Wichita State University Online Course Receives QM Certification Mark
Quality Matters (QM), a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process that certifies the quality of online and blended courses, has recognized John Perry, management department chair in the Barton School of Business, for his commitment to quality assurance by designing an online course (Management 681) that meets Quality Matters standards. Management 681 is the first online course at WSU to receive full QM certification.
"The quality of an online course is influenced more by the course's design than is the quality of a face-to-face course," said Perry. "In a face-to-face course, an instructor can emphasize course content, make adjustments to the pace of the course presentation, and 'read the class' based on physically seeing and being in a common physical space with the students. In an online course, however, an instructor generally cannot see the students. A lax course design in an online course can lead to frustration for students. The QM certification process ensures that an online course is well designed for students."
In addition to receiving QM certification, Perry's Management 681 course received the 2016 Exemplary Course Award from the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program, which measures the merits of a course relating to course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment and learner support ensured by the instructor.
Quality Matters has developed a widely respected set of standards for the design of effective online courses and a rigorous, faculty peer review process for applying these standards to existing courses. Through this process, reviewers provide instructors and instructional design teams with insights and recommendations that increase learner engagement, retention and satisfaction, and, ultimately, learner achievement.
Wichita State University subscribes to Quality Matters as its quality assurance model and design standards for online and blended courses and programs. Quality Matters professional development is provided for Online Faculty Fellows, Instructional Designers, and online program faculty by The Office of Online Education at Wichita State.
About Quality Matters
Quality Matters (QM) is an international nonprofit organization that provides the quality standards, professional development, course and program review, and certification for quality assurance in online education. QM's 1,000-plus members include community and technical colleges, colleges and universities, K-12 schools and systems, government agencies, corporations and other education-related organizations. QM is best known for its design standards (Rubrics) for online and blended courses for higher education, continuing and professional education, K-12, and publisher provided courses. Visit qualitymatters.org or email info@qualitymatters.org.
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Contact: Joe Kleinsasser, director of news and media relations, 316-978-3013, cell 316-204-8266 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu.