CMPUT 267 (Fall 2025)

Machine Learning I

Readings

All readings are from the (in progress) course notes, which were made specifically for this course. These are designed to be short, so that you can read every chapter. I recommend avoiding printing these notes, since later parts of the notes will be modified throughout the term (befored the content is covered).

Schedule

This schedule may have small changes throughout the semester. The lectures are on Tue and Thu 12:30pm - 1:50pm in-person (CCIS 1-440) and streamed virtually. The tutorials are on Thu 4:00pm - 5:00pm in-person (CCIS 1-160) and streamed virtually. The tutorial will go over example problems and assignment solutions. Lectures and tutorials will be recorded and posted publicly on this Youtube channel. After each lecture and tutorial a link to the class notes and video will be added. Most of the lectures and tutorials will be whiteboard lectures (using an iPad).

Week Date Topic Readings
1 January 5, 2023 Introduction to the course, start Probability Assignment #1 released with associated code and instructions

Readings Exercises #1:
- read Chapters 1, 2 and 3 from the notes.pdf
2 January 10, 2023 Probability, start Multivariate Probability  
2 January 12, 2023 Finish Multivariate Probability  
3 January 17, 2023 (Move to Whiteboard) A First Step in Estimation: Sample Averages, Concentration Inequalities, Confidence and Sample Complexity  
3 January 19, 2023 Bias and Variance, start Formalizing Parameter Estimation Readings Exercises #1 due on Thursday, Jan. 19

Readings Exercises #2:
- read Chapters 4, 5 and 6 from the notes.pdf
4 January 24, 2023 Intro to Optimization  
4 January 26, 2023 Finish optimization, start MLE Assignment #1 due on Friday, Jan. 27

Assignment #2 released with associated code
5 January 31, 2023 MLE and MAP  
5 February 2, 2023 Bayesian estimation and conjugate priors Readings Exercises #2 due Feb. 2

Readings Exercises #3:
- read Chapters 7, 8 and 9 from the notes.pdf
6 February 7, 2023 Summary parameter estimation, example showing need for gradient descent  
6 February 9, 2023 Stochastic Gradient Descent and stepsize selection, Start Introduction to Prediction and Optimal Predictors (first half of slides slides) Stepsize script used in class script_stepsizes.py
7 February 14, 2023 Quiz Review Slides  
7 February 16, 2023 In-class Quiz  
8 February 21, 2023 No classes, Reading Week Assignment #2 due on Tuesday, Feb. 21

Assignment #3 released with associated code.
8 February 23, 2023 No classes, Reading Week  
9 February 28, 2023 Finish Optimal Predictors on whiteboard  
9 March 2, 2023 Linear Regression Readings Exercises #3 due Thursday, March 2

Readings Exercises #4:
- read Chapters 10, 11 and 12 from the notes.pdf
10 March 7, 2023 Polynomial Regression, and Generalization Error and Overfitting  
10 March 9, 2023 Evaluation of Learned Models and Hypothesis Testing Assignment #3 due on Friday, March 10

Assignment #4 released with associated code.
11 March 14, 2023 Midterm Review  
11 March 16, 2023 Midterm  
12 March 21, 2023 Regularization and bias and variance  
12 March 23, 2023 Logistic regression, and polynomial logistic regression and adding regularization (l1 and l2) Readings Exercises #4 due Thursday, March 23
13 March 28, 2023 Bayesian linear regression and contrasting prediction intervals and confidence interval  
13 March 30, 2023 Finish Bayesian linear regression  
14 April 4, 2023 Course review.  
14 April 6, 2023 Finish course review. Conclude with an ML case study. Assignment #4 due on Friday, April 7.
15 April 11, 2023 Brief overview of topics for final (see slides), Practice Final session and Q&A  
Final Monday, April 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m. Final Exam 2 hours.