The QM Rubric: Standards for Excellence

Guiding Your Course Design: Understanding the Quality Matters Rubric 

The Eight General Standards 

The QM Rubric organizes best practices into eight broad areas, known as General Standards¹²:

1. Course Overview and Introduction 
2. Learning Objectives (Competencies) 
3. Assessment and Measurement 
4. Instructional Materials 
5. Learning Activities and Learner Interaction 
6. Course Technology 
7. Learner Support 
8. Accessibility and Usability 

These General Standards provide a holistic framework for creating high-quality online learning experiences. See the table below for a brief description of each.

QM Higher Education Rubric: The Eight General Standards at a Glance 

General Standard	Faculty-Friendly Description of Purpose and Scope
1. Course Overview and Introduction	Ensures the course starts effectively by providing students with clear, introductory information about the course purpose, structure, navigation requirements, and how to begin.7
2. Learning Objectives (Competencies)	Focuses on clearly stated, measurable learning objectives or competencies that define what students will be able to do upon course completion, and ensures these objectives are consistently communicated.7
3. Assessment and Measurement	Addresses the alignment of assessments with learning objectives, the clarity of grading policies, and the provision of specific, descriptive criteria for evaluating student work.7
4. Instructional Materials	Pertains to the selection and presentation of instructional materials that are comprehensive, current, varied, and contribute directly to the achievement of learning objectives.7
5. Learning Activities and Learner Interaction	Emphasizes the design of engaging learning activities and opportunities for interaction (student-content, student-instructor, student-student) that support active learning and mastery of objectives.7
6. Course Technology	Concerns the appropriate selection and use of course technologies that support learning objectives, are current, and are integrated effectively to enhance the learning experience.7
7. Learner Support	Ensures students are aware of and have access to essential support services, including technical support, academic support, and student services provided by the institution.7
8. Accessibility and Usability	Focuses on designing the course to be accessible and usable for all students, including those with disabilities, by adhering to recognized accessibility standards and usability principles.7*

*Meeting QM Specific Review Standards regarding accessibility does not guarantee or imply that the specific accessibility regulations of any country or UAMS are met. Faculty are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all institutional and legal accessibility mandates.⁷ 

Key Concepts within the Rubric 

Alignment 

A distinctive and critical concept within the QM framework is Alignment.⁷ Alignment means that essential course components work together cohesively to ensure students achieve the stated learning objectives.¹⁰ Specifically, Learning Objectives (Standard 2) must align with Assessments (Standard 3), Instructional Materials (Standard 4), Learning Activities (Standard 5), and Course Technology (Standard 6).¹² When a course is well-aligned, students have a clear path to success. Specific Review Standards related to alignment are clearly marked in the full rubric annotations.⁷

Specific Review Standards & Scoring 

Each General Standard is broken down into several Specific Review Standards. These are the detailed, measurable criteria used during a course review. Each Specific Review Standard is assigned a point value (1, 2, or 3 points) based on its relative importance to course quality.¹³ The maximum score on the 7th Edition Rubric is 101 points.¹³

Essential Standards 

Specific Review Standards assigned 3 points are designated as Essential Standards.⁷ These represent foundational best practices crucial for quality course design. To meet QM standards in an official review and achieve certification, a course must meet ALL Essential Standards (all 22 of them in the 7th Edition) AND achieve an overall score of 86 points or higher (85%).⁷

Accessing the Full Rubric 

Important Note on Copyright
The Quality Matters Rubric, including its detailed annotations, is a copyrighted tool owned by Quality Matters. Its use is restricted to QM members and individuals who have participated in official QM training.⁷ UAMS respects QM’s intellectual property rights.

How to Access at UAMS
UAMS faculty can gain access to the complete, annotated rubric in two primary ways:

Attend an Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) Workshop
This foundational workshop provides the rubric and essential training on its interpretation and application.⁷ 

Through the UAMS MyQM Account
Once logged into your UAMS-provided MyQM account, you can access the Rubric Workbook and the Course Review Management System (CRMS), which contain the fully annotated standards.⁷ (Link to MyQM login: https://www.qualitymatters.org/qm-resources/login) ⁴

Recommendation
We strongly encourage all faculty involved in online or blended course design to attend an APPQMR workshop. It is the most effective way to learn how to leverage the rubric for improving your courses.⁷

Restriction
Consistent with QM policy¹⁶, the detailed Specific Review Standards and their annotations are not reproduced on this public website.

How the Rubric is Used at UAMS 

The QM Rubric serves multiple purposes at UAMS

Guidance for Course Design
A proactive tool to guide the development of new online and blended courses.⁷ 

Framework for Course Improvement
A structure for revising and enhancing existing courses.⁷ 

Basis for Review
The foundation for self-reviews, internal peer reviews conducted at UAMS, and official QM Certification reviews.⁷