How does the QM Rubric work in tandem with the National Standards for Quality Online Courses?

While the Quality Matters K-12 Rubric has, since its inception, been aligned with the National Standards for Quality Online Courses, the recent revision and release of the fourth edition of the National Standards for Quality Online Courses, under the oversight of QM in partnership with the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance and DLAC, have an even closer relationship. 

While the NSQ Online Course Standards contain explanations and examples, the QM K-12 Rubric takes this a step further. Rich annotations throughout the QM Rubric — that address difficult concepts — provide examples of good practice, and guide course reviewers and developers in the application of the Standards. While the NSQ Courses and QM K-12 Rubrics are in tight alignment, they are structured differently.  

QM Certification of a course is the official mark of quality for the National Standards for Quality Online Courses. QM can provide a report in the NSQ format based on the correlation below:

Correlation Between NSQ Course Standards & QM K-12 Rubric

 

NSQ Courses —> QM K-12 Rubric

Standard A: Course Overview and Support

A1

1.1 T

A2

1.4 T

A3

1.7 C, 5.3 C

A4

1.5 T, 1.6 T, 7.2 T

A5

1.3 T

A6

3.2 C, 3.5 C

A7

7.1 T

A8 

1.1 T

Standard B: Content

B1

2.2 C, 2.5 C

B2

2.1 C

B3

1.4 T, 1.5 C, 5.4 C 

B4

7.3 T

B5

4.6 T

B6

4.4 C

B7

4.7 C

B8

4.5 C

B9

7.4 T

Standard C: Instructional Design

C1

3.3 C, 5.2 C

C2

4.1 C, 5.1 C

C3

1.2 C, 4.2 C, 8.1 T

C4

2.4 C, 4.3 C

C5

N/A

C6

3.4 C, 5.2 C

C7

5.2 C, 5.4 C

C8

5.2 C, 5.3 C

C9

4.1 C, 4.2 C, 4.4 C

Standard D: Learner Assessment

D1

2.3 C, 2.6 C, 3.1 C

D2

3.3 C, 3.4 C

D33.3 C

D4

3.4 C

D5

3.2 C

Standard E: Accessibility and Usability

E1

8.1 T

E2

8.2 C

E3

8.3 C, 8.4 C, 8.5 C

E4

8.6 T

Standard F: Technology

F1

6.3 T

F2

6.1 C, 6.2 T

F3

6.5 T

F4

6.6 T 

F5

6.4 T 

Standard G: Course Evaluation

G1

N/A

G2

A QM Review

G3

A QM Review

 

QM K-12 Rubric —> NSQ Courses

General Standard 1: Course Overview and Introduction

1.1 T

A1, A8

1.2 C

C3, E1

1.3 T

A5

1.4 T

A2, B3

1.5 T 

A4, B3

1.6 T 

A4

1.7 C 

A3

1.8 C

N/A

General Standard 2: Learning Objectives 

2.1 C

B2

2.2 C

B1

2.3 C

D1

2.4 C

C4

2.5 C

B1

2.6 C

D1

General Standard 3: Assessment and Measurement

3.1 C

D1

3.2 C

A6, D5

3.3 C

C1, D2, D3

3.4 C

C6, D2, D4

3.5 C

A6

3.6 C

N/A

General Standard 4: Instructional Materials

4.1 C

C2, C9

4.2 C

C3, C9

4.3 C

C4

4.4 C

B6, C9

4.5 C

B8

4.6 C

B5

4.7 C

B7

General Standard 5: Learning Activities and Learner Engagement

5.1 C

C2

5.2 C

C1, C6, C7, C8

5.3 C

A3, C8

5.4 C

B3, C7

General Standard 6: Course Technology

6.1 C

F2

6.2 T

F2

6.3 T

F1

6.4 T

F5

6.5 T 

F3

6.6 T

F4

General Standard 7: Learner and Instructor Support

7.1 T

A7

7.2 T

A4

7.3 T

B4

7.4 T 

B9

General Standard 8: Accessibility and Usability

8.1 T

E1, C3

8.2 C

E2

8.3 C 

E3

8.4 C

E3

8.5 T

E3

8.6 T

E4

8.7 TE5

For a Course to Earn QM Certification: 

  • QM K-12 Specific Review Standards are marked “MET” by both reviewers at an 85% level (100% for SRS 2.1 C).
  • Attain an Overall Score of 104/122 + All 3 Pt. “Essential Standards” from the QM K-12 Rubric, Sixth Edition