About the SDBOR Online QA rubric
Originally developed as part of a Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant by the Maryland Online consortium. It is maintained by the QA Rubric Subcommittee, which reports to AAC.
The original rubric established eight general review standards from learning outcomes to accessibility and everything in between, which are still present in the SDBOR QA rubric.
Each general review standard comprised of specific review standards, which are rated as follows:
REQUIRED STANDARD
The developers of the rubric felt that certain standards had to be satisfied by every online course; ergo, such standards are rated as required. Missing even one of these standards means the rubric is not satisfied.
Recommended Standard
The developers of the rubric felt these standards have a significant impact on the design of the course and/or student achievement, but do not rise to the level of the required standards. Still, instructors should strive to achieve these in their course design.
In order to pass review, a course must simply achieve all of the required standards.
NOTE: the QA rubric and process are now outlined in AAC Guidelines 5.8 and 5.9, respectively.