Quality Matters Assurance System

The following information can be found on the Quality Matters website, https://www.qualitymatters.org/why-quality-matters.

“The QM Quality Assurance System—Deliver the Promise

Continuous. Centered. Collegial. Collaborative. The QM Quality Assurance System relies on these core principles to create a culture of continuous improvement so you deliver on your promise day after day, semester after semester. Keeping learners engaged is different in online courses. Getting them past the “packaging”— the mechanics of the course — so they can focus on content and learning objectives can be a challenge. That’s where our research-based Rubrics and Standards really shine: they provide objective, evidence-based ways to evaluate the components of online learning. The commitment? It’s significant. The impact? Substantial!

Exclusive Rubrics and Standards—Frame the Promise

General Standards and Specific Review Standards are the benchmarks for evaluating the design of online and blended courses. Research-based, grounded in best-practices and fully annotated, these standards are the keys to achieving the goals of ensuring quality for learners — and for you to deliver on your promise to them. Paid membership gives you access to the annotated Rubric Standards relevant to your online learning courses or continuing and professional education training. You can even build your own Rubric to conduct a Custom Review. When you’re ready to step beyond course design, QM has Standards and a process for certifying Program quality.

Expert Peer Review—Expand the Promise

Paid membership provides access to a secure system that includes review tools for guiding the process and achieving your quality assurance goals. Coupled with the appropriate Rubric Standard, our unique, expert peer review system uses collaboration and targeted feedback to assess quality. The focused documentation and discovery help prioritize areas for improvement in meeting QM standards and, optimally, gaining QM certification.

Members select the type of Course Review to conduct based on quality assurance goals, membership type and their implementation plan. Depending on the needs of your organization, you might begin with an Internal Review. While QM has developed many review tools to aid the improvement of courses, only an Official Review (either conducted by QM or by eligible member institutions) can result in QM Certification. When course certification is the goal, QM-certified peer reviewers who undergo rigorous training and certification keep you on track to deliver your promise to learners.

Comprehensive Professional Development—Reinforce the Promise

Our professional development is unique in that it supports what’s needed to deliver the promise of online learning: workshops for course improvement and using the QM Rubrics, QM certifications for reviewers, and workshops focused on teaching online. Our goal is to help educators broaden and develop their skill sets. Whether it’s improving or designing courses and programs, improving content delivery, updating materials…or earning a QM Certification as a reviewer or facilitator, we have a variety of professional development options for teams and individuals.”