A Quality Matters (QM) review of an online course is conducted by certified QM Peer Reviewers using the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric. The QM Rubric is a set of 8 General Standards and 44 Specific Review Standards used to evaluate the design of online and blended courses.
There are two main types of QM reviews:
- Unofficial Reviews.
- Self-Review. A Self-Review is conducted to review one’s own course. This unofficial review can be done to become familiar with the QM Higher Education Rubric Specific Review Standards or assess a course prior to an official review. Individuals have the ability to email a copy of the completed Final Report.
- Internal. A team of two peer reviewers from Kent State review the course using the QM Rubric. For an internal QM review to be both beneficial and successful, the faculty member representing the course should have a basic understanding of QM standards and be reasonably sure that the course meets most of the standards.
- Official Reviews. Official reviews may lead to QM Certification of a course.
- Full Review. A team of internal Kent State and external Certified QM Peer Reviewers review the course using the QM Rubric. Courses that meet the standards of a formal review are entitled to display the QM logo in their course and will be listed on both the QM website and the Kent State website.
- Alternate Version - Course review used for an alternate version of a course that has previously met QM Standards (e.g., fully online/hybrid; 8 weeks/16 weeks; multiple developers; undergraduate/graduate level).
Note: Kent State has limited courses that can go through an Official Review.
For additional information or to request a consultation, contact Kent State Online: online@kent.edu
Available to
Kent State University online faculty and instructors.
Requirements
Internal Review/Unofficial Review:
- The course must be coded as V1, V2, or V3 in the Banner registration system;
- The course must have been taught online at Kent State at least once;
- Minimum QM self-review score of 75 and meet all Essential Standards of the QM Rubric;
- The Course Representative must complete the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) or Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop;
- The Course Representative must have the authority to make revisions to the course design.
Full Review/Official Review:
- The course must be coded as V1, V2, or V3 in the Banner registration system;
- The course must have been taught online at Kent State at least once;
- Minimum QM informal review score of 84 and meet all Essential Standards of the QM Rubric;
- The Course Representative must complete the APPQMR or Improving Your Online Course workshop;
- The Course Representative must have the authority to make revisions to the course design;
- A pre-review consultation meeting with faculty course representative, department chair and Kent State QM Coordinator.
What happens next
A Kent State QM Coordinator will contact the faculty course representative within 1-2 business days.