Quality Matters (QM)

 

Quality Matters Program Logo

Quality Matters (QM) - Excellence in eLearning Course Design

The Quality Matters (QM) Program is an internationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the quality of online courses and online components. Colleges and universities across and beyond the U.S. use the tools in developing, maintaining and reviewing their online courses and in training their faculty.

The Quality Matters Rubric has become the most widely used set of standards for the design of online and blended courses at the college level. Today, more than 800 colleges and universities subscribe to the non-profit Quality Matters Program.

The QM Process for continuous improvement is the framework for quality assurance efforts in online learning and provides effective professional development for faculty making the transition into distance education.

(Source: Quality Matters Homepage)

Kodiak College uses the QM Program to guarantee quality education for its eLearners. As part of its implementation of the QM Program, Kodiak College is now part of the Alaska Statewide QM System and currently has:

  • 1 QM coordinator
  • 52 individuals trained on the rubric tool and review process
  • 4 current certified peer reviewers
  • 5 former certified peer reviewers
  • 4 certified master reviewers
  • 1 certified trainer/facilitators
  • 3 previous facilitators
  • > 75 national peer review teams on which we have served

Courses with completed formal peer reviews include:

  • BIOL 112 (Human Anatomy & Physiology II; Dr. Sue Buie) received certification Aug. 21, 2012
  • EDEL 205 (Becoming an Elementary Teacher; Kitty Deal) received certification July 26, 2013
  • EDEC 105 (Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education; Kitty Deal) received certification March 3, 2014
  • ENGL 111 (Methods of Written Communication; Jordana Long) received certification April 21, 2014
  • ENVI 211L (Environmental Science LAB: Earth as an Ecosystem; Cindy Trussell & Linda Himelbloom) received certification May 5, 2014
  • EDEC A303 (Inclusive Classrooms for Young Children; Kitty Deal) received certification July 8, 2014
  • ENVI 211 (Environmental Science: Earth as an Ecosystem; Cindy Trussell & Linda Himelbloom) received certification July 21, 2014
  • EDEC A241 (Infant and Toddler Development; Kitty Deal) received certification August 13, 2014
  • ENGL A213 (Writing in the Natural and Social Sciences; Jordana Long) received certification September 5, 2014
  • LSIC A332 (Science, Technology, and Culture; Cindy Trussell & Lisa Hupp) received certification January 28, 2016
  • EDSE A212 (Human Development and Learning; Kitty Deal) received certification December 15, 2016
  • CHEM A103 (Survey of Chemistry; Cindy Trussell) received certification January 12, 2017
  • EDEC A106 (Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood; Kitty Deal) received certification April 4, 2017
  • BIOL A288 (Principles of Evolution; Cindy Trussell) received certification May 20, 2017

Courses currently under review or renewal include:

  • None

Courses awaiting formal peer review or renewal include:

  • GEOL A111 (Introduction to Physical Geology) Linda Himelbloom
  • BIOL A111 (Human Anatomy & Physiology) Dr. Sue Buie
  • BIOL A112 (Human Anatomy & Physiology II) Dr. Sue Buie

The Quality Matters program was originally implemented as part of the of the Kodiak College Title III Sea Change Grant. Best practice in eLearning through Quality Matters has now been institutionalized throughout the University of Alaska system.