object-example.php

<?php

// No model, but ORM
if ($assessment->startdate > $now || $assessment->enddate < $now)) {
    // Assessment is expired
}

// Model and ORM, example
if ($assessment->expired_at_date($now)) {
    // Assessment is expired
}

/**
 * Example on how to insert new values into the DB using Active Record
 */
$new_assessment = new Assessment;
$new_assessment->some_property = 'some value';
$new_assessment->save();