Quality Matters QM Connect Conference Influencing New Directions In Online Education

Quality Matters (QM), a leader in quality assurance for online education, is celebrating its 10th annual QM Connect conference — “Gateway to Quality” — in St. Louis, Missouri, October 30 – November 2, 2018. Adding to the far-reaching national presence, an international cohort representing Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and the Northern Marianas is also in attendance.  

The QM Community has evolved from a handful of loosely participating campuses in 2005 to over 1,100 committed member institutions today, resulting in a robust international organization. Across the globe, QM links organizations in the common language of quality to benefit their students, faculty, and staff.

At this, the tenth annual conference, attendees gather to reflect on the evolution of the field, to celebrate accomplishments, to welcome new practitioners, and to plan what new directions the next ten years may bring.

As online education continues its growth, QM’s conference is in St. Louis, at the gateway of a global community drawn from a variety of fields to ensure quality education. Here, educators will discover solutions to online learning challenges including engagement, accessibility, and sustainability. Attendees will come away with actionable ideas and best practices to create, implement, and manage a quality assurance program that fits the needs and goals of their organization.

“Connecting with leading thinkers and creative doers, learning about research and emerging trends, and collaborating on a collective voice for quality helps improve and fulfill our online learning promise to students —and that’s what the QM community is all about,” said Dr. Deb Adair, Executive Director for QM.

As educators unify to improve student learning, QM also gives back, holding its annual book fundraiser for underserved students. Now in its 8th year, The QM Gives Back Campaign is an annual book fair event that is co-located at the QM annual conference venue. This year, QM supports Adams Elementary School in St. Louis. Adams Elementary serves 305 students from pre-k through grade 6. So far, more than 1,200 books have been gifted for kids’ literacy over the lifetime of the campaign.

Individuals and groups that exemplify QM’s focus on student learning through the implementation of QM standards, practices and processes that demonstrate impact on student success are recognized at the conference. Recipients of the 2018 QM Making a Difference for Students Awards are:

Outstanding Impact by an Individual: Karen White, Amarillo College, Individual Award Winner

Karen White is recognized for greatly improving the online environment for students. She continues to lead online quality assurance that strives to enhance the expectations of course quality and instructor training. These efforts have had a major impact on the quality of their online courses and in turn on the students at the college.

Outstanding Impact by an Organization: Southeast Missouri State University, Institution Award Winner

Southeast Missouri State is recognized for implementing Quality Assurance for their online programs, establishing faculty training, and creating an approach for collaborative course design. The initiative has changed their culture by placing a greater emphasis on student success.

Other leaders recognized this year for contributions in quality assurance include recipients of the Directors’ Award and the Ron Legon Leadership Award for Quality Assurance in Online Education.

Quality Matters Directors’ Award For Exceptional Service

The Award for Exceptional Service is presented to members of the QM community who have gone above and beyond common service to the organization. These individuals have made extraordinary contributions to QM’s quality assurance efforts with online and/or blended education at institutions, and for learners. The recipient of the2018 Quality Matters Directors’ Award for Exceptional Service is Eddie Andreo of Cowley College.

The Ron Legon Leadership Award for Quality Assurance in Online Education

In order to recognize individuals for their positive impact on and contributions to quality assurance in online teaching and learning, theories and practices in quality assurance, and innovations to further quality assurance in online education. The 2018 Ron Legon Leadership Award for Quality Assurance in Online Education is presented to Dr. Michael J. Offerman.

The QM Connect conference is a three-day conference featuring more than 100 workshops and sessions illuminating solutions to online excellence for educators and learners. Meeting keynotes examining trends and issues affecting the quality of education today and tomorrow provide context for the robust engagement of hundreds of education professionals. The Quality Matters conference takes place at the Marriott  St.Louis Grand Hotel. Featured sessions are webcast.

For more information, visit www.qualitymatters.org.

About Quality Matters

Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.