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Quality Matters (QM) is a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the design quality of online courses and online components. QM provides on-site, online, and web-based professional development opportunities. Additionally, QM provides an online rubric that outlines principles of effective design for teaching classes online. The rubric contains 8 general and 43 specific standards that cover issues such as course structure, management, and instructional design. Quality Matters is adaptable to your goals at any level.
Reported uses of the program include:
- Helping educate faculty about quality in online courses
- Reducing time and labor in designing online courses
- Providing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
- Informing teaching practices related to design and structure for online, hybrid AND F2F courses Systematically/objectively improve current courses
- Providing a quality threshold for new courses
- Promoting programs with QM certified courses
More About Quality Matters
Get Started
IT Solutions collaborates with a number of institutional partners to provide support services for Quality Matters. Quality Matters Institutional Representative, Michael Manderfeld, and faculty liaison, Dr. Emily Stark, Ph.D. are happy to meet with you to discuss QM and how it might benefit your own online course.
Workshop: Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR)
This workshop is QM’s flagship training. It provides an in-depth exploration of the QM Rubric and its use in evaluating online courses. Minnesota State has historically subsidized the costs for individuals at institutions to participate in online and in-person workshops licensed by QM including the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR).
Register for Applying Quality Matters Rubric Workshop
Getting a Course Reviewed
QM recommends that courses undergo review only after they have been taught at least once, if not twice, by the instructor. Follow the steps of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Institutional Process document to ensure that the review process goes smoothly. If you have any questions while working through this process, do not hesitate to contact the Quality Matters Institutional Representative, Michael Manderfeld, or Emily Stark, the QM faculty liaison for Minnesota State University, Mankato.