CSM Math - what's it like?

[CircleT7]

Can anyone describe how CSM math works?  I mean, for $39 it's a pretty attractive way to earn the basic math credit if it's accepted.  For reference, it's for my son, who will be doing the competency-based Organizational Leadership degree at TAMUC.  I'm waiting to hear if they will accept the course. He's not great at math and he's just looking for the easiest way to get credit.  His other options are ASU Universal Learner College Math (because it's nice that he only pays $25 until he passes) or SDC College Math.
Any information will be helpful.  How does the course work (videos, self-learning in a book?).  How long does the course take, approximately?  Is it fairly straightforward or is it quirky or confusing?  Any information you can share, please!
I looked and didn't see much about HOW the CSM Math works, just that people have taken it - so a review of it on the forum would be helpful.
Thank you!

[ReyMysterioso]

It's actually really different, practical and relatable to the everyday world versus the dry theory of conventional math. Personally, I HATE doing math, yet I found CSM to be almost fun.
If you need to check the math box that's one of the best ways.
Edit: as far as how...it's basically like one really long, interactive math quiz broken up into segments. Hard to describe it, but there are scenarios presented on your screen with lots of visual elements that you work through questions. If I'm remembering correctly like one question was how to measure a board and a closeup of a section of tape measure, and it asks different questions to determine that you understand how to read fractions and do basic fractional math to measure a board correctly.

[MNomadic]

I believe they still offer a free trial where you can just use it(and progress) for several hours so I recommend just trying that. If he likes it, great, pay the $39 and finish it up. If he doesn't want to continue, great just stop right there.

[rachel83az]

I second the notion to give it a try for free, if possible. It is, indeed, not unlike one long math quiz. I hesitate to say "exam" because there is no time limit. If it takes you 1 day, great. If it takes you 1 month, that's also fine! You can stop whenever you want/need and pick right back up again where you left off. The exception is when it's time to do the identification proctoring. You cannot stop during this, but I think it only takes 15-30 minutes to complete.

Among other things, the CSM course has you reading a bus time table (doing math to figure out when you need to be at a place), simple unit conversion, reading an invoice, and so on. It's mostly practical, every day, things that you're more likely to use on a regular basis than (for instance) needing to calculate the hypotenuse of a triangle. There are a few frustrating parts, especially if you're trying to rush through, but take your time and it'll be fine.

[CircleT7]

Oh!  Thank you all for these responses!  This is great and sounds very practical!  Sounds like a wonderful math for homeschooling high school, as well.  I appreciate your time and explanations 

[bjcheung77]

It's a great tool, the program is using AI to predict success and basically, you practice the questions until you get to a black belt status, you start at yellow, then red, and end at the black belt. If you're good to go on those three, you move to the next level or session. It's a good program/tool to practice with, entirely self-paced and non-proctored. I mean, some spend a few hours to get the class done, it's much better than a traditional butt-in-seat class that teaches you the same and slaps you with a few worksheets to practice with, I like this CSM option much more...

[rachel83az]

I know that they claim to be using AI, but I kind of doubt that they are. It follows a pretty steady and predictable path. It's not really "adaptive" in the way that I would expect actual AI to be. I think the "AI" talk is just marketing.

[slaterjack]

It works on this repetition process where you are given a marital art belt for each section of math, by the beginning you're getting a yellow belt on everything, and then it teaches you to go up to red, and eventually doing every section for a blackbelt. It can be very repetitive but that's the point to drill the methods into your head in a fun interesting sort of way. It definitely gets your brain working. If I remember correctly it took me like 4 days working on it here and there so it's not very long. Good luck

[inoele]

Can anyone describe how CSM math works?  I mean, for $39 it's a pretty attractive way to earn the basic math credit if it's accepted.  For reference, it's for my son, who will be doing the competency-based Organizational Leadership degree at TAMUC.  I'm waiting to hear if they will accept the course. He's not great at math and he's just looking for the easiest way to get credit.  His other options are ASU Universal Learner College Math (because it's nice that he only pays $25 until he passes) or SDC College Math.
Any information will be helpful.  How does the course work (videos, self-learning in a book?).  How long does the course take, approximately?  Is it fairly straightforward or is it quirky or confusing?  Any information you can share, please!
I looked and didn't see much about HOW the CSM Math works, just that people have taken it - so a review of it on the forum would be helpful.
Thank you!

My son who is 11 took the CSM course combined with the career exploration component. He finished it in about 15 hours. The course teaches math by giving you problems to solve that graduate very strategically from one simpler to harder skills. You expect to mess up, as you learn through your mistakes what doesn't work to solve the type of problems you are working on. You cannot move forward until you master a skill. Sometimes they will let you come back to a topic later if you are really having a hard time passing something. There are no videos or audio. It is pure reading. After each topic mastered, the course affirms you by letting you know how many average adults cannot do the skill you just mastered. It is an excellent review of basic arithmetic skills needed for daily life. I found the career exploration component provided a nice break from the math and really taught awesome skills to help someone figure out what they want to do as a career. I think it is the perfect math to take before Algebra, as it double checks all basic skills and teaches them in an interesting problem/challenge type of way with lots of affirmation sprinkled in to help you feel confident. It was my son's first college credits he earned. I recommend for middle school, high school, or adult. It does transfer into some schools as "mathematical reasoning" and can satisfy basic math requirement.

[CircleT7]

My son who is 11 took the CSM course combined with the career exploration component. He finished it in about 15 hours. The course teaches math by giving you problems to solve that graduate very strategically from one simpler to harder skills. You expect to mess up, as you learn through your mistakes what doesn't work to solve the type of problems you are working on. You cannot move forward until you master a skill. Sometimes they will let you come back to a topic later if you are really having a hard time passing something. There are no videos or audio. It is pure reading. After each topic mastered, the course affirms you by letting you know how many average adults cannot do the skill you just mastered. It is an excellent review of basic arithmetic skills needed for daily life. I found the career exploration component provided a nice break from the math and really taught awesome skills to help someone figure out what they want to do as a career. I think it is the perfect math to take before Algebra, as it double checks all basic skills and teaches them in an interesting problem/challenge type of way with lots of affirmation sprinkled in to help you feel confident. It was my son's first college credits he earned. I recommend for middle school, high school, or adult. It does transfer into some schools as "mathematical reasoning" and can satisfy basic math requirement.

Nice description!  I didn't realize they have a career component.  That's excellent.  We've YouScience for a career assessment in the past, but I'll keep this in mind.  Wish I knew about this resource with my first 5 kids!  Thanks!