CSIE 5043: Machine Learning
Hsuan-Tien Lin
Dept. of CSIE, NTU
Course Introduction, 09/10/2012
nickname: Hsuan-Tien Machine Learning (HTML)
Four Reasons for NOT Taking the Course (1/4)
Only English
English teaching
English homework writing English email communications English forum discussions
exception: Mandarin face-to-face discussions
If you are not comfortable withEnglish-teaching classrooms, ...
Four Reasons for NOT Taking the Course (2/4)
Complicated Contents
from a Taiwanese student taking MIT ML class (translated):
The professor started writing math equations as if he was using some writing accelerator. After class I always felt feeble. The worst part is: I needed to understand the contents as soon as I can. Otherwise I cannot finish the homework and cannot follow up in the next class.
NTU ML class: designed to beas good asthe best classes in the world
similar things will happen to you
If you are not willing to be somiserable, ...
Four Reasons for NOT Taking the Course (3/4)
Strict Instructor
Will you give me a second chance if I copy homework from other people? NO.
Could you let me pass because I will be kicked out by the 1/2 rule?NO.
Will you change my score from F to C? NO.
How many will pass? Any, if necessary.
If you do not like astrict instructor, ...
Four Reasons for NOT Taking the Course (4/4)
Huge Loads
from a student taking HTML 2010 (posted on BBS):
lxxxxxx9: 作業光一小題就要我們test 100次?( 100*10min = 16hr) 唉 反 覆檢查許多遍 希望是我的code寫壞了 不然出這作業的人真的很沒良 心= =
our class: four to sixtimes harder than a normal one in NTU around seven homework sets (and a hard final project) homework due within two weeks
even have homework 0 and 0.5NOW already hard
no need to submit homework 0, but need to do homework 0.5 immediately to follow up.
If you do not want to spendso much time on homework, ...
May the Brave Ones Stay
Basic Information
instructor: Hsuan-Tien Lin (htlin@csie.ntu.edu.tw) office hour: Thursdays 14:20–15:20 or by appointment course webpage: https://ceiba.ntu.edu.tw/1011ML announcements, homework, reference handouts, etc.
mailing list: supported by CEIBA
update your secondary email address on CEIBA
Enrollment
at most around 130 in Room 303 of Freshman Building readily have 98 now
new cases: sign up for the univ. lottery first, may adda fewmore in the third week if space allows
auditing: welcomed (to sit) only if there is an empty chair Drop as soon as possible!
Give your motivated classmates a chance to be miserable.
Teaching Assistants
Ya-Hsuan Chang, Wei-Yuan Shen, Ching-Pei Lee, Han-Jay Yang, Chun-Heng Huang
forum for course/homework material questions: to be introduced later
email for grading questionsonly: ml2012ta@csie.ntu.edu.tw TA Hour for more interactive discussions:
Tuesdays 5:30pm to 6:30pm; Wednesdays 5:30pm to 6:30pm
— starting 9/18 and 9/19, with rooms to be announced soon Go to TA hours to discuss with TAs and classmates!
THE Book
Learning from Data: A Short Course
Y. Abu-Mostafa (Caltech), M. Magdon-Ismail (RPI), H.-T. Lin (NTU) idea initiated during HTML2008
5 chapters, closely needed for the first half of the class
other draft chapters to be finalized, to be used in the second half of the class
teaching with the book, many homework problems within the book, reading assignments within the book
Getting the Book to Read
NTU Library: one reserved copy in the shared course material area
Chuan-Hwa Book Company: imported some limited copies of the book
— Ms. Jen Huang (jen@chwa.com.tw) at 0958-008-962
— may or may not offer group discounts
Amazon: main selling channel in the US, but can be expensive/slow for international shipping
— http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600490069 Bulk order from U.S.: secondary selling channel, usually takes two weeks to arrive — http://amlbook.com
If the book is not affordable to you: email me
(htlin@csie.ntu.edu.tw) and I’ll see how I can help.
Getting Future Draft Chapters to Read
mechanism: to be announced when needed Your Privileges
learn from thefirst draft download the draftfreely Your Responsibilities
discuss actively with me to improve the draft do not distribute the draft
enrolling in this class means agreeing to the items above
THE Principle
Taking any unfair advantages over other class members is not allowed. It is everyone’s respon- sibility to maximize the level of fairness.
eating? fine, but no smells and no noise sleeping? fine, but no snoring
cellphone? fine, but silent mode, and speak outside ...
applies to instructor, TAs, students
Honesty
NO CHEATING NO LYING NO PLAGIARISM
NO PIRATING of THE BOOK
Grade
no midterm, no final
main reference: homework sets, final project bonus 3%: participation in forum discussions
Participation in Forum Discussions
http://book.caltech.edu/bookforum/index.php forum of the book, with two boards about our class 1% bonus: for introducing yourself on our board
http://book.caltech.edu/bookforum/forumdisplay.
php?f=144
2% bonus: if you have introduced yourselfand your number of posts (everywhere in the forum) before the due date of the final project is within top 25% of class
To save TA loads, questions about course/homework materials will only be answered on the forum.
Collaboration and Open-Book
homework discussions: encouraged but fairness?
write the final solutions alone and understand them fully references (books, notes, Internet):
consulted, butnot copied from no need to lend/borrow solutions
to maximize fairness (everyone’s responsibility), lending/borrowing not allowed
Collaboration and Open-Book
to maximize fairness (everyone’s responsibility), lending/borrowing not allowed to maximize fairness (everyone’s responsibility),
lending/borrowing not allowed to maximize fairness (everyone’s responsibility),
lending/borrowing not allowed
Deal? If your classmate wants to borrow homework from you, what do you say?
Homework
students: justify solutions clearly TAs: evaluate solutions fairly penalty for late parts:
90% of value for 12-hour late, 80% one-day late, ...
four penalty-free half-days (gold medal) for deadline extension per person
Programming Assignments
about a third or half of the problems any programming language, any platforms uploadsource code, otherwise:
10% of value only!
no sophisticated packages students’ responsibility:
ask TA in advance for what can/cannot be used
Experimental Items for HTML2012
two class slots bigger classroom
published textbook for teaching (finally!)
forum participation (bonus incentive and the forum-only policy)
“watching” assignments (see homework 0.5)
Feel free to give us feedback (immediately or afterwards) to help improve the course!
Important TODOs
Update your secondary email address on CEIBA!
Sign the agreement form, register on the forum, and introduce yourself for the bonus.
Do homework 0 and 0.5; post on the forum for questions.
If you still want to be added, sign the form first (and try to enroll online) and wait for our decisions later.
May the Brave Ones Stay
