average (GPA) of students both prior to HBL and when they returned onsite, then identify if there was a correlation, and propose guidelines to mitigate risks in future scenarios. It was hypothesized that there was a significant relationship between the BMI and academic achievement. The research used quantitative methodology to gather and analyze objective data, including students’ height, weight, and grades. Correlational analysis was determined using a Chi-Square Test to measure the strength of the relationship between BMI and GPA, with results used to validate the necessity of guidelines to improve HBL. The research concluded that during HBL, students’ BMI increased 2.51 points while GPA data identified a 30% reduction in high-achievers and an exponential increase of low-achievers. Yet, the Chi-Square Test showed no significant relationship between students’ BMI and GPA. The results justify the need to implement guidelines to reduce risks associated with HBL. Due to the success of HBL platforms, they are more likely to be adapted in future scenarios, therefore it is essential that we evaluate their impact to ensure better results for students’ physical, mental and academic well-being.
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