Machine Learning with Python

• Introduction to Machine Learning: An introduction to machine learning and the associated packages in Python, such as Numpy, Scipy, and SciKit-Learn.
• Data Preprocessing: Learn the why and how about preprocessing your data with scaling transformations and one hot encoding. We cover typical standardisation and normalisation procedures.
• Introduction to Modelling: Introductory modelling techniques such as linear regression and how we move from a statistical model to a machine learning model.
• Model Assessment: Quantify the effectiveness of your models using training, validation and test sets plus techniques such as cross-validation. We discuss the different metrics that can be used to judge a model and which are appropriate.
• Regularisation: Techniques to avoid overfitting and to perform feature selection, such as lasso, ridge and elastic net regression.
• Clustering: An unsupervised learning technique for uncovering patterns and structure within data.
• Advanced Techniques: Some more advanced model fitting using algorithms such as gradient boosted trees and support vector machines.

Session 1:

By the end of session 1, participants will…

• understand the basic premise of machine learning and statistical models.
• have knowledge of using sklearn and linear regression, including:
  • model fitting
  • interpretation and visualisation of outputs
  • scaling and preprocessing data

Session 2:

By the end of session 2, participants will…

• be able to use cross validation with sklearn to assess their model.
• understand what penalised regression is, why it is used, and how it can be implemented with sklearn.

Session 3:

By the end of session 3, participants will…

• know what classification models are and have experience with:
  • logistic regression
  • linear discriminant analysis and quadratic discriminant analysis
  • K-nearest neighbour models
  • decision trees
• understand more advanced models including random forest and SVM models, and how to implement them for classification problems.

Session 4:

By the end of session 4, participants will…

• know what clustering is.
• be able to differentiate between the different distance metrics.
• understand hierarchical clustering and K-means clustering, and be able to implement their own models.

This course does not include:

• neural networks and deep learning, see our Python and Tensorflow and PyTorch with Python courses.

It is expected that participants are comfortable using the Python programming language and common data structures. Some exposure to common statistical terms would be an advantage, but not essential. Attendance of the Introduction to Python course or equivalent experience should be sufficient.