Before conducting a professional development workshop on intellectual property and copyrighted materials, assessing teachers' current understanding is beneficial because it:

Evaluating teachers’ current understanding of intellectual property and copyrighted materials prior to a professional development workshop is important because it allows the school library media specialist to identify specific areas of knowledge and gaps that need to be addressed during the session. By understanding what teachers already know, the specialist can tailor the content to focus on areas that may require more emphasis or clarification, making the workshop more relevant and effective for participants. This targeted approach enhances the overall learning experience and ensures that the professional development provided is meaningful and meets the specific needs of the educators involved. This strategy ultimately benefits both the teachers and their students, as it fosters a deeper understanding of important concepts related to copyright and intellectual property.