This article provides an overview of various online course quality evaluation rubrics that can be used to improve or evaluate your online course. For help with applying these rubrics, please contact tips@uark.edu or your instructional designer?
Quality of an online course is generally measured by delivery, content, feedback and support services. There are many rubrics that have been published and are available to be used at your discretion. Maintaining quality involves continuous improvement. We’ve compiled a list of rubrics that you can adapt to fit your vision and mission. You can click on the headings to access the rubrics.

Rubrics

Quality Matters

Quality Matters provides a rubric that pays attention to categories such as Course Overview and Introduction, Learning Objectives, Assessment and Measurement, Instructional Materials, Learning Activities and Learner Interaction, Course Technology, Learner Support, Accessibility and Usability. To get your course certified through Quality Matters, please contact Global Campus at tips@uark.edu.

OSCQR – OPEN SUNY Course Quality Review Rubric

OSCQR is an excellent rubric that supports systematic and continuous improvement. The rubric is openly licensed for anyone to use and adapt. OSCQR rubric uses Overview and Information, Technology and Tools, Design and Layout, Content and Activities, Interaction, Assessment and Feedback as categories to form 50 standards.

iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

The iNACOL rubric is mainly for K-12 online courses, but covers all the relevant areas of a general online course. This rubric ensures that online courses are not merely face-to-face courses put online, but instead, makes full use of the online environment. They cover 5 sections: Content, Instructional Design, Student Assessment, Technology, and Course Evaluation & Support.

Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Rubric

You can use the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Rubric to evaluate or improve your course. This is a program offered through Blackboard Inc. to recognize exemplary courses. You are welcome to submit your courses for review. The rubric covers Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment and Learner Support.

Exemplary Online Instruction (EOI) – California State University, Chico

EOI Rubric is a popular evaluation rubric that provides excellent guidelines covering Learner Support & Resources, Online Organization & Design, Instructional Design & Delivery, Assessment & Evaluation of Student Learning, Innovative Teaching with Technology and Faculty Use of Student Feedback. This rubric takes student feedback into account, and provides great guidelines on gathering information.
(If you apply the rubric and decide/find you’re missing a few things, please contact us and we can help you )
Keep in mind, if you apply a rubric, leave room for continuous improvement and gathering student feedback to best assess their needs.