Textbook
There is one required textbook for this course: "Introduction to
Machine Learning", Ethem Alpaydin, MIT Press, 2004. We will also
be handing out supplementary material during the semester. You'll
want to have access to a copy of the book, since I'll be referring to
it extensively, and will probably be assigning homework questions from
it.
Another good book that covers a subset of the material in the class is
"Machine Learning", Tom Mitchell, McGraw-Hill, 1997. This
is a slightly older book, and doesn't cover some of the newer material
in Alpaydin. However, it's still a good reference, especially if you
can pick it up second-hand.
Grading Policy
There will be a number of homework assignments, worth a total of 70%
of class grade. There will also be a final project, worth 30% of the
total grade. Each of the homework assignments will have extra credit
questions available. Grades for the class will be assigned as
follows:
| Score |
| Grade |
| 85+ |
|
A |
| 75+ |
|
B |
| 65+ |
|
C |
| 55+ |
|
D |
| 0+ |
|
F |
The late policy for the class is 10% per day late, up to a maximum of
three days. If you're more than three days late on an assignment, you
get zero points for that assignment. If you have some valid reason
for needing more time on an assignment, then you should contact me at least two days
before the deadline to request an extension. Last-minute requests
will only be met in exceptional circumstances.
Collaboration Policy
Everything that you turn in for this class, and your answers on all of
the quizzes and exams must be your own work, unless we explicitly tell
you otherwise. If you willfully misrepresent someone else's work as
your own, you are guilty of cheating. Cheating, in any form, will not
be tolerated in this class.
If you are guilty of cheating on any assignment, quiz, exam, or
project, you will be penalized the number of points that the
assignment is worth. For example, if you cheat on an assignment worth
10% of the final grade, you will be receive -10% for that assignment.
If you copy from someone else in the class both parties will be
penalized, regardless of which direction the information flowed. Two
or more instances of cheating in the course will be referred to the
School of Engineering Discipline Committee, and will result in an F in
the class.
We will follow the guidelines of the University
Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy, but we reserve the right
to make the final determination of what constitutes cheating for this
class. If you suspect that you may be entering an ambiguous
situation, it is your responsibility to clarify it before the
professor or TAs detect it. If in doubt, please ask.