We need new models. The direct skills approach is nice. Involving the community is nice. Still we are looking in the rear view mirror.

The need for assessment is not educational. Assessment of knowledge and skills is a core necessity for a knowledge economy to function.

Assessment is as important to a knowledge economy as transportation and distribution networks are at the industrial layer. Up until now summative assessment at the institutional level was possible and efficient. Expect the future to be formative assessment at the level of the institution and summative assessment outside of the institution.

The nice thing about that is that it will make it possible to get the education at an extremely low cost. Assessment will be the cost center. I see the knowledge economy as a layer on top of the industrial economy. At the knowledge economy layer assessment will become external. In the jungle, on the farm, in the manufacturing/distribution world the rules might not have to change.

I could write an entire book on the subject. Eech..did I say book...