Quality Matters (QM) is a faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses. Started as a grant project of MarylandOnline that was funded by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), QM is built on a legacy of collaboration and continuous improvement. The program is based eight quality standards that can be evaluated through the use of QM rubric. The intent is to design “quality” online courses that receive an 85%+ rating on the rubrics. This past year, the University of Northern Iowa subscribed to Quality Matters and began training faculty to develop QM standards-based online courses.
UNI professors and Instructional Designers will discuss the impact of the QM standards-aligned continuous quality assurance process that includes faculty professional development, course development, and course revisions. Included in the presentation will be an overview of the Quality Matters (QM) process and underlying principles; the eight standards of the QM Rubric; and the course review process with personal perspectives of their impact on faculty course creation and program evaluation.