Understanding the Quality Matters Rubric: A Comprehensive Guide for Higher Education and Corporate Learning

By Anthony Miller

Instructional Designer and Hiring Manager

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Understanding the Quality Matters Rubric:

Online and hybrid learning has rapidly become the cornerstone of modern education and training, necessitating high-quality course design to ensure effective learning outcomes. Quality Matters (QM) is an internationally recognized leader in quality assurance for online education, and its QM Rubric has been the gold standard for evaluating and improving course design in higher education and corporate learning settings.

In this blog post, we will explore what the Quality Matters Rubric is, how it is used in higher education and corporate environments, and the benefits and limitations of using the rubric for online and blended courses. Our goal is to provide an in-depth understanding of this essential tool for instructional designers, educators, and corporate trainers looking to create effective and engaging learning experiences.

What is the Quality Matters Rubric?

The Quality Matters Rubric is a detailed set of standards designed to evaluate the quality of online and hybrid courses. It is research-based and promotes best practices in course design with a strong focus on learner success. The QM Rubric serves as both a guideline for designing courses and a tool for evaluating existing courses to ensure they meet high-quality standards.

The QM Rubric for Higher Education, now in its seventh edition, includes eight general standards and 42 specific review standards that cover critical areas of course design, such as learning objectives, assessment, instructional materials, learner interaction, and accessibility. The rubric provides a framework for creating well-structured courses aligned with learning goals and engaging for students or trainees. Courses are reviewed by trained QM peer reviewers, who assess whether the courses meet the QM standards.

The rubric can be used for both self-evaluation and formal peer review processes. Instructors, instructional designers, and corporate trainers use it to create and improve course content, ensuring that courses are student-centered and focused on measurable learning outcomes.

The Structure of the Quality Matters Rubric

The Quality Matters Rubric is organized around eight general standards that address different aspects of course design. Each general standard is further broken down into specific review standards, which provide more detailed guidelines for evaluating various course elements. These standards are assigned points based on their importance, with the total points adding up to a maximum score of 100.

The eight general standards are as follows:

Course Overview and Introduction – This standard provides students with a clear understanding of how to begin the course, its structure, and any necessary institutional policies. Specific review standards include introducing the course purpose, outlining technology requirements, and providing a welcoming instructor introduction.
Learning Objectives (Competencies) – Learning objectives are the foundation of effective course design. This standard ensures that course-level and module-level learning objectives are clearly stated, measurable, and appropriate for the course level. Learning objectives should be learner-centered and prominently located within the course.
Assessment and Measurement – This standard focuses on how well assessments align with learning objectives. It ensures that grading policies are clear and students receive multiple forms of assessment to track progress and receive timely feedback. This standard also covers academic integrity.
Instructional Materials – Instructional materials must support the achievement of learning objectives. This standard ensures that materials are up-to-date, properly cited, and varied to accommodate learning styles. The connection between instructional materials and assessments should also be clear.
Learning Activities and Learner Interaction – Student engagement is critical to learning success, and this standard evaluates how well a course fosters interaction between students, instructors, and content. It also reviews whether the course encourages active learning and whether expectations for participation are clearly communicated.
Course Technology – Technology plays a vital role in online learning. This standard ensures that the tools and technology used in the course support the learning objectives and promote active learning. It also covers data privacy and the use of accessible technologies.
Learner Support – This standard evaluates the resources available to support students in the course. It ensures that learners are provided with clear information on how to access technical, academic, and student services, as well as accessibility services when needed.
Accessibility and Usability – Accessibility is a critical component of quality course design. This standard ensures that courses are designed to be accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. It covers course navigation, text readability, and accessible multimedia content.

How is the Quality Matters Rubric Used?

The Quality Matters Rubric is used in a variety of settings, including higher education institutions and corporate training environments. Let’s explore how it is applied in each context.

Higher Education

In higher education, the QM Rubric is widely used to evaluate and improve the quality of online and hybrid courses. Many colleges and universities have adopted the QM Rubric as part of their quality assurance processes to ensure that their online courses meet high standards of quality.
Course Design and Development – Faculty and instructional designers use the QM Rubric as a guideline when creating new courses. By aligning course content, learning objectives, assessments, and instructional materials with the QM standards, they ensure that courses are well-structured and learner-centered from the start.
Internal Course Review – Many institutions use the QM Rubric for internal course reviews. Faculty members may conduct self-reviews or peer reviews to assess whether their courses meet the standards before they are offered to students. This process helps maintain a high level of quality across all online and hybrid courses.
Formal QM Certification – Institutions can submit their courses for formal QM reviews conducted by certified peer reviewers. If the course meets the QM standards, it receives a QM Certification, which is a recognized mark of quality in online course design. This certification can enhance an institution’s reputation and provide assurance to students that they are receiving a high-quality educational experience.

Corporate Learning

While the QM Rubric was initially developed for higher education, it is increasingly being used in corporate learning and development settings. Companies that offer online training programs, whether for employee development or client education, can benefit from applying the QM Rubric to ensure their courses are effective and aligned with learning goals.

Employee Training Programs – The QM Rubric can be used to design and evaluate employee training programs, ensuring that they are engaging, aligned with business objectives, and designed to meet the needs of adult learners. The focus on clear learning objectives, assessments, and accessibility makes the rubric particularly valuable in corporate learning environments where efficiency and effectiveness are critical.
Client Education – Companies that offer training or educational courses to clients can use the QM Rubric to ensure that their courses meet high-quality standards consistent with higher education standards. This can help companies differentiate their offerings from competitors and provide added value to clients.
Blended Learning Environments – Many corporate training programs combine online and in-person components. The QM Rubric is flexible enough to be applied to blended learning environments, ensuring that both the online and in-person elements are aligned and effective.

Pros of Using the Quality Matters Rubric

The QM Rubric offers several advantages for institutions and organizations looking to improve their online courses. Here are some of the key benefits:

Improves Course Design – The rubric provides a clear, research-backed framework for course design. It helps instructors and instructional designers create courses that are learner-centered, well-structured, and aligned with learning goals. This leads to more effective and engaging learning experiences for students.
Promotes Student Success – By focusing on measurable learning objectives, aligned assessments, and accessibility, the QM Rubric helps create courses that promote student success. Courses designed with the QM Rubric in mind are more likely to meet students’ needs and support their learning progress.
Supports Continuous Improvement – The peer review process is constructive and focused on improving courses. This allows institutions to continuously refine their courses, keeping them up-to-date with best practices in online education and responsive to the evolving needs of learners.
Provides External Validation – Achieving QM Certification provides external validation that a course meets high standards of quality. This can enhance an institution’s or organization’s reputation and provide assurance to students, employees, or clients that they are receiving a high-quality learning experience.
Emphasizes Accessibility – The QM Rubric places a strong emphasis on accessibility and usability, ensuring that courses are designed to be inclusive and usable by all learners, regardless of their abilities. This is particularly important for meeting legal and regulatory requirements in both higher education and corporate settings.

Cons of Using the Quality Matters Rubric

While the QM Rubric is a valuable tool, it does have some potential drawbacks:

Time-Consuming Process – Applying the QM Rubric to course design and undergoing the peer review process can be time-consuming. Instructors and instructional designers must invest significant time reviewing and revising courses to meet the QM standards. This can be challenging, especially for smaller institutions or organizations with limited resources.
Requires Training and Expertise – The QM Rubric is a detailed and comprehensive tool, which means that instructors and instructional designers need to be trained to use it effectively. Institutions may need to invest in training for faculty and staff to ensure they can apply the rubric correctly.
Not a Guarantee of Learning Success – While the QM Rubric focuses on course design, it does not guarantee that students or employees will succeed in the course. Other factors, such as instructor-student interaction, learner motivation, and support services, also play a significant role in learning success.
Limited Flexibility – Some instructors or trainers may feel that the QM Rubric is too rigid and constrains their creativity. The specific standards may not be suitable for all learning environments, particularly those that require more flexibility or unconventional approaches to teaching and learning. For instance, in highly creative courses or those focusing on exploratory learning, the rigid framework of the QM Rubric might seem restrictive, limiting innovation in course design.

Best Practices for Using the Quality Matters Rubric

While the Quality Matters Rubric is comprehensive and structured, there are ways to apply it flexibly and ensure that it enhances rather than limits creativity in course design. Here are a few best practices for using the QM Rubric effectively:
Use the Rubric as a Guideline, Not a Checklist – The QM Rubric should be viewed as a tool to guide course design rather than a strict checklist. Instructors and instructional designers can focus on the intent behind each standard—such as promoting clarity, alignment, and engagement—while finding creative ways to meet those goals in their unique course contexts.
Involve Faculty Early in the Design Process – Faculty involvement is crucial for the success of course design and review. By involving instructors early in the process, institutions can ensure that courses meet QM standards while allowing faculty to bring their subject matter expertise and creativity to the table. Faculty collaboration with instructional designers can also lead to more innovative and engaging course designs that still meet QM standards.
Emphasize Professional Development – Institutions should invest in professional development to help instructors and instructional designers use the QM Rubric effectively. Training workshops, webinars, and certification programs can equip faculty with the knowledge and skills they need to apply the rubric in a way that enhances course quality without stifling creativity.
Focus on Continuous Improvement – The QM Rubric is not a one-time tool but rather part of an ongoing course improvement process. Even after a course has been designed or certified, it’s important to revisit it regularly to ensure it remains up-to-date and aligned with best practices in online education. Continuous improvement ensures that courses evolve along with the needs of students and advances in technology.
Leverage Feedback for Improvement – Peer reviews conducted using the QM Rubric provide valuable feedback that can help improve course design. Institutions should view this feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism. Incorporating feedback into course revisions helps create more substantial, more practical courses that better meet the needs of students or employees.

Conclusion

The Quality Matters Rubric is a powerful tool for ensuring the quality of online and blended courses, whether in higher education or corporate learning environments. Its structured, research-backed framework helps instructors and instructional designers create well-organized, learner-centered courses that promote student engagement and success.

By applying the QM Rubric, institutions and organizations can improve course design, enhance learner outcomes, and achieve external validation through QM Certification. The rubric also promotes accessibility and ensures that online courses are inclusive and accessible to all learners, regardless of their abilities. While the process of applying the QM Rubric can be time-consuming and requires training, the benefits of using the rubric far outweigh the challenges.

For instructors, instructional designers, and corporate trainers, adopting the Quality Matters Rubric as part of the course design process ensures a consistent, high-quality learning experience that aligns with the best practices in online education. Institutions that commit to using the rubric not only improve their courses but also demonstrate their dedication to providing a superior educational experience to students and learners alike.

In an era where online learning is more important than ever, the QM Rubric is a crucial tool for promoting quality, engagement, and success in higher education and some corporate training settings. By focusing on precise learning objectives, aligned assessments, learner interaction, and accessibility, the QM Rubric helps create courses that are effective but also enjoyable and rewarding for students and trainees.

Discussion Assignment: Selecting the Right Instructional Design Tools

Join the conversation and participate with the 24/7 Instructional Design community by completing the assignment and adding your answers in the comment section below:

As instructional designers, both new and seasoned, we all strive to create engaging and compelling learning experiences. The Quality Matters (QM) Rubric offers a structured, research-based approach to ensuring high-quality course design, but it also requires a significant investment of time and resources. Based on your experience, how do you balance the rigor of adhering to QM standards with the need for flexibility and creativity in your course designs? For those who have used the QM Rubric extensively, what strategies have you found effective in integrating these standards without stifling innovation? And for those newer to the process, what concerns or challenges do you anticipate when applying the QM Rubric to your courses?

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