1. A QM Reviewer has the complex responsibility to examine and make decisions regarding the alignment of a course to the QM Rubric but, more importantly, that reviewer has the obligation of effecting change in that course by being part of a team that provides helpful recommendations to the course instructor/designer during a QM review. Lets look at the characteristics of writing an effective QM recommendation.

2. Five Characteristics of an Effective Recommendation The five characteristics of writing an effective recommendation when conducting a Quality Matters Review are: 1. Be Constructive 2. Be Specific 3. Provide measurable recommendations 4. Be sensitive in your use of language 5. Provide balanced comments. Lets take a closer look at each of these characteristics. 3. Offer constructive solutions to identifiable issues that will help the course meet the QM standards Example: It might be very helpful to include a prominent link and directions about what students should do next to actually begin the first lesson of the course. 4. Include a specific example of the recommendation based on evidence from the course Example: The Start Here button was a great idea, but it seemed to contain mostly course information and I still couldnt tell exactly how to begin the course once I finished reading it. 5. Offer recommendations that provide indicators or measures so the designer will know when an improvement has been implemented Example: It might be very helpful to include a prominent link and directions about what students should do next to actually begin the first lesson of the course. 6. Be sensitive to how your message will be received. Keep comments on a positive note. Examples: You may want to consider It would be helpful if You might indicate It might be useful to Id like to suggest 7. Point out strengths as well as areas of improvement. Example: The Start Here button was a great ideabut here are some ways it might be improved 8. WRITE! FEEDBACK IS THE KEY TO QUALITY COURSES! WHEN A COURSE DOES NOT MEET A STANDARD, YOU MUST WRITE A RECOMMENDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THAT STANDARD. EVEN WHEN COURSES MEET EXPECTATIONS, THERE MAY STILL BE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND AS THE COURSE REVIEWER,YOU SHOULD STRIVE TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE FACULTY DEVELOPERS & INSTRUCTORS NEED THE HELP OF THE REVIEW TEAM TO MAKE EFFECTIVE MODIFICATIONS 9. QM: Quality Matters Workbook & Handouts. (1997) www.qmprogram.org Images retrieved from Google Images