Quality Matters

• Faculty-centered, continuous improvement models for assuring the quality of online courses through peer review
• Professional development workshops and certification courses for instructors and online learning professionals
• Rubrics for applying quality standards to course design

The QM Framework

The QM framework, implemented through a rubric, is about course design and making your course navigation and structure intuitive to students. Based on research-supported and published best practices, the QM Rubric is a set of standards by which to evaluate the design of online and blended courses.

QM recognized courses improve student learning outcomes, student success, and retention.

The QM Principles

Quality Matters is based on four principles:

1. Continuous: The process is designed to ensure that all reviewed courses will eventually meet expectations
2. Centered: On research, on student learning, and on quality
3. Collegial: The review process is intended to be diagnostic and collegial, not evaluative and judgmental
4. Collaborative: The review is flexible and not prescriptive, based on collaboratively identified evidence found in the course

QM at SCC

SCC, along with all other MCCD schools, has adopted Quality Matters as a standard for online and hybrid courses. Thirty-six online or hybrid courses have received QM certification since 2011. A number of faculty are certified as either Peer Reviewers or Master Reviewers and participate in official QM reviews both inside and outside of the Maricopa Community College District.

If you are interested in learning more about QM and how it can help improve your courses, contact the CTL Team at SCC-CTL@scottsdalecc.edu

• QM Certified Courses 10-14-19

How Do I Know When My Course Is Ready to be Reviewed?

Review this check sheet to determine if your course is ready for a QM review.

How Do I Have My Course Reviewed?

Begin by contacting the Center for Teaching & Learning.

The CTL will conduct an informal review of your course to determine its readiness for a formal review.

Once the informal review is completed and any necessary changes to the course are made, an official review will be scheduled. Note: Depending upon the availability of a review team, there may be a delay in the start of the review.

How Do I Become a Course Reviewer?

1. Successful completion of the Applying the QM Rubric Workshop and the Peer Reviewer Course.
2. Current for-credit online teaching experience (within the last 18 months).
3. Submitted QM Peer Reviewer Application and Memorandum of Understanding.
4. Current Higher Education Subscriber (Affiliated with an institutional subscriber or Individual Subscription)