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"I used to think all changes in education come from the students. I think this one comes from the students..."

I'm not sure what you mean here. Could you elaborate?

We teach based on what works for our audience. If this program is effective, we advertise it to our colleagues. If this form of assessment seems to accurately represent our students' knowledge and demonstration of work, then we go with it. Ultimately, I think, students have choices in the kinds of classes they take, and we adjust--subtly, over long stretches of time--to accommodate their interests. Now, there are other forces too, like the influence of society on what we teach, etc. But these influences, first, influence what students want in their courses, to best prepare them for whatever they think they'll get into after school.