CSM Math - what's it like?

[studyingfortests]

I highly recommend it. Took it several years ago... I'm a total math phobe... and was able to knock out the whole thing in 10 or 15 hours over a weekend. And as others have said, really useful and practical applications of things as well. It gives you an opportunity to try to show mastery of a specific skill by answering, I think, 4 questions. If you answer all of them correctly, you never see that particular skill again, because you've mastered it. If you miss one or more, it shows you a bunch of stuff to learn that skill, and then gives you another chance to answer foucr (different) questions all correctly. If you pass, it's mastery and you never see it again and go on to something else. If you don't, it goes on to another topic, and the topic you had difficulty with shows back up later on in the course.

I had one or two areas that, for whatever reason, were tough for me. They kept showing up every now and again, until I only had those topics left, and I was able to attain mastery and complete the course. Someone with more math competency than I have would probably finish it in much shorter time.

The CSMLearn folks are also just lovely people. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get Excelsior to accept my CSMLearn class for my math credit, but because I took it before they made their agreement with CSM Learn, even though it was the exact same course, Excelsior wouldn't budge, even after one of the principals of CSMLearn interceded herself.

So... Excelsior's stupidity landed me at TESU, where I ended up probably happier anyway.

[CircleT7]

Update - I finally heard back from TAMUC and they WILL accept the CSM math course to replace Math 010 for his Organizational Leadership degree. College math would also be an option (ASU Universal Learner or SDC). I'm so happy for my 19 yo!! This sounds like a perfect fit for him. Thank you all again for your excellent feedback!

[Avidreader]

I am taking the course right now. The course is challenging. My multiplication tables is rusty and it uses a lot of moving decimal points trick questions. I am enjoying it... spaced out. I inevitably get stuck with trick questions and need to relax. Hopefully I will finish it soon.

[glammie83]

This is not a straight forward course and I would have loved it if it was. It took way longer then expected red belt is the lowest then comes yellow and mastery is the black belt. I HATED THIS COURSE now based on the reviews it’s for people who don’t feel like they would do well taking an algebra course but this almost seemed harder.

[Pats20]

It took me around 24 hours spaced out over a period of 3 weeks. Definitely a different kind of course. I liked it but it got boring.

[studyingfortests]

It's so interesting for me to read the comments of the folks that didn't like CSMLearn so much. I guess it just goes to different learning styles. I am a confirmed math phobe, but I can do a lot of basic math, including fairly complex percentages and fairly large addition and subtraction, in my head. And I understand some, but not a lot, of algebraic stuff. Not much beyond that. And I generally do pretty terrible on any math-focused tests, even if they are fairly basic. (The math readiness test that's part of TESU's SOS-110, for example, I got a lower score and it wanted me to spend hours doing exercises. I bitched, and my professor waived it for me.)

And with all of that utter lack of math ability, I found CSMLearn to be painless. I wouldn't call it "fun", but it kept me going enough that I knocked the whole thing out over a weekend, maybe 16 or 18 hours total. There were several areas that kept coming back 3 or 4 times, but I eventually mastered them (at least enough to get the "black belt").

Compared with any other college-level math course I've taken or attempted to take, CSMLearn, for me, was a walk in the park.

[Pats20]

It's so interesting for me to read the comments of the folks that didn't like CSMLearn so much.  I guess it just goes to different learning styles.  I am a confirmed math phobe, but I can do a lot of basic math, including fairly complex percentages and fairly large addition and subtraction, in my head. And I understand some, but not a lot, of algebraic stuff. Not much beyond that.  And I generally do pretty terrible on any math-focused tests, even if they are fairly basic.  (The math readiness test that's part of TESU's SOS-110, for example, I got a lower score and it wanted me to spend hours doing exercises. I bitched, and my professor waived it for me.)

And with all of that utter lack of math ability, I found CSMLearn to be painless. I wouldn't call it "fun", but it kept me going enough that I knocked the whole thing out over a weekend, maybe 16 or 18 hours total.  There were several areas that kept coming back 3 or 4 times, but I eventually mastered them (at least enough to get the "black belt").  

Compared with any other college-level math course I've taken or attempted to take, CSMLearn, for me, was a walk in the park.

Most definitely. It was more like a game, that I got bored with after a bit. Of course I could’ve ended the boredom quicker, but I played with it on my phone every little bit. 30 minutes to an hour a day, while the tv was on and eating dinner.

[bjcheung77]

There are the people who can get it done in a long weekend and then there are others who can get it done in a few more days slowly going at their pace. I would just go for it and get it done at the speed you can handle, all courses require work, it's just that for alternative credit, having none poking your back is the best option, as long as you've got the energy, time management down pat...

[Pats20]

There are the people who can get it done in a long weekend and then there are others who can get it done in a few more days slowly going at their pace.  I would just go for it and get it done at the speed you can handle, all courses require work, it's just that for alternative credit, having none poking your back is the best option, as long as you've got the energy, time management down pat...

Yes. The freedom of being able to go at your own pace is so nice. It really takes a lot of stress out of it. Especially when you have other commitments and school can’t be your number one.

[GameSlinger]

Biggest thing to remember with this course is that it is more about being precise with your work. No one of the work is extremely strenuous, but you need to make sure you are paying attention to the details. I spent 13 hours completing mine over a 4 day period working on it after work so my mind was a bit exhausted already. If you are unsure of how to do a problem, the program will walk you through it and then you try it again. If you still don't get it, move on to the next section and come back to it later to see if you are in a better place to understand the questions.

For the cost and simplicity of the program, this cannot be beaten for a college credit math program. I took it to complete the Quantitative Skills requirement at TESU and it will ensure I also receive my ASNSM Mathematics on my way to my Bachelors.