Unit 3: The QM Review Process: Self-Review and Internal Review
3.1 Overview: From Design to Certification
The Quality Matters review process is a structured, evidence-based approach to evaluating course quality. It involves multiple stages, from a course team's internal self-review to an external peer review conducted by trained QM reviewers. Understanding this process is important whether you are designing a course, preparing it for review, or simply understanding how QM certification works.
3.2 Stage 1: Self-Review (Internal Assessment)
What happens: The course team uses the QM rubric to evaluate their own course against all 8 standards and 43 review criteria. This is done using the official QM rubric as a checklist.
Who is involved: Course designers, instructors, subject matter experts, and instructional technologists from within the institution.
Purpose:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses in the course before external review
- Make improvements to address gaps and weaknesses
- Ensure alignment with QM standards before investing time and money in formal review
- Build institutional knowledge about quality standards
Deliverables: A self-review report documenting how the course meets (or doesn't meet) each criterion, with evidence and suggestions for improvement.
Tools used: The QM Rubric (usually in spreadsheet form), course syllabus, sample course materials, and the course itself (in the LMS).
Self-Review Best Practices
- Involve multiple perspectives (instructor, designer, technologist, external colleague)
- Be honest and criticalâthe goal is improvement, not just passing
- Document evidence for each criterion (don't just say "yes, it's aligned")
- Prioritize the most impactful improvements
- Set a timeline for revisions before submitting for external review
3.3 Stage 2: Internal Review (Optional Institutional Review)
What happens: Some institutions conduct an internal review using trained internal reviewers before a course is submitted for formal QM certification. This is optional but increasingly common because it catches issues early and improves the likelihood of certification on the first attempt.
Who is involved: Internal reviewers trained by the institution or QM (these are different people than the self-review team).
Purpose:
- Provide objective feedback from someone not connected to the course
- Apply the QM rubric consistently across the institution
- Improve the course before external review
- Build institutional capacity and expertise
Outcome: A review report with scores for each criterion and specific recommendations for improvement.
