The Role of the QM
Institution Representative
© MarylandOnline, Inc.,
2010. All rights reserved.
QM Institution Representative Training
Session Goals
To help you:
 Understand scope of the IR role
 Understand the knowledge needed to
implement QM
 Think about planning your implementation
 Know topics and content in IR Manual
 Understand what additional webinar
sessions will cover
Agenda for Today’s Workshop
•Overview of the webinar series and orientation to
the role of the IR
•Subscription types – benefits and differences,
what comes w/subscription
•Recommendations for getting started with QM
•QM core knowledge – QM principles, basic
elements, talking points and current statistics,
policies and practice guidelines, and the IR Manual
•Question & Answer session
8 Topics for QM IR Webinars
1.The Role of the QM Institution Representative
2.Using the QM Website and MyQM
3.What IRs should know about the QM Rubric
4.The IR role in Internal (Unofficial) and QMManaged Course Reviews
5.The IR Role in Subscriber-Managed Course
reviews for QM Recognition
6.Selecting and Registering for QM Training
7.Communication by, with, and about QM
8.The QM Implementation Plan
The IR Role
Selecting the Institution Representative
 Day-to-Day involvement with the program
Experience training, teaching online, or
working with online faculty
 Authority - implementation decisions and
information requests
APP/PRC Workshop (recommended)
Primary Responsibilities of the QM IR

Become the QM Expert


Facilitate Communication


Know when, where, and what kind of information is necessary in
your use of the QM program (IR Topic 7)
Use the Tools


Educate your institution about the program elements, subscription
benefits, and tools (IR Topics 1, 3-6, and 8)
Use the online rubric tool, QM IR site, MyQM (IR Topics 2, 4 & 5)
Coordinate Course Reviews

Run Subscriber-Managed course reviews (IR Topic 5)
Subscription Rights & Benefits
Basic
Full (Individual or Consortium)
Statewide
Key Benefits to a QM Subscription




Research-supported online and blended course design
rubric and rigorous review helps to ensure the
development and delivery of quality courses and
programs.
National recognition for courses which meet Quality
Matters standards.
Peer reviewer faculty training provides professional
development and a national certification for faculty
teaching online.
Peer reviewers can participate nationally in online
course reviews.
Know Your Subscription Rights
Rights with Basic





Access to the web-based rubric tool
One representative in the online IR
Group; Access to QM Online resources &
community
1 free seat in the “self-paced” Institution
Representative Training
Quality Matters trainings, services and
materials at the subscriber-discounted
prices
Ability to conduct internal (unofficial)
course reviews
Rights with Full




Access to the web-based rubric tool
One representative in the online IR
Group; Access to QM Online resources &
community
2 free seats in the “self-paced”
Institution Representative Training
Quality Matters trainings, services and
materials at subscriber-discounted prices
 Ability to conduct internal and
subscriber-managed course reviews
 License to conduct QM’s flagship rubric
training – Applying the QM Rubric
Know Your Subscription Rights
Affiliate Rights





Access to the web-based rubric tool
One representative in the online IR
Group; Access to QM Online resources &
community
1 free seat in the “self-paced” Institution
Representative Training
Quality Matters trainings, services and
materials at the subscriber-discounted
prices
Ability to conduct internal course reviews
and coordinate with Statewide
Subscriber to for subscriber-managed
course reviews
Statewide Subscriber Rights




Access to the web-based rubric tool
One representative in the online IR
Group; Access to QM Online resources &
community
2 free seats in the “self-paced” Institution
Representative Training
Quality Matters trainings and materials
at subscriber-discounted prices
 Ability to conduct internal and
subscriber-managed course reviews
 License to conduct QM’s flagship rubric
training – Applying the QM Rubric

1 free seat in the Train the Trainer
Training
Subscription Type affects Options
Course Review Options

Internal (Unofficial)
Training Delivery APPQMR

Internal QA, No QM requirements,
fees, or certification

QM-Managed
Adapt for internal needs, No QM
recognition or fees

External QA, Courses must meet
submission guidelines, Fees apply

Subscriber-Managed
External QA, follows official QM
process, no QM fees for review*
*certification fees may apply
Customized
QM-Delivered
Prerequisite for all QM roles, Fees
apply

Subscriber-Delivered
Prerequisite for all QM roles; Trainer
must be certified, Does not include
PRC
Fee for Service

The following must be contracted for
outside of the subscription contract – none
come WITH the subscription unless
specifically identified
 QM
training
 QM course reviews*
 QM publications
* Course certification fee ≠ course review fee
Getting Started with QM
Getting Started with QM

First Steps
 Train the Institution Representative
 Internally promote QM as a faculty resource
 Develop a plan

Governance, Engagement, Communication, Rubric Use, Course
Review Policy, Participation criteria
Familiarize faculty & gain support
 Develop QM cadre and internal capacity
 Use QM Course Reviews to benchmark internal
process

Know the Policies & Practices
Key Policy/Information Documents: See IR Manual
http://qmprogram.org/ir-welcome (attached at bottom)
Course Review Policies and Processes
Course Review Glossary
Course Re-certification Policy
Course Review Certification: Guidelines for
Certification of Multi-Section Courses
QM Intellectual Property Guidelines

About QM – Talking Points
The QM Principles
The QM toolset and process

A faculty-driven, peer review process that is…
Collaborative
Collegial
Continuous
Centered - in academic foundation
- around student learning
Talking Points for the QM Program
National Benchmark Attracting International Participation
 Grounded in Current Research, updated regularly
Continuous Improvement Model collaboratively developed
Peer Review Model is Faculty Support Tool
Comprehensive, Turn-Key Process
Connected , providing professional development opportunities
Recognized Quality Program
Quality Matters Subscribers
WASHINGTON
MONTANA
NORTH
DAKOTA
MAINE
MINNESOTA
OREGON
VT
NH
WISCONSIN
SOUTH
DAKOTA
IDAHO
MICHIGAN
WYOMING
NEBRASKA
MASS
NEW YORK
RI
CONN
PENN
IOWA
NEVADA
OHIO
DELAWARE
INDIANA
UTAH
NEW
JERSEY
ILLINOIS
COLORADO
MARYLAND
WV
KANSAS
VIRGINIA
MISSOURI
KENTUCKY
CALIFORNIA
NORTH
CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
ARIZONA
OKLAHOMA
ARKANSAS
SOUTH
CAROLINA
NEW MEXICO
MISS
ALABAMA
GEORGIA
TEXAS
LOUISIANA
FLORIDA
PUERTO RICO
Current Subscribers
Consortium Subscribers
ALASKA
Statewide Subscribers
HAWAII
VIRGIN
ISLANDS
Key Facts



461 subscribers in 44 states, The QM Nation:
DC, Canada, Australia,
•23 QM trainers
Bermuda, Saudi Arabia
•53 Ind. Trainers
More than 800 courses
•152 MRs
through rigorous reviews,
•628 IRs
603 meeting standards
6,669 individuals training in •2836 Reviewers
using the rubric
Basic Elements of QM
The Rubric is the Core of QM

Consisting of:
 8 key areas (general standards) of course quality
 40 specific review standards
 Including 17 essential standards
 and detailed annotations and examples of good
practice for all 40 standards
Standards Supported By Research
Broad compilation of DE literature and
research
 Latest update focused on recent research
literature with emphasis on blended course
design and emerging technologies
Literature review documents are available on
the Quality Matters website. A searchable
database will be available soon.
How institutions are using the Rubric
Faculty development and training programs
 Institutional distance learning policy development
 Unofficial course review process
 External quality assurance of online and hybrid
courses
 Guidelines for course development
 Checklist for improvement of existing courses
 Broader, online education QA programs
 Regional and professional reaccreditation
processes

Types of Course Reviews

Internal
•

QM-Managed Reviews
•

Unofficial reviews not required to follow QM process
Official review - QM manages and pays review
team
Subscriber-Managed

Official review - Subscriber manages and pays
review team
Quality Matters:
Peer Course Review
Process
Institutions
Faculty Course
Developers
Course
Course
continues to
be offered
Course Meets
Quality Expectations
National Standards &
Research Literature
Rubric
Faculty Reviewers
Training
Peer Course
Review
Feedback
Course
Revision
Instructional Designers
and/or Faculty
Developers
The Peer Review Team

On an official review, this consists of:
 3 QM-Certified Peer Reviewers
•

Pre-requisite: Current online teaching experience
The chair is a Master Reviewer
•
Peer Reviewer with additional experience and training

One reviewer must be a subject matter expert

At least one reviewer must external to the institution
sponsoring the course
QM Recognized Courses


Course reviews take 4-6 weeks
20-week window for reviews, including any amendments,
to be completed

QM recognition is provided by year recognized

QM logo on course and catalog; registry on QM website

Course certification is valid for 5 years. After this, logo
must be removed OR course must be re-certified through
expedited process (see QM Course Certification Renewal
Policy)
How institutions are using course
reviews

Reported uses:
 Provide specific and detailed peer feedback to
faculty on the design of their online/hybrid courses
 Serve as a quality threshold for new courses
 Systematically and objectively improve old courses
 Benchmark all Master courses
 To market specific programs with QM certified
courses
 Quality process indicators for accreditation selfstudies
Types of Professional Development


Delivery Options:
 Online – virtual, asynchronous
 Onsite – face-to-face, synchronous
 Elluminate – virtual, synchronous
Focus:
 QM Implementation
 Prepare faculty and staff to hold QM roles
 Faculty Development Workshops
 Prepare faculty to design and improve courses
Faculty Development Workshops
Course-focused Workshops
 Applying the QM Rubric*
 Build Your Online Course
 Improve Your Online Course
 Build Your Hybrid/Blended
Course
*Note: Flagship training is also
required for QM
Implementation
Standards-Focused Workshops
 Design that Welcomes Your
Students
 Create Measurable Learning
Objectives
 Choose and Use Media
Effectively
 Addressing Accessibility
Standards Alignment Workshops
 Investigate Learning
Objectives and Assessments
 Link Instructional Materials
and Learner Engagement
QM Implementation: Role Trainings






Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR)
Peer Reviewer Certification*
Applying the QM Rubric/Peer Reviewer Certification*
Master Reviewer Training*
Train-the-Trainer*
 TTT/F2F: For face-to-face delivery of APPQMR
 TTT/Online: For online delivery of APPQMR
Institution Representative Training*
*Offered online only
Pursuing scalability and self-sufficiency
Implementing Quality Matters





Applying the QM Rubric – pre-requisite for all following
Peer Reviewer Certification – generates certified peer reviewers
(as eligible) and/or prepares all for informal/internal reviews
Master Reviewer – builds more independence, and potentially
reduces expense, by staffing with own team chairs
Train-the-Trainer - internal trainer builds internal capacity for
course reviews at lower cost
Institution Representative/ Course Review Manager – develops
knowledge in implementing QM and lowers cost of running
subscriber-managed course reviews
Implementing QM: Roles & Criteria
Peer Reviewers
Independent
Trainers
Master
Reviewers
Course Review
Manager
Institution
Representative
Current Online
Instructor
Applying the
QM Rubric
Workshop
Certified QM
Peer Reviewer
Applying the
QM Rubric
Workshop
Designated by
institution
Applying the
QM Rubric
Workshop
(online or F2F)
Peer Reviewer
Course
(certification not
required)
Experience on
2+ course
reviews
Institution
Representative
Course
Institution
Representative
Course
Peer Reviewer
Course (online)
Train-the Trainer
Workshop
Master Reviewer
Workshop
Institution on Full
Subscription
Submission of
application &
MOU (for
certification)
Institution on Full
or Statewide
Subscription
Annual Recertification
How institutions are using QM
Professional Development
Educate faculty about quality in online courses
 Expedite the course development process and
reduce time and labor in designing courses.
 Provide professional development opportunities
for faculty and staff
 Threshold requirement for adjunct faculty
 Inform teaching practices related to design and
structure for BOTH online and F2F courses
 Quality process indicators for accreditation selfstudies

Final Thoughts about QM
QM’s Role in Quality Assurance
 QM looks at course design
The harnessing of technology to deliver instruction and
promote student learning
 QM provides a process for peer-to-peer feedback
for faculty in the continuous improvement of their
course
 Quality Matters is not the complete answer to
quality assurance for online education, but it can be
a critical component
What Quality Matters is NOT



Not about instructor content or delivery
(it’s about the course design)
Not about faculty evaluation
(it’s about course quality)
Not a win/lose or pass/fail test
(it’s a diagnostic tool to facilitate continuous
improvement of online/hybrid courses)
QM is about making online instruction as
good as it can be







Improved courses
Engaged faculty
Reduced course
development time
Ongoing faculty
development
Quality benchmarking
Awareness & support
for online learning
Institutional
improvement
85 %
How can QM help you?
Questions?
Thanks to YOU…
Quality Matters!
© MarylandOnline, Inc.,
2010. All rights reserved.
Fall 2010