There is an epic struggle going on now over assessment in (and out of) schools.

Here's a new story defending the SAT and tests on Slate.

Here's a great story (I think it's funny) on why Google ignores GPAs when hiring, titled a "Post GPA World."

The essential struggle is assessment for a last century factory age versus assessment for the knowledge society of the 21st century. But here's the basic struggles:

*Subjective versus Objective
*Teacher versus Third Party
*Behavior versus Learning Only
*Bias in favor of Females versus Gender Neutral

Here's a battle that has already been won by the 21st century:  benchmarks have won over grading on the curve (comparing one student to another). 

Stay tuned as the conflicting research and studies seek to justify one side or the other, until society and education finally goes with the 21st century around (you guessed it) 2020.

Photo: Two educators at our LERN Institutes training in New Orleans.

This post was written by William A. Draves, who authored "Nine Shift: Work, Life, and Education in the 21st Century" with Julie Coates. Their latest book is "Pedagogy of the 21st Century." This post originally appeared on the Nine Shift blog.