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Course Outlines

https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/COMPSCI/760/1235

COMPSCI 760 : Advanced Topics in Machine

Learning
Science
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription
An overview of the learning problem and the view of learning by search. Covers advanced techniques for
learning such as: decision tree learning, rule learning, exhaustive learning, Bayesian learning, genetic
algorithms, reinforcement learning, neural networks, explanation-based learning and inductive logic
programming. Advanced experimental methods necessary for understanding machine learning research.

Course Overview
Machine learning techniques are widely used in many computing applications; for example, in web search
engines, spam ltering, speech and image recognition, computer games, machine vision, credit card fraud
detection, stock market analysis and product marketing applications. Machine learning implies that there is
some improvement that results from the learning program having seen some data. The improvement can be in
terms of some performance program (e.g., learning an expert system or improving the performance of a
planning or scheduling program), in terms of nding an unknown relation in the data (e.g., data mining, pattern
analysis), or in terms of customizing adaptive systems (e.g., adaptive user-interfaces or adaptive agents).

This course will introduce recent developments in the eld of machine learning, and it is research-oriented. The
practical component of this course involves working on a real-world research project developed with the help
of the teaching team. The research project involves the denition of research questions, project planning, data
analysis workow, programming, collaboration and regular communication of project progress in an oral or
written form, including writing a literature review and a nal research report. Programming skills are necessary
for this course. The practical component of the course expects group work.

Course Requirements
Prerequisite: COMPSCI 361 or 762

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Capabilities Developed in this Course
Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the idea that all machine learning algorithms have a basis and will be able to describe the basis of
several algorithms (Capability 1 and 4) (Capability 1 and 4)
2. Discuss the theory that for a particular dataset one algorithm will perform well and for another dataset a
different algorithm will perform well. There is no one algorithm that performs well on all datasets.
(Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5) (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
3. Independently develop and carry out to completion a research project addressing real-world problems
using appropriate machine learning methodology and open-source datasets in a group of 4-5 students.
(Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
4. Design a good set of experiments for determining the answer to some basic research question, such that
they can show that the experiments actually support the question they are asking. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
(Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)

Assessments
Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assignments 50% Group & Individual Coursework
2 types 100%

Assessment Type Learning Outcome

Addressed
1 2 3 4
Final Exam   

Assignments   

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Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacic students providing topic specic tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuākana Programme
website https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacic-at-the-faculty/tuakana-
programme.html.

Key Topics

The course will cover advanced topics in Machine Learning such as (but not limited to):
Advanced neural networks
Algorithmic fairness
Adversarial learning
Probabilistic graphical models

Special Requirements
You must pass both the theory (the exam) and the practical (the research project) components to pass this
course.

Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend about 150 hours in total.

Expected weekly workload:

1-hour lecture
1-hour lecture review
1-2 hour reading and thinking
6-7 hours for the research project/ assignments
Students are expected to spend additional 30 hours on exam preparation

Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
This course is available for students who are remote.
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities (project presentations) to receive credit for components of the
course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course might include live online events including group discussions, project presentations, lectures.
Attendance on campus is required for test/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

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Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes
reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Recommended Readings:
Ian Witten, Eibe Frank, Mark Hall, Christopher Pal, Data Mining - Practical Machine Learning Tools and
Techniques, Morgan Kaufmann, 2017.
Machine Learning Yearning, a free ebook from Andrew Ng
Richard S. Sutton and Andrew G. Barto, Reinforcement Learning - An Introduction, MIT Press, 2018.
Solon Barocas, Moritz Hardt, and Arvind Narayanan. Fairness and Machine Learning, fairmlbook.org, 2018
Daphne Koller and Nir Friedman. Probabilistic Graphical Models: Principles and Techniques

Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the sta responsible for the course
and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool
called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

We have not had a chance to look at the feedback (as it was just today released). The new teaching team will
review it and make appropriate adjustments.

Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in
coursework as a serious academic oence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's
own work, reecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged
and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be
reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the
wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to
raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

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The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may
have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under
license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto
any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course
content to another person.

Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written
form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible
and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the
Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is aected by illness or other personal circumstances outside
of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances signicantly aect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible
written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-
exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching
and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has
contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet
the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies.
You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer
to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through
Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process
and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The
University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other
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students and sta so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit
Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-
and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for
enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the
right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or
other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements
may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short
notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon
as possible, through Canvas.

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