QM at University of New Haven – Digital Learning

Quality Matters – The Gold Standard in Online Course Development

Quality Matters (QM) is a global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments.  The University of New Haven is a member of this organization and leverages the QM process to develop high quality online courses with faculty members resulting in a QM seal of approval. 

What is Quality Matters?

It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations.  When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met the QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.  (Snyder, 2024) The Digital Learning team will work with faculty members to develop online courses using best practices and want to achieve the QM seal for their course.

Why Quality Matters?

Quality Matters is more than just an organization—it’s a movement aimed at setting the gold standard for online education. Through its research-based framework, QM provides a comprehensive set of criteria designed to ensure that online courses are both effective and engaging. The cornerstone of QM is the Quality Matters Rubric, which serves as a guideline for evaluating and improving course design. Quality Matters certification involves a peer review process that helps educators refine their courses to meet these high standards.

Elevating Online Course Quality: Why Faculty Should Embrace Quality Matters

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the quality of online courses has never been more crucial. If you’re a faculty member looking to refine your online courses and improve student outcomes, here’s why Quality Matters should be on your radar and how you can get involved.

1. Elevate Course Design

One of the key benefits of integrating QM into your course development process is the enhancement of course design. QM standards help ensure that your courses are structured in a way that maximizes student engagement and learning. By adhering to these guidelines, you can create more interactive, organized, and effective online learning experiences.

2. Boost Student Success

Research shows that courses meeting QM standards significantly improve student outcomes. Whether it’s better performance or higher satisfaction rates, QM-certified courses provide a better learning environment for students. Implementing these standards will provide a foundation for a positive student experience. 

3. Professional Growth

Engaging with Quality Matters is not just about course improvement—it’s also a chance for professional development. QM offers various training programs and certifications that can help you grow as an educator.

Support and Resources at Your Disposal

1. Training and Workshops

QM provides a range of training opportunities to help you get started. From workshops to online courses, there are multiple ways to familiarize yourself with the QM Rubric and its application. The QM web site https://www.qualitymatters.org/ provides many resources focused on improving the learning process.

2. Institutional Support

The Digital Learning team is here to support you in the QM process with a goal of achieving a Quality Matters course certification.

3.  Time Commitment

We understand that committing to a new process can raise questions and take time. Whether it’s concerns about time commitment or the complexity of the QM standards, we’re here to help mitigate these concerns. Our team help with formatting and building a course to remove some of the time concerns that a faculty may have.

Engaging with Quality Matters offers numerous benefits that go beyond just improving course design. It’s about enhancing student outcomes, advancing your professional development, and contributing to the overall quality of education.  To learn how you can get started on the QM journey, contact us at DigitalLearning@newhaven.edu.