Tom Koenninger June 10: Changes to education coming rapidly

Learning is about to change in Washington state. In fact, parts of the learning process already are changing, led by "millennial students."

Like fingernails drawn across a blackboard, WASL — the Washington Assessment of Student Learning — put parents and pedagogues on edge. Look what happened to Terry Bergeson, a bright person steeped in education and former state superintendent of public instruction. She pressed for reform and standards such as WASL, to judge progress or lack thereof, but was defeated for re-election by Randy Dorn.

Forces for change in education have been building strength like a tsunami racing for the coastline. Gov. Chris Gregoire advanced educational reform with her Washington Learns Task Force in 2005. "It's time for bold, purposeful action. It is time to make some big changes in Washington's educational system," she wrote in a letter prefacing a 2006 report on the committee's work. Her emphasis has been competitiveness in a global economy.

The Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) board weighed in on issues in a 2008 "Master Plan for Higher Education in Washington." A 10-year plan is required by state law. The challenge, it declared in its 2008 report, is that "other developed nations are educating their youth and adult workers to record levels … while the U.S. and Washington stand still." The announced goal is to raise educational attainment among the state's younger residents and "under-educated adult workers."

Using 2005 as a base, the HEC board report predicted that in the next 25 years, by 2030:

The state's population will increase by 2.5 million (from the present 6.5 million);

That portion of the population 65 and older will increase by 72 percent;

Diversity will increase from 23 percent people of color to 32 percent.

About 400,000 people aged 55 and older, or 11.7 percent, will leave the labor force in the next decade. These are "well-educated people," who will be replaced by a "generation with lower average levels of education and skill." Shortages may occur in nursing, teaching and "management occupations."

Adding to the stress level are studies and lawsuits challenging K-12 education funding based on the state constitution, which notes: "It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders." The claim is that K-12 education is underfunded, and not following the constitutional mandate.

On to the "millennials," students born between 1981 and 1994 — half the student population — who do not know a world without the Web and digital technology. Loretta Seppanen and David Prince, staff members of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, described them as students who anticipate college tailored to their interests. "They expect learning to occur at high speed with instant feedback and payoffs." These students' values are formed by the Internet.

In their assessment of major trends expected to affect colleges in the next 20 years, these projections surfaced: Students of color (including greater diversity of high school students), immigrants and young working adults will continue as the fastest growth segments (in an otherwise aging population and work force). Low-income adults and millennials will be in the same classes. Higher education will be a network — not separate, stand-alone colleges.

Teaching forecasts: New media will enrich the teaching environment; learning will take place anytime and everywhere; teaching will be on processes and less on facts. The faculty role will change from "command of content to facilitator of learning."

At a spring conference in the state, Jose Jarrett of the Gates Foundation discussed many changes in education including the move from teacher/lecturer to individualized learning and "collaborative learning." Teachers and learners should savor the summer. Educational change is a rushing landslide, tough in the near-term, but offering huge benefits for society in the 21st century.
Tom Koenninger is editor emeritus of The Columbian. His column of personal opinion appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at koenninger@comcast.net.