Preface

This book began with my own journey in understanding online course quality. When I was first introduced to Quality Matters while working on OntarioLearn courses, I had no idea how much this framework would shape the way I think about course design. Over the years, as I completed QM training, became a Peer Reviewer, and later a Master Reviewer, I learned not only about alignment and standards but also about the deeper importance of intentional design, accessibility, and supporting diverse learners.

As a Learning Experience Designer in the Ontario college sector, I work with faculty every day who want to create meaningful learning experiences but often feel overwhelmed by time constraints, limited resources, and rapidly changing technology. Not every instructor has the opportunity to complete full QM certification, yet many still want to improve their courses. I wrote this book to bridge that gap. My goal is to share what I have learned in a way that is practical, approachable, and realistic for busy faculty and anyone supporting online learning.

Throughout this book, I share my reflections, examples from my own practice, and the tools I have created, including the George Brown TLX Course Quality Checklist. This checklist was developed to simplify QM principles and help faculty start small, without feeling the pressure of mastering the entire rubric at once. My hope is that readers will find confidence in taking one step at a time and discover new ways to design courses that are clear, engaging, and supportive of all learners.

This book is not meant to replace QM or any other framework. Instead, it is a companion for those who want to strengthen their course design approach, understand how quality and UDL can work together, and build a culture of continuous improvement. It reflects my belief that quality is not about perfection but about thoughtful decisions that support learner success.

Thank you for taking the time to read this book. Whether you are a faculty member, a learning designer, or someone interested in improving online learning, I hope you find ideas here that inspire and support your work.