Applying Pareto’s Law in the Classroom.

Pareto’s Law, also known as the 80/20 rule, states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. This principle was first observed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in the early 20th century and has since been applied to various fields, including education.

For educators, understanding Pareto’s Law can be liberating.

First, Pareto’s Law allows educators to focus their efforts on the most critical tasks. For instance, 80% of student achievement comes from 20% of the teachers actions.

Second, 80% of classroom management issues come from 20% of the students. In a class of thirty students, it is likely that around six students will require the most attention. Thus the teacher can build a management system that dedicates more time, attention, and preventive measures to those six students.

Third, educators can use Pareto’s Law to increase student engagement. Moreover, 80% of student engagement comes from 20% of the instructional methods. Educators must discern which instructional approaches are the most effective at keeping students engaged.

Teachers should examine their daily practice to find that “20%”. By discovering the most critical tasks, the most influential students, and the most engaging instructional methods, educators can focus their efforts on what really matters and what gets the best results.