15-854 Machine Learning Theory, Spring 1998

Course Information


Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 1:30--2:50, Wean 4615A

Instructor: Avrim Blum (Wean 4107, avrim@cs.cmu.edu, x8-6452).

Office Hours: Stop by or make an appointment.

Credits: 12 Units, 1 CU

Course Description: This course will focus on theoretical aspects of machine learning. We will examine questions such as: What kinds of guarantees can one prove about learning algorithms? What are good algorithms for achieving certain types of goals? Can we devise models that are both amenable to mathematical analysis and make sense empirically? What can we say about the inherent ease or difficulty of learning problems? Addressing these questions will require pulling in notions and ideas from statistics, complexity theory, cryptography, game theory, and empirical machine learning research.

Evaluation and Responsibilities: Grading will be based on 5 or 6 homework assignments, a take-home final, and class participation. As part of class participation, students will each give one presentation on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. Students interested in performing an experimental project based on ideas discussed in class may be able to do so in place of some of the formal requirements. Because this course has no TA, students from time to time will also be asked to help with the grading of assignments.

General structure of the course: We will use roughly 2/3 of the lectures to cover "core" topics in this area, and then will diverge in the remaining 1/3 based on student interest. Here is a rough outline of the "core" portion (some bullets will require more than one lecture):

Text: Kearns and Vazirani, "An introduction to computational learning theory" plus papers and notes for topics not in the book. (Roughly half of the topics are in the book)