Introduction to Quality

Matters™

Inter-Institutional Quality Assurance in Online Learning

© MarylandOnline, Inc.,

2008. All rights reserved.

What is Quality Matters?

A set of standards (rubric) for the design of online and hybrid courses

A peer review process (faculty to faculty) for reviewing and improving online and hybrid courses

A faculty development tool used by instructional development staff

Quality Matters is …

The Quality Matters Rubric

Factors Affecting Course Quality

Course design QM REVIEWS THIS

Course delivery (i.e. teaching, faculty performance) Course content Course management system Institutional infrastructure Faculty training and readiness Student engagement and readiness

Consisting of: 8 key areas (general standards) of

course quality 40 specific review standards Including 17 essential standards and detailed annotations and examples

of good practice for all 40 standards

The Rubric is the Core of QM

The 8 general standards:

1. Course Overview and Introduction2. Learning Objectives 3. Assessment and Measurement4. Resources and Materials5. Learner Interaction6. Course Technology7. Learner Support8. Accessibility

The Rubric is the Core of QM

Key components must align.}

A statement introduces the student to the course and the structure of the student learning

Instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand

Learning activities foster interaction: instructor-student content-student student-student (if appropriate)

Clear standards are set for instructor response and availability

Some Essential Standards

Learning Objectives describe measurable outcomes

Module/unit learning objectives describe outcomes that are measurable and consistent with course learning objectives

Instructional materials contribute to the achievement of the learning objectives

Course assessments measure the achievement of the learning objectives

Standards that Relate to Alignment

Quality Matters Principles

Improves online/hybrid course quality

Stimulates a campus dialog among faculty and instructional development staff on best practices in online instruction

Helps build a campus culture dedicated to the continuous improvement of online learning

Helps persuade internal and external stakeholders that the quality of online and hybrid offerings is a major institutional priority

Principal Value of Quality Matters

The QM toolset and process are:

1. a faculty-driven, peer review process, and2. a collaborative process among faculty peers3. committed to continuous quality improvement4. based in national standards of best practice,

the research literature and instructional design principles, and

5. designed to promote student learning

Courses do not have to be “perfect” but QM aims at better than just “good enough.”

Underlying Principles

Not about an individual instructor

(it’s about the design of a specific course)

Not about faculty evaluation

(it’s about the quality and effectiveness of a course)

Not a win/lose or pass/fail test

(it’s a diagnostic process to facilitate continuous improvement of online/hybrid courses)

What the QM Process is Not

Internal course review/improvement processes

Component in online/hybrid quality assurance programs

Guidelines for online course development

Checklist for improvement of existing online courses

Component of faculty development/training programs

Basis for institutional distance learning policies

An element in regional and professional accreditation

Expanded Uses of the Quality Matters Rubric

Overview Sessions for campus leaders and/or faculty and staff

Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) Individual vs. Group Training Online or on-site

Online Peer Reviewer Certification Other Workshops

Building Your Online/Hybrid Course (BYOC) Improving Your Online/Hybrid Course (IYOC) Specialized workshops

Building an Effective Course Introduction Developing Measurable Course Objectives Implementing Accessibility Tools

Training Options

Quality Matters Organization

Statewide non-profit consortium dedicated to support of distance learning in Maryland

Partners: 14 community colleges, 5 senior institutions

Goals1. Provide statewide leadership in distance education2. Maintain a Web gateway for online higher education

in Maryland3. Collaborate on Faculty training4. Facilitate online course and program sharing

Goals 3 and 4 led to the creation of Quality Matters

Quality Matters Was Launched by

MarylandOnline

In 2003, MOL sought funding for a project to… Develop a rubric for online course

design, and A peer review process to apply these

standards In a manner that was replicable and

scalable

Grantor: FIPSE (The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) Title: “Inter-Institutional Quality Assurance

in Online Learning” Grant period: 3 Years: 9/03 – 8/06 Award: $509,177

FIPSE Funds the Quality Matters Project

Collaborate among 19 MarylandOnline schools to develop and test standards

Engage limited involvement of non-MOL institutions

Make presentations on QM progress at regional and national conferences

Develop a sustainable quality assurance process in Maryland

Create a replicable process for institutions and consortia beyond Maryland

Original Scope of the Project

Early presentations generated widespread interest

MarylandOnline began to receive recognition for QM WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) Award, 2005 USDLA 21st Century Best Practice Award,

2005 Maryland Distance Learning Association

(MDLA) Best Program Award, 2005. The Sloan Consortium online workshops

introduced hundreds of faculty members and staff to QM.

Peer reviewer training spread far beyond Maryland: 700+ faculty trained to review online courses

using the rubric individuals from 158 different institutions in

28 states

Success of the FIPSE Grant2003 - 2006

Grant ended in August 2006

MOL decided to continue Quality Matters as a self-supporting activity in order to … Maintain the integrity of the rubric & process Guarantee QM’s availability to MOL schools Continue momentum of nationwide adoption Participate in the further evolution and

enhancement of online education standards

Today, Quality Matters is non-profit subscription service with rapidly growing participation

Quality Matters as Non-Profit Subsidiary of MOL

More than 250 colleges and universities subscribe to Quality Matters Including 12 statewide groups of

institutions

More than 4,000 faculty and staff have been trained

QM continues to earn national recognition for… Outstanding Contributions to Faculty

Development (Sloan Consortium, 2007) Leadership in Distance Learning (U. S.

Distance Learning Association, 2008)

Results After 2 Years of Self-Support Operation

MONTANA

WYOMING

IDAHO

WASHINGTON

OREGON

NEVADA

UTAH

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

ARKANSAS

LOUISIANA

MISSOURI

IOWA

MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN

ILLINOISINDIANA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISS

ALABAMA GEORGIA

FLORIDA

SOUTHCAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WV

OHIO

MICHIGANNEW YORK

PENN

MARYLAND

DELAWARE

NEWJERSEY

CONNRI

MASS

MAINE

VTNH

ALASKA

HAWAII

PUERTO RICO

VIRGIN ISLANDSSome Subscribers in State

Statewide Subscribers

7/1/2008

Quality Matters: An Emerging National Standard

Visit the Quality Matters Website: http://www.qualitymatters.org

Or Contact Ron Legon, Executive Director

Tel: 312.938.3078 email: rlegon@qualitymatters.org

Deb Adair, DirectorTel: 301.356.6631email: dadair@qualitymatters.org

For More Information