Underlying Principles of Quality Matters

The Quality Matters Rubric and processes are:

Continuous

• The Quality Matters process is designed to ensure that all reviewed courses will eventually meet expectations.
• The process is integral to a continuous quality improvement process.

Centered

• On research - the development of the rubric is based in national standards of best practice, the research literature, and instructional design principles.
• On student learning - the rubric and process are designed to promote student learning.
• On quality - the review sets a quality goal at the 85% level or better (courses do not have to be perfect but better than good enough).

Collegial

• A Quality Matters review is part of a faculty-driven, peer review process.
• The review process is intended to be diagnostic and collegial, not evaluative and judgemental.

Collaborative

• The review is based on collaboratively identified evidence found in the course rather than the personal preference of an individual reviewer.
• The review is flexible and not prescriptive (many ways to meet each standard).
• The review team consists of three experienced online instructors as reviewers along with the course faculty developer.

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