This document discusses the Quality Matters program and its process for reviewing online courses. It provides the following information: - An overview of the Quality Matters program, which is an online course review program that uses a rubric with 8 standards to evaluate courses. - PLU is an institutional member of Quality Matters and the Sloan Consortium. The QM review process can result in course certification. - The QM rubric contains 8 standards for quality related to course design elements like overview, objectives, assessment, resources, engagement, technology, support and accessibility. - The document reviews PLU's Quality Matters review process, which will utilize the QM rubric standards and feedback forms to provide constructive

1. “Quality Matters”
Theme: Blended Learning Tour
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2. Introduction
The Quality Matters Program
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3. PLU Institutional Memberships
• The SLOAN-Consortium
• online learning professional organization
• supports research, publications
• provides professional development

4. PLU Institutional Memberships
• The Quality Matters Program
• online course review program
• peer-review process using rubric of 8 standards
• can result in certification of course

5. The Quality Matters Rubric
• 8 sets of standards for quality in these areas:
1. Course Overview and Introduction
2. Learning Objectives
3. Assessment and Measurement
4. Resources and Materials
5. Learner Interaction and Engagement
6. Course Technology
7. Learner Support
8. Accessibility

6. Quality Matters and PLU
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7. Quality Matters and PLU
• Why QM?
• Leader in setting international standards for online courses
• Rubric standards are clear and useful in design
• Peer driven review process
• Collegial, Collaborative, Continuous, Centered

8. Quality Matters and PLU
• How does the QM process fit PLU Culture?
• collegial focus
• standards-based
• improvement oriented

9. The Quality Matters
Review Process
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10. Quality Matters Review Process
Informal PLUTO Review
Begins with:
• Pairing of two faculty
reviewers, one facilitator
• Shared course access
• Full standards review
• Yes/No checklist
• Comments and feedback
• Course improvements
Formal QM Review
Adds:
• APPQMR training
• Peer Review training
• Full standards review
• Checklist with scoring
• 1, 2, 3 point categories
• QM stamped course
• Institution recognition
• $$$

11. Quality Matters Review Process
What will the PLUTO review process look like in practice?
• Utilize QM Rubric Standards
• Utilize PLU standards checklist (via Sakai)
• Find evidence of each standard
• Check yes/no
• Provide appropriate feedback

12. Quality Matters Review Process
What is considered “appropriate” feedback?
• Student centered
No: “I can see that you put a lot of time into this.”
Yes: “As a student, I had difficulty...”
• Constructive
No: “Looks good” / “It works for me” / “Good job”
Yes: “One improvement could be to include...”

13. Quality Matters Review Process
Example: Learner Support, Standards 7.1-7.4
“If you have trouble in this course, call the Help Desk. They
have great service and offer extended hours”
• Feedback:
• Student centered
• Constructive

14. Quality Matters Review Process
• Now that every is an expert in:
• APPQMR
• QM Peer Review
• Ready to begin!

15. Quality Matters:
Practice Activity
25 Minutes for Four Examples
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16. Practice Activity
• Goals:
• Model individual reviewer process (2 minutes)
• Utilize activity checklist and feedback handout
• Compare with reviewer next to you (2 minutes)
• Teams of two
• Share one joint suggestion (1 minute)

17. Practice Activity
Example 1:
Course Overview & Intro, Standards 1.1-1.8

18. Practice Activity
Example 2:
Learning Objectives, Standards 2.1-2.5

19. Practice Activity
Example 3:
Instructional Materials, Standards 4.1-4.6

20. Practice Activity
Example 4:
Course Technology, Standards 6.1-6.5

21. Quality Matters:
Next Steps
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22. Next Steps
• QM peer review
• Peer review matrix
• Important dates
• Course access by Aug 1
• Review completion by Aug 15
• Process
• Completed individually
• Online
• More details soon...