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Study information

Machine Learning - 2023 entry

MODULE TITLEMachine Learning CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECMM422 MODULE CONVENERDr Fabrizio Costa (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 0 11 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 50
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

Machine learning has emerged mainly from computer science and artificial intelligence, and draws on methods from a variety of related subjects including statistics, applied mathematics and more specialized fields, such as pattern recognition and neural computation. Applications are, for example, image and speech analysis, medical imaging, bioinformatics and exploratory data analysis in natural science and engineering. This module will provide you with a thorough grounding in the theory and application of machine learning, pattern recognition, classification, categorisation, and concept acquisition.  Hence, it is particularly suitable for Computer Science, Mathematics and Engineering students and any students with some experience in probability and programming.

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES ECM3420 or ECMM445

AIMS - intentions of the module

In this data-driven era, modern technologies are generating massive and high-dimensional datasets. This module aims to give you an understanding of computational methods used in modern data analysis.

In particular, this module aims to impart knowledge and understanding of machine learning methods from basic pattern-analysis methods to state-of-the-art research topics; to give you experience of data-modelling development in practical workshops. Neural Networks, Bayesian methods and kernel-based algorithms will be introduced for extracting knowledge from large data sets of patterns (data mining techniques) where it is important to have explicit rules governing machine learning and pattern recognition. Recent development of techniques and algorithms for big-data analysis will also be addressed.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. apply advanced and complex principles for statistical machine learning to various data analysis;

2. analyse novel pattern recognition and classification problems; establish statistical models for them and write software to solve them;

3. apply a range of supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques to a wide range of real-life applications.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

​4. state the importance and difficulty of establishing a principled probabilistic model for pattern recognition;

5. apply a number of complex and advanced mathematical and numerical techniques to a wide range of problems and domains.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

6. identify the compromises and trade-offs which must be made when translating theory into practice;

7. critically read and report on research papers;

8. conduct small individual research projects.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

- Introductory material: Practical motivation for machine learning, basic ideas of supervised and unsupervised learning, classification, regression;

- Describing data;

- Latent descriptions: k-means, maximum likelihood; mixture models; PCA; ICA;

- Unsupervised learning: Clustering; Locality Sensitive Hashing;

- Supervised models: k-nearest neighbours, linear and non-linear regression, linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, SVM and maximum margin classifiers;

- Loss functions and maximum likelihood estimators;

- Bayesian learning & sampling;

- Neural nets and deep learning;

- Evaluation of performance, dataset balance;

- Ensemble methods: boosting, bagging, decision trees and random forests Metric learning;

- Markov decision processes: Reinforcement learning (Q-learning).

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 30 Guided Independent Study 120 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 22 Lectures
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 8 Workshop/tutorials
Guided independent study 50 Project and coursework
Guided independent study 70

Guided independent study
(50 wider reading + 20 workshop preparation)

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Weekly workshops 8 hours All  In workshop
       
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Coursework 1 40 20 hours All Written
Coursework 2 60 30 hours All Written

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Coursework 1 Coursework 1 All August Ref/Def period
Coursework 2 Coursework 2 All August Ref/Def period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be by coursework in the failed or deferred element only. For referred candidates, the module mark will be capped at 50%. For deferred candidates, the module mark will be uncapped.
 

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

 

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

 

Other Resources:

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Shawe-Taylor, J. and Cristianini, N. Kernel methods for pattern analysis Cambridge University Press 2006 521813972
Set Christopher Bishop Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning Springer 2007 978-0387310732
Set Webb, A. Statistical Pattern Recognition 2 Wiley 2002 0-470-84513-9
Set Murphy, K. Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective 1st MIT Press 2012 978-0-262-018029
Set Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R. & Friedman, J. The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction 2nd Springer 2009 978-0387848570
Set David Barber Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning Cambridge University Press 2012 978-0-521-51814-7
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES ECM3420, ECMM445
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 18th January 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH None Defined

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.