UA Online offers several professional development opportunities to support your course quality and online teaching efforts.
Introduction to Quality Matters (INTRO2QM)
The Introduction to Quality Matters (INTRO2QM) workshop introduces participants to QM’s Quality Assurance System, explores why QM is considered the gold standard in online course quality assurance and describes the course review process. In addition to learning about QM rubrics and the types of course reviews, participants will explore how a QM implementation can support a culture of quality. The workshop concludes with the development of a personal plan for continued engagement with Quality Matters.
This two-week workshop is recommended for faculty and administrators who are new to QM. It is facilitated, fully online and asynchronous, with firm deadlines. It is not a self-paced workshop. You will need to dedicate three-plus hours per week to achieve the learning objectives. Please be sure your schedule will accommodate the participation requirements before requesting registration in this workshop.
UA Online offers the online INTRO2QM workshop throughout the year. Please see the Calendar of Events for current offerings or register for this workshop today.
Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR)
The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshop is QM’s flagship workshop and is a prerequisite for the Peer Reviewer Course. It is appropriate for a broad audience, including faculty, adjunct instructors, instructional designers and administrators. This workshop introduces participants to the underlying principles and critical components of the QM Rubric and guides them through hands-on activities in the application of QM’s specific review standards. Participants will also practice writing helpful recommendations.
The APPQMR workshop is required for anyone wishing to participate in the Higher Ed Peer Reviewer Course from Quality Matters.
This two-week fully online, asynchronous workshop is facilitated and has firm deadlines. It is not a self-paced workshop. Participants will need to devote 14-plus hours per week to achieve the learning objectives. Please be sure your schedule will accommodate the participation requirements before requesting registration in this workshop.
UA Online offers the online APPQMR workshop throughout the year. Please see the Calendar of Events for current offerings or register for this workshop today.
Improving Your Online Course (IYOC)
The Improving Your Online Course workshop explores the QM Rubric and provides a framework to improve the quality of online courses. Participants use the QM Rubric to review their own online courses and develop a course improvement plan.
The content is based on the essential Specific Review Standards of the Quality Matters Rubric. Participants come away with a plan for course improvement so enrolling in the workshop with a predeveloped online course is required.
This workshop is suitable for faculty, adjunct instructors and instructional designers who have a course they want to improve. Participants will apply the essential Specific Review Standards of the Quality Matters Rubric to their own online course, describe the alignment of at least one module/unit in their course and prioritize improvements to the course. Participants will need an online course to improve and 8-10 hours of time per week to spend on achieving the learning objectives. This workshop is facilitated, fully online and asynchronous, with firm deadlines. Please be sure your schedule will accommodate the participation requirements before requesting registration in this workshop.
UA Online offers the online IYOC workshop throughout the year. Please see the Calendar of Events for current offerings or register for this workshop today.
Designing Your Online Course (DYOC)
The Designing Your Online Course workshop includes an overview of the QM Rubric and provides a framework for participants to design an online course plan. An integral element of the workshop is an exploration of the eight General Standards of the QM Rubric, focusing on learning objectives and overall course alignment.
This workshop is suitable for faculty and instructors who are new to online teaching. Participants will complete a Course Development Plan. The plan includes all of the essential Specific Review Standards with a column for how the participant will meet the SRS in their course and what resources they will need. Participants will need a course they plan to develop for online delivery and 8 to 10 hours of time per week to dedicate to the workshop. This workshop is facilitated, fully online and asynchronous, with firm deadlines.
UA Online offers the online IYOC workshop throughout the year. Please see the Calendar of Events for current offerings or register for this workshop today.
Teaching Online Certificate (TOC)
The Quality Matters Teaching Online Certificate prepares instructors to demonstrate knowledge mastery of online teaching. The rigorous seven-workshop series provides current and potential online instructors with an in-depth student experience as they learn the background knowledge to successfully teach online.
Required workshops include:
- Gauging Your Technology Skills
- Evaluating Your Course Design
- Exploring Your Institution’s Policies
- Orienting Your Online Learners
- Connecting Learning Theories to Your Teaching Strategies
- Creating Presence in Your Online Course
- Assessing Your Learners
This seven-workshop series requires a total time commitment of 11 weeks and approximately 80-90 hours. Workshops do not have to be scheduled consecutively or taken in a specific order, although QM recommends taking them in the order listed above. The Teaching Online Certificate is awarded by QM upon successful completion of all seven workshops.
UA Online periodically sponsors registration in the Teaching Online Certificate program. To be added to the waiting list, email Teachingacademy@ua.edu to express your interest.
Many of your colleagues have already completed the Teaching Online Certificate. View the full list to see who is certified.
Additional Resources
For additional resources, visit our On-Demand Resources page.