Quality Matters at TAMIU

Course Review General Information

The course review process involves a review of a course by a team of trained, certified peer reviewers who are all experienced online faculty. This faculty-driven process is intended to be diagnostic with the overall goal of course improvement. It does not involve pass/fail judgments but instead relies on the team members providing specific guidance for the course developer on what might be done to modify the course in order for it to meet QM Standards. There is clear recognition throughout the process that there are many ways to meet each Standard and that no course is perfect. To receive QM Certification as a quality course, a course must meet Rubric Standards at 85% or higher in the overall scoring by the review team.

The Quality Matters process is designed to ensure that courses undergoing review will eventually meet Standards and receive QM Certification.

The Review Process at Texas A&M International University

At TAMIU, the following process will be is used for course reviews. For information on the complete process for course development, visit Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services' page on Course Development for Distance Education Courses. For additional information on how to prepare for a QM course review, visit QM's Preparing for a Quality Matters Course Review web page.

Before Review(s)

1. The Faculty Course Developer will implement the Quality Matter Rubrics in the course that is being developed for online delivery with the assistance of an Instructional Designer before/while the course is being taught.
2. After delivery of course, the Faculty Course Developer will have up to 30 days to make final adjustments to course shell.
3. A copy of the course is created for future QM reviewer access. No student enrollments or submissions will be present in this course shell.
4. In preparation for a review, a self-review of the course may be conducted (between the Faculty Course Developer and an Instructional Designer) to identify and address any major areas of the course that may not meet standards. After a self-review is completed, the Faculty Course Developer may proceed with the following review process(es).

Process for Internal (Unofficial) and Official (Subscriber-Managed) Reviews

1. Application for course review will be submitted to the QM Course Review Management System by a QM Coordinator/Course Review Manager.
2. Course developer worksheet will be submitted via the QM Course Review Management System by Faculty Course Developer.
3. A review team (consisting of 3 individuals) will be assigned to the course review. For official reviews, the review team needs at least one reviewer who is external to the organization submitting the course, at least one reviewer who is a Subject Matter Expert, and a Team Chair who is a QM Master Reviewer. Access to LMS and to QM course shell under review will be provided. Reviewers will be assigned to course shell with the Student role. See QM website for more information on official review requirements. For internal reviews, the review team will attempt to follow the official review team requirements, if reviewers are available in the internal reviewer pool.
4. A pre-review phone conference will held amongst the Faculty Course Developer, QM Coordinator, and the review team. Review will begin after phone conference.
5. Course Review Team will provide the Faculty Course Developer with recommendations and feedback via the QM Course Review Management System.
6. After the review has been finalized by the chair of the review team, the Faculty Course Developer will receive feedback in the form of a Final Report.
7. The Faculty Course Developer must complete the Review Outcome Response Form within two weeks of the end of review in the QM Course Review Management System. The form is located in the Review Actions section of My Open Reviews.
8. If course does not meet QM standards, Faculty Course Developer will make necessary amendments to meet QM standards. (An Instructional Designer may assist with changes.)
9. At completion of course review, course will meet QM standards and course developer will be notified.
10. Reviewer access will be removed from course shell and LMS.
11. From the start date of the review, the entire review process, including any required amendments, must be completed within 20 weeks.

After Review (Official Reviews Only)

1. The course review certificate may be printed from your MyQM account within 3 business days of all paperwork submission.
2. Courses that successfully meet QM standards are eligible to carry the QM Certification Mark. View QM's webpage on policies governing the use of the QM Certification Mark for more information.
3. Recognized courses will be announced on Quality Matter's website as well as TAMIU's webpage of recognized courses.

A peer review is a rigorous process. The active course review period is approximately three weeks; during this period, the team convenes, independently reviews the course, makes decisions, and writes substantive feedback in the Reviewer Worksheet online. The compiled anonymous feedback from the three reviewers is usually submitted to the faculty developer/instructor within four to six weeks (including pre- and post-conference calls). The faculty developer/instructor may need additional time to complete mandatory revisions. The entire review period may be as long as twenty weeks from the time the course review was started. See QM's 'How does the review process for course design work?' web page.

A QM Review is a time-consuming process, but it does get easier with practice. Typically, the first review takes the longest...subsequent reviews become easier as you become more familiar with the standards and annotations. The time investment depends on your familiarity with the learning management system, the discipline and, of course, the QM rubric!

Interested in having your course reviewed?

Please contact the lead QM Coordinator, Dr. Abrego, for more information:

• Dr. Patricia Abrego, Director of Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services
  pabrego@tamiu.edu | 956.326.2792 | Killam Library 259