Implementing Quality Matters in The Political Science Online Classroom

Abstract

As colleges and universities push to offer more online offerings, particularly during this current pandemic, concerns about upholding standards of excellence surface. As a result, programs like Quality Matters (QM) have flourished in an attempt to make courses not only easily accessible, but also tied to learning outcomes. This paper takes a look at the Quality Matters framework with the goal of easing new instructors into the process; it breaks down the specific review standards into easily understandable “bucket” categories, and assesses how it fits within introductory political science and international relations courses. It will also make recommendations on potential activities and assignments to help fit QM’s active learning framework, which should be helpful for new and seasoned instructors alike.