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 Duration 21 hours

Course Outline

Introduction

This section offers a general overview of when to apply 'machine learning,' outlining key considerations, definitions, and the associated advantages and disadvantages. It covers datatypes (structured/unstructured/static/streamed), data validity/volume, the distinction between data-driven and user-driven analytics, statistical models versus machine learning models, the challenges of unsupervised learning, the bias-variance trade-off, iteration/evaluation, cross-validation approaches, and supervised/unsupervised/reinforcement learning.

MAJOR TOPICS

1. Understanding Naive Bayes

  • Foundational concepts of Bayesian methods
  • Probability theory
  • Joint probability
  • Conditional probability using Bayes' theorem
  • The Naive Bayes algorithm
  • Naive Bayes classification
  • The Laplace estimator
  • Incorporating numeric features into Naive Bayes

2. Understanding Decision Trees

  • The divide and conquer strategy
  • The C5.0 decision tree algorithm
  • Selecting the optimal split
  • Pruning the decision tree

3. Understanding Neural Networks

  • Transitioning from biological to artificial neurons
  • Activation functions
  • Network topology
  • Determining the number of layers
  • The direction of information flow
  • Configuring the number of nodes per layer
  • Training neural networks via backpropagation
  • Deep Learning

4. Understanding Support Vector Machines

  • Classification using hyperplanes
  • Identifying the maximum margin
  • Handling linearly separable data
  • Handling non-linearly separable data
  • Applying kernels for non-linear spaces

5. Understanding Clustering

  • Clustering as a machine learning task
  • The k-means algorithm for clustering
  • Utilizing distance to assign and update clusters
  • Selecting the appropriate number of clusters

6. Measuring performance for classification

  • Working with classification prediction data
  • Examining confusion matrices in detail
  • Using confusion matrices to assess performance
  • Moving beyond accuracy – alternative performance measures
  • The kappa statistic
  • Sensitivity and specificity
  • Precision and recall
  • The F-measure
  • Visualizing performance tradeoffs
  • ROC curves
  • Predicting future performance
  • The holdout method
  • Cross-validation
  • Bootstrap sampling

7. Tuning standard models for improved performance

  • Leveraging caret for automated parameter tuning
  • Constructing a simple tuned model
  • Customizing the tuning workflow
  • Enhancing model performance through meta-learning
  • Concepts of ensembles
  • Bagging
  • Boosting
  • Random forests
  • Training random forests
  • Evaluating random forest performance

MINOR TOPICS

8. Understanding classification via nearest neighbors

  • The kNN algorithm
  • Distance calculation
  • Selecting an appropriate k
  • Preparing data for kNN implementation
  • Why the kNN algorithm is considered lazy

9. Understanding classification rules

  • Separate and conquer approach
  • The One Rule algorithm
  • The RIPPER algorithm
  • Deriving rules from decision trees

10. Understanding regression

  • Simple linear regression
  • Ordinary least squares estimation
  • Correlations
  • Multiple linear regression

11. Understanding regression trees and model trees

  • Incorporating regression into tree structures

12. Understanding association rules

  • The Apriori algorithm for association rule learning
  • Measuring rule interest – support and confidence
  • Constructing a rule set using the Apriori principle

Extras

  • Spark/PySpark/MLlib and Multi-armed bandits

Requirements

Proficiency in Python

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