Formal Quality Matters Review

Principles of Quality Assurance

Quality assurance includes two principles: 

• Fit for purpose - the service or solution should be suitable for the intended purpose; 

• Right first time - eliminate as many issues as possible in the first version. 

The task of quality assurance for Quality Matters is to make online and hybrid courses work all the time. 

After successful completion of the Internal QM Review, the next step is a Formal Quality Matters (QM) Review. The Formal QM Review is a QM Official Collaborative Peer Review. As the instructor and course designer, you will get specific and constructive feedback throughout the Formal Quality Matters Review process to meet QM Standards and achieve QM Certification.

Completing the Formal Quality Matters Review process shows your commitment to create a culture at TWU that is focused on quality assurance and continuous improvement of online and hybrid courses.

Contact the Center for Development, Design, & Delivery to work with the TWU Quality Matters Coordinator (QMC) and submit a QM Course Review Application. Once your application is approved, the QMC will compile a team of three QM Certified Peer Reviewers, including a Master Reviewer, a Peer Reviewer, and a Subject Matter Expert (SME). In most cases, all three members of your review team will be experienced and current online instructors working at other universities.

The Formal Quality Matters Review will take 4 to 6 weeks and successful completion will earn the QM Certification Mark in your course. Your course will also be recognized on the QM website.

Read more about and apply to complete the Internal Quality Matters Review.

1. Submit the Formal Quality Matters Review Request (your TWU username and password are required to access and submit).

2. The TWU Quality Matters Coordinator (QMC) will contact you as the Course Developer/Instructor (CD/I) to begin the Formal Quality Matters Review process.

• The QMC will provide the instructions and link to request the Quality Matters Official Collaborative Peer Review

  • Download and complete the Quality Matters Course Worksheet to prepare to submit the Course Review Application

• The CD/I will work with QMC to complete the Course Review Application and Quality Matters Course Worksheet on the QM website

3. The QMC designates three Formal Quality Matters Review team members to the Internal Quality Matters Review:

• The Team Chair is a QM Certified Master Reviewer

• A Subject Matter Expert (SME) QM Certified Peer Reviewer of the course discipline

• An External QM Certified Peer Reviewer from another institution/university

4. The CD/I adds the Formal Quality Matters Review team members as Teachers in the Sandbox course.

• The CD/I will submit a Technology Service Desk ticket to create a Canvas Guest Account for the External QM Certified Peer Reviewer and add them to the Sandbox of the Formal Quality Matters Review Sandbox course.

5. Once the CD/I has completed the Course Worksheet the Formal Quality Matters Review can begin. The Formal Quality Matters Review team members will use the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric (6th edition) to review the course, record their evidence and recommendations in the online QM Course Review Management System (CRMS).

• The Formal Quality Matters Review team members have 3 weeks to complete their reviews of the course.

6. The QMC will deliver the Formal Quality Matters Review Final Report to the CD/I.

• If the course meets all standards, the Internal Quality Matters Review is successfully concluded.

• If the course does not meet QM Standards, the CD/I will have 2 weeks to amend the course with support from their instructional design partner.

  • The CD/I will inform the QMC when the amended course is available.

  • The Formal Quality Matters Review team members will reassess the amended course to determine if the QM Standards have been met.

  • The QMC will deliver the Formal Quality Matters Review Post-Amendment Report to the CD/I.

1. If the course meets QM Standards:

• The CD/I may publicize their accomplishment and display a QM Certification Mark in your Formal Quality Matters Reviewed course and be recognized on the QM website. This QM Certification Mark can be displayed for a term of three years.

2. If the course does not meet QM Standards, the review is concluded.

• The course may be revised further and resubmitted for an Internal Quality Matters Review. 

• Contact your Instructional Design Partner to assist you with the continuous improvement of online learning and course design.

• To request technical support, submit a Technology Service Desk email to start a ticket.