Assessment literacy for teachers: Faddish or fundamental?

This article by Popham (2009) begs the question, “Is assessment literacy merely a fashionable focus for today’s professional developers or, in contrast, should it be regarded as a significant area of professional development interest for many years to come?” (Popham, 2009, pg. 4). The author begins by defining relevant vernacular, outlines what he considers to be the two most important assessment-related decisions that educators must face, and establishes thirteen vital topics for consideration by those invested in effective assessment literacy. Conclusively, Popham (2009) claims that assessment literacy is in fact necessary for educators’ well-being, and more importantly, the well-being of their students. The citation for this resource is provided below.