When Quality Matters

What is it? Quality Matters (QM) is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach to continuous improvement in online education and student learning. The program features: Faculty-centered, continuous improvement models for assuring the quality of online courses through peer review Professional development workshops and certification courses for instructors and online learning professionals Rubrics for applying quality standards to course design From: QUALITY MATTERS (QM) RUBRIC

DOES IT REALLY MATTER? YES!

In February 2013, Georgia Tech and Coursera MOOC Online Course titled, “Fundamentals of Online Education: Planning and Application” Problems The instructor did not “introduce” herself to the class. Encountered technical glitches before the class even began. Students could not download certain course materials. Documents were added to the course syllabus at the last minute. Used Google Docs to help the course’s 40,000 enrolled students to organize themselves into groups. KOLOWICH, STEVE. "Georgia Tech, Coursera Try To Recover From MOOC Stumble." Chronicle Of Higher Education (2013): A15. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 19 Aug WHAT HAPPENS WHEN QUALITY “DOESN’T MATTER?”

1.It looks at course design by harnessing of technology to deliver instruction and promote student learning. 2.QM provides a process for peer-to-peer feedback for faculty in the continuous improvement of their course and certifies courses as meeting shared standards of best practice. 3.QM is not the complete answer to quality assurance for online education, but it can be a critical component. WHAT DOES THE QM RUBRIC DO?

If you are an Instructional Librarian or something like… 1.It improves online courses. 2.It is an external quality assurance 3.Participation useful for professional development plan and portfolio 4.Faculty development trainings 5.Review other courses and gain new ideas for own course; expand professional community. WHAT IS IN IT FOR FACULTY?

Of the Eight Quality Matters Rubric Standards, four of them directly or indirectly, involve a Librarian. WHAT IS IN IT FOR LIBRARIANS?

General Standard 4: Instructional Material General Standard 5: Learner Interaction and Engagement General Standard 6: Course Technology General Standard 7: Learner Support STANDARDS

4.1 Learning materials have to connect with the learning objectives For example: textbooks, required reading, databases, citation guides, maps, etc. 4.2 Requires explanation of how materials for learning activities can be used. For example: online courses would have a Web tutorial about how to use the catalog, hybrid courses would have a librarian embedded in the classroom, training on how to use library databases and other online resources GENERAL STANDARD 4

5.2 Interaction opportunities for students that support active learning Example: writing an APA or MLA style paper, finding resources in the library, reference by appointment, using the group meeting rooms in the library, asking a librarian for help, using the catalog subject guide, etc. GENERAL STANDARD 5

6.4 Course required technology can be accessed Example: videos, audio, animations, podcasts, blogs, wikis, social media, books, ebooks, databases, etc. GENERAL STANDARD 6

7.3 Course provides a link to resources that can help the students succeed and how they can access the services. Example: link to the library Web site, link to a LibGuide that applies to the course, writing centers, library assistance, library chat, library Facebook page, library Twitter, reference desk phone number, etc. 7.4 Answers how student support services can help the students. Example: library workshops, online library tutorials, etc. GENERAL STANDARD 7

Why? Having an online component in coursework is quickly becoming the norm. If we, as Librarians and Information Professionals, do not become a part of the evaluation process, we could get left out. We are the quality mangers on campus when it comes to information. QUALITY MATTERS TO LIBRARIANS

Currently, 28 Universities and Colleges in Louisiana subscribe to the QM Rubric and the number is growing. If you have the opportunity to participate, take it. Thank you for your time. Paula L. Webb University of South Alabama Mobile, AL CONCLUSION