Evaluating Online Courses in light of Quality Matters (QM) Standards at Umm Al-Qura University

This study aimed to ascertain whether electronic courses at the deanship of electronic learning and distance education at Umm Al-Qura University meet the quality standards developed by the Quality Matters (QM) organization. This endeavor adopted a mixed method of an explanatory sequential research design for an in-depth understanding of the topic under scrutiny. The sample of the study consisted of ten courses designed at the deanship and reviewed using an evaluation form. The results showed that the courses in focus did not meet the criteria of QM. Based on this finding, a semi-structured interview was designed to collect relevant data from the syllabus designers at the deanship. The interviews yielded information on the difficulties the course designers faced when designing QM-criteria-based courses. The results obtained from the interviews showed that the designers experienced administrative, technical, and faculty-member-related challenges that, when producing online courses, intercepted their way to achieving the QM standards. The study closed with some recommendations, the most important of which is a call for re-developing online courses in alignment with the well-recognized QM standards.