Quality Matters (QM) is a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses.
QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach and continuous improvement in online education and student learning.
There are three primary components in the Quality Matters Program:
- the QM Rubric
- the Peer Review Process
- QM Professional Development
1. The QM Rubric
Based on research-supported and published best practices, the QM Rubric is a set of standards by which to evaluate online and blended courses. The rubric includes a set of 42 specific standards distributed across 8 broad standards. The rubric is complete with annotations that explain the application of the standards and the relationship between them. A scoring system and set of online tools facilitate the evaluation by a team of reviewers.
The Quality Matters rubric standards are concerned with the design of the online course environment and not with the delivery of the online course. The evaluation of actual teaching is beyond the scope of Quality Matters and the QM Rubric.
Quality Matters Review Standards
The Quality Matters Rubric is currently in its 7th Ed.
The Quality Matters rubric is based on 8 broad standards and the alignment of the standards with critical course components.
- Course Overview and Introduction (Standard 1)
This information tells students what the course is about and what they need to do to get started. - Learning Objectives (Standard 2)
These provide students with measurable course-level and module-level learning objectives that describe what they will be expected to achieve in the course. - Assessment and Measurement (Standard 3)
These give the students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge and to practice their skills and allow you to provide feedback to help them meet the learning objectives. The assessments and measurements include self-checks, quizzes, writing assignments, projects, etc. - Instructional Materials (Standard 4)
These are the course resources and materials that you will use to deliver the instruction needed for the students to achieve the learning objectives. They include textbook readings, PPTs, supplemental readings, CDs, websites, etc. - Learning Activities and Learner Interactions (Standard 5)
These are the instructional activities that allow students to practice the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve the learning objectives. The activities include assignments, problem sets, essays, discussion forums, etc. - Course Technology (Standard 6)
This refers to the tools and media that you have selected to support the learning objectives. - Learner Support (Standard 7)
Students are provided with information on how to access the various university support services, including technical support, student support and academic support. - Accessibility and Usability (Standard 8)
The course environment incorporates ADA standards and conforms with university policy regarding accessibility.
2. The Peer Review Process
- The peer review is intended to be voluntary.
- The instructor requests a course review and is the only one who is informed of the results.
- If a course does not satisfy the review requirements, the instructor can make revisions and request a follow-up review in order to satisfy the review requirements.
- There is a database of trained QM Peer Reviewers eligible for assignment to a peer review team.
Quality Matters Review Submission
Before you submit your online course for a Quality Matters review, you will want to consider the following:
- The cost of a QM review is covered by BSU’s Center for Extended Learning.
- Quality Matters course reviews are designed for mature courses that have been taught previously and are fully developed online.
- Your online course will be reviewed by a team of three certified QM Reviewers. The reviewers will base their review on a set of eight General Standards and 44 Specific Review Standards used to evaluate the design of online and blended courses.
- To receive QM certification, all essential Standards (3-point Specific Review Standards) must be met during the review and an overall score of 85% of the points possible must be achieved.
Learning Objectives
The first thing the three QM review team members look for is measurable learning objectives (for the course and for each module/unit).
From the Quality Matters annotated rubric: “It is not possible to complete the course review if measurable learning objectives are not present. In such a case, the review is suspended and the team chair consults with the instructor to clarify whether or not the matter can be quickly addressed so the review can continue.”
Alignment
Alignment is the next most important thing that the QM reviewers look for. Alignment refers to the interdependence among the five critical course components (listed below) that ensures students achieve the desired learning objectives for the course.
- Learning Objectives
- Assessment & Measurement
- Learning Activities & Learner Interactions
- Instructional Materials
- Course Technology
Note: Learning Objectives must be created first. They serve as a guide to determining the other four critical course components
Another way of explaining alignment is that:
- Everything the students are expected to learn and the skills they are expected to acquire are determined by the learning objectives.
- All learning activities & learner interactions (Standard 5) and all means of assessment & measurement (Standard 3) must relate directly to the learning objectives.
- All instructional materials (Standard 4) as well as course technology (Standard 6) should directly support achievement of the learning objectives.
3. Professional Development
Quality Matters Professional Development supports the other QM program components and is an important part of a quality assurance effort. QM provides on-site and online training opportunities.
Quality Matters Coordinator
Lynn Johnson, Executive Director of Distance Learning
lynn.johnson@bemidjistate.edu