Instructional Designers Earn APPQMR Certification, Advancing Commitment to Quality Online Learning

Lexington, Ky. — Caitlin Gordon and Danielle Noonan, instructional designers at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), recently earned their Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) certification. The accomplishment strengthens the College’s leadership in developing high-quality, accessible online learning experiences.

Instructional designers collaborate with subject matter experts to create meaningful courses that support all types of learners. “Our expertise is not in a specific content area, but in understanding how people learn and make meaning from experiences,” Noonan explained. “We help protect the integrity of a subject matter expert’s knowledge while advocating for the cognitive accessibility and engagement of the learner.”

Gordon added, “Instructional designers create engaging learning experiences and educational materials. Our work is crucial because it helps make content meaningful and accessible to all types of learners.”

Both pursued the APPQMR certification to deepen their expertise. “Quality Matters is well-known in our field as an authority on excellence in course design,” Noonan shared. “The College has shown a real commitment to having a high-quality design team that supports its professors in making some of the best courses and programs in the nation.”

Gordon noted, “This process deepened my understanding of what it takes to build a quality online course, especially how critical it is to align module-level objectives with the overall course learning objectives.”

The CoSW’s emphasis on instructional design quality is well established. In 2023, the Online Master of Social Work (MSW) program became one of the first in the nation to earn Quality Matters Program Certification, recognizing the program’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in online learning.

For Noonan, the certification reinforces best practices and builds confidence. “It creates space for internal peer reviews and member-checking when trying new approaches. Having rubrics and a shared language really centers the learner when important design choices need to be made.”

Noonan also highlighted the importance of maintaining standards in an increasingly crowded online space. “The online space is saturated with poor course design packaged in pretty interfaces. Quality Matters provides a framework that allows creative design while holding designers accountable to universal design and alignment between goals, materials, and assessment.”

Gordon shared that the certification will help her more easily identify issues during development and maintain focus on student success.

Noonan’s biggest takeaway? “Excellence doesn’t happen by just doing well over and over again. Excellence happens when people make informed choices and adapt. Quality Matters emphasizes continuous improvement — there’s always space to take in feedback and challenge assumptions.”