Internal 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. 

The first step of the Quality Matters review process at TWU is a detailed and comprehensive Internal Quality Matters (QM) review. 

During the Internal QM Review, we examine courses using the full Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric. At TWU, two QM Certified Peer Reviewers or Master Reviewers (who are also Instructional Design Partners in the Center for Faculty Success) will conduct the reviews following the same guidelines as a Quality Matters Official Collaborative Peer Review. However, the Internal QM Review is designed to prepare a course to easily pass a formal review. With this goal in mind, the review delves deep and provides considerable feedback and suggestions to cover all bases. As with the Formal QM Review, suggestions are not prescriptive. The Internal QM Review is intended to provide a positive experience and one-on-one interactions that give you new insight into your course.

The Internal Quality Matters Review will take 8 to 9 weeks and successful completion will earn the TWU-Quality Matters Mark in your course and prepare your course for the Formal Quality Matters Review.

Request a Sandbox course by sending a Technology Service Desk email to start a ticket. Please include the course number for the Internal Quality Matters Review, for example ENG 1013, NURS 4612. 

Once you have the Sandbox course, follow these steps:

1. From the Sandbox course, copy the content from your existing Canvas course to start. Being by reviewing: How do I copy content from another Canvas course using the Course Import tool?

2. Work with your Instructional Design Partner to analyze, design, and develop your course for the Internal Quality Matters Review process.

1. Submit the Internal 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 Internal Quality Matters Review process.

• The QMC will provide the instructions and link to request the QM Internal Review

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

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

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

• A QM Certified Master Reviewer or Peer Reviewer and

• A QM Certified Peer Reviewer

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

5. Once the CD/I has completed the Course Worksheet the Internal Quality Matters Review can begin. The Internal Quality Matters Review team members will use the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric (7th edition) to review the course, record their evidence and recommendations in the online Quality Matters Course Review Management System (CRMS).

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

6. The QMC will deliver the Internal 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 4 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.

  • One of the Internal Quality Matters Review team members will reassess the amended course to determine if the QM Standards have been met and report the results to the QMC.

  • The QMC will deliver the Internal 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 TWU-Quality Matters Mark in the Internal Quality Matters Reviewed course. This TWU-Quality Matters Mark can be displayed for a term of three years.

• The CD/I may submit the Internal Quality Matters Reviewed course for the Formal Quality Matters Review. 

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. A resubmitted course will start the Internal Quality Matters Review process from the beginning.

• 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.