Become a QM Peer Reviewer

Overview

Would you like to become a QM-certified peer reviewer?  The CSU system uses QM-certified peer reviewers to help peer review a variety of courses across the CSU system.  CETL is currently recruiting faculty who are interested in becoming a QM-certified peer reviewer.  Candidates may also help CETL with informal peer reviews for courses that will be submitted for formal QM certification. Peer reviewers apply QM specific review standards to submitted courses and provide clear and helpful recommendations based on the QM rubric standards.

As part of the campus’ CSU Quality Assurance grant, CETL has received funding to help support a limited number of Cal State LA faculty to become QM-certified peer reviewers.

Interested faculty should complete our SUMMER - FALL Online Interest Form Here  

Prerequisites

Peer reviewer candidates must have online teaching experience within the last 18 months.  Candidates must have taught an online academic course that was officially designated as “fully online” in the schedule of classes.  Workshops, non-credit courses, or training webinars offered fully online do not meet this prerequisite.  In addition, courses that were taught as “remote instruction” in the last 18 months do not meet this prerequisite.

Required Training

To assist with recruiting a pool of QM-certified peer reviewers for the CSU system, CETL will help fund any registration costs for interested peer reviewers.  At this time, we require the successful completion of QM's Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR), along with participation in a rubric norming session. Campus peer reviewers should be willing to commit to completing at least 3 informal campus peer reviews (reviewers are paid $350 for a campus peer review) before taking the QM Peer Reviewer Course (PRC).  

Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR)

APPQMR is QM’s foundational course. Participants in QM’s “Applying the Quality Matters Rubric” course apply QM standards to a sample course, write helpful recommendations that reference appropriate QM rubric annotations, and ensure course alignment.  CSU Online Course Services provides an APPQMR welcome video which gives a good overview of this workshop. This workshop is either 2 weeks in length (through QM), or 3 weeks in length (through CSU's Online Course Services), is offered asynchronously online, and requires 8-10 hours per week to successfully complete. More information about the course can be found here. 

APPQMR Course Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the origin and scope of Quality Matters.
  2. Identify the critical elements of the QM quality assurance program, including the QM Rubric, materials, processes, and administrative components.
  3. Apply the QM Higher Education Rubric, Sixth Edition to review online courses.
  4. Make decisions on whether a sample course meets selected QM Rubric Specific Review Standards.
  5. Apply the concept of alignment.
  6. Draft helpful recommendations for course improvement by citing annotations from the QM Rubric and evidence from the course.

Next Steps

Campus Peer Review 

Once peer review candidates have successfully completed APPQMR, they should participate in at least three (informal) campus peer review. Campus peer reviewers will receive $350 per course for participating in an informal campus peer review.  

QM Peer Reviewer Course

Once peer review candidates have successfully completed APPQMR, participated in a rubric norming session, and have served as a peer reviewer on at least three campus peer reviews, CETL will fund registration for the final required workshop to become a QM-certified Peer Reviewer.  QM's Peer Reviewer Course (PRC) is a rigorous certification course that is not self-paced.  Participants must follow a prescribed workshop schedule that includes firm due dates for all workshop assignments and revisions. This course is only offered through Quality Matters and requires a $200 workshop fee.  This will be covered by CETL for all campus peer reviewer candidates who meet the above prerequisites.

Upon successful completion of the Peer Reviewer Course, candidates complete a QM Memo of Understanding to become a QM-certified Peer Reviewer. 

Benefits of Becoming a QM-certified Peer Reviewer

QM-certified peer reviewers can participate in formal or informal QM course reviews.  Formal QM peer reviews can be done for CSU-system reviews coordinated by CSU Online Course Services, or you can add your availability to the national QM peer reviewer database to be considered in additional QM reviews.  QM peer reviewers are typically compensated between $150-$250 for their time on a QM formal review.  CETL may also compensate faculty for additional work as campus informal peer reviews.  Informal peer reviewers are needed when a faculty member is interested in seeking QM certification and an informal peer review is done to determine how likely the course will pass formal certification. 

In addition, after being a peer reviewer on at least 3 formal QM reviews, a peer reviewer can seek additional training to become a Master QM reviewer.  Master QM reviewers chair formal reviews and are compensated up to $350 for their participation in formal QM reviews. 

Are you Interested? Complete our Peer Reviewer Interest Form

Complete our online form to register your interest in becoming a QM-certified peer reviewer.  

Want more information on becoming a QM certified peer reviewer?  See QM's infographic.


Roadmap for becoming a QM peer reviewer, with four steps: complete Applying the QM Rubric workshop; Complete the Peer Reviewer Course; Meet the requirements; Complete the Peer Reviewer Application.