Through Molloy’s membership with Quality Matters (QM), the Office of Blended and Online Learning (BOL) supports a culture of continuous improvement. The focus on quality course design is essential to ensure students can easily navigate the course and understand expectations so that they can focus on learning the course material and meeting the stated learning objectives. QM provides objective, evidence-based and flexible ways to evaluate the components of hybrid and online course design.
BOL employs highly qualified instructional designers. Our instructional designers and the Dean of Innovative Delivery Methods have completed extensive training by QM and Online Learning Consortium (OLC) to work directly with faculty on successfully applying the QM Standards to their course design.
Quality Matters (QM) is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to improve the quality of online courses. Sponsored by Maryland Online, Inc. QM has generated widespread interest and received national recognition for its approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement in online education.
The QM Rubric provides a foundation for the development of high-quality online courses. The QM Rubric consists of the following eight General Standards:
*General Standards two through six (objectives, assessment, materials, activities, and technology) are what we call “aligned” to the course objectives. This means that they work together to facilitate the learner’s achievement of the stated objectives.
Each General Standard in the QM Rubric contains Specific Standards with details on various methods to meet the standard.
The QM Rubric is supported by research from the field and best practices from those on the front lines: the course developers and instructors. The QM Research Library contains a searchable database of curated research relating to the Rubric. QM periodically examines and updates the Rubric to reflect new findings in ongoing literature reviews with research that supports the QM Rubric and process, research that discusses its use, and research that focuses on its impact.
A review is done using the QM Rubric to determine if it meets the Specific Review Standard. After reading the Specific Review Standard and Annotations, provided in the QM rubric workbook, you will look for evidence that it was met. The course must meet the standard at an 85% or better level to receive a “Met” on the rubric. Reviews can be performed by the instructor or in collaboration with an instructional designer who is trained in applying the QM Standards. If you would like to schedule an instructional design consultation, please email us at CourseDesign@molloy.edu.
The Office of Blended and Online Learning offers a two-week online course, Reviewing Course Design with Quality Matters, which is facilitated by one of our instructional designers. This course includes an introduction to Quality Matters (QM), a detailed review of the QM Standards, and guidance on how to apply the QM Rubric. Visit our Faculty Development page in this LibGuide for more information and to register for the next section.
QM is informed by and shares research from the field and best practices from those on the front lines: the course developers and instructors. As a member organization of Quality Matters, Inc., faculty have access to a wide array of resources that QM has curated on topics relating to course design, course delivery, technology tools and digital accessibility. Search QM's curated selection of literature bearing a relationship quality assurance in online learning, as well as the QM Standards, by either keyword or the QM Standard number.
See instructions for submitting references to the library.
Get guidance on developing a research question that will make for a solid study and facilitate attaining information significant to online learning stakeholders.
See a curated list of studies and publications related to the primary categories of QM Research.
Need help with your search? Contact QM Research with your questions.
Join the QM Research Colleagues and other researchers from the QM Community for presentations of research on the impact of quality assurance in online learning and other related topics. The webinars are free and open to QM Members as well as non-members.
Looking for a recording or miss a session? See a list of all archived recordings.
Have an idea for a Research Webinar? Contact the Innovation & Research team.