Abstract
COMS 106: Digital Media Creation is a comprehensive online course designed, developed, and published by Dr. Diego Bonilla on the MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) repository. This course was the first at California State University, Sacramento to receive Quality Matters (QM) Certification in 2018, representing the gold standard for online course design and demonstrating excellence in instructional design, learner interaction, and assessment alignment.
The course covers the full spectrum of digital media creation, integrating theoretical foundations with hands-on production skills. It is designed for students in Communication Studies and related disciplines, providing instruction in digital storytelling, multimedia production workflows, and the critical evaluation of digital media content.
The QM Certification recognizes courses that meet rigorous national standards for online course design, including clear learning objectives, effective use of technology, learner engagement strategies, and accessible content. As the first QM-certified course at Sacramento State, COMS 106 set a benchmark for quality in online instruction at the university and served as a model for subsequent online course development across the institution.