Introduction to Machine Learning

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Final Announcements

Congratulations on the end of the semester in 6.390 -- the staff has greatly enjoyed working you! We hope that you enjoyed the course and wish you the best!

  • Course letter grades have been submitted to the Registrar. The grade is available through WebSIS.

  • The final exam statistics are: median 78.75, mean 76.48, and standard deviation 12.14.

  • In our letter grade calculations, we gave an additional +4 point offset on the final exam to everyone (but the offset will not show up in Gradescope or your Progress page).

  • We do not have regrade requests/window for the final exam. If you have strong evidence that (1) a grading error has been made, and (2) the error will affect your letter grade, please email 6.390-personal@mit.edu with a well-written technical explanation of the error for consideration.

We hope that everyone has a wonderful summer!

Announcements for Week 13 (Week of May 14)

  • Thank you to those who've filled out the end-of-term subject evaluations. If you haven't done so yet, we'd love to hear about your thoughts on 6.390. This provides valuable feedback for us and other students, for future semesters; thank you!

  • Our last class will be on Monday May 15, on the topic of transformers. This topic will not be included in the final exam.

  • On Wednesday May 17, we will hold optional instructors office hours 9:30am-12:30pm and 1-4pm, in 34-501 (and only 34-501). Please feel free to bring any questions you may have while preparing for the final.

  • The 20-day extensions are applicable up through the end of the day on Wednesday May 17. The application will be updated on your Progress page on Thursday May 18.

  • Our last regular office hours will be held on Thursday May 18.

  • The final exam will be held in person, on Tuesday May 23, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, at Johnson Track. Please review the final info page for logistics and practice materials.

Announcements for Week 12 (Week of May 7)

  • The end-of-term subject evaluations have opened. We'd love to hear about your thoughts on 6.390. This provides valuable feedback for us and other students, for future semesters; thank you!

  • The final exam will be held in person, on Tuesday, May 23 2023, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, in Johnson Track. Please review final exam info page for logistics and practice materials.

  • As we near the end of the semester, several elements of this week (and wrap up of previous Week 11 assignments) will proceed as usual, but with some key differences due to MIT end of term regulations, as noted below.

    • Exercise 12 are due Monday, May 8, 9am.

    • Lab 11 checkoffs are due Monday, May 8, 11pm.

    • Homework 11 is due Wednesday, May 10, 11pm.

    • Homework 12 will release at 9am, Monday, May 8. It is due Friday, May 12, 11:59pm.

    • Lab 12 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, March 10. Checkoffs are due Friday, May 12, 11:59pm.

  • Heads-up:

    • 20-day extensions are applicable up through the end of the day on Wednesday May 17.
    • Our last regular office hours will be held on Thursday May 18.

Announcements for Week 11 (Week of April 30)

  • The final exam will be held in person, on Tuesday, May 23 2023, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, in Johnson Track. Please review final exam page for logistics, practice materials, and deadline for requesting accommodations.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 11 will release at 9am, Monday, May 1. (It is due Wednesday, May 10, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 11 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, May 3. (Checkoffs are due Monday, May 8, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 12 will release at 5pm, Wednesday, May 3. (They are due Monday, May 8, 9am.)

Announcements for Week 10 (week of April 23)

Announcements for Week 9 (Week of April 16)

  • Related to the Patriots' Day Institute Holiday, recitations and office hours will be cancelled on Monday, April 17. Enjoy the holiday!

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 9 will release at 9am, Monday, April 17. (It is due Wednesday, April 26, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 9 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, April 19. (Checkoffs are due Monday, April 24, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 10 will release at 5pm, Wednesday, April 19. (They are due Monday, April 24, 9am.)

Announcements for Week 8 (Week of April 9)

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 8 will release at 9am, Monday, April 10. (It is due Wednesday, April 19, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 8 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, April 12. (Checkoffs are due Monday, April 17, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 9 will release at 5pm, Wednesday, April 12. (They are due Wednesday, April 19, 9am.)

  • Heads up: related to the Patriots' Day Institute Holiday next week, recitation and office hours will be cancelled on Monday, April 17.

Announcements for Week 7 (Week of April 2)

  • We hope that everyone had a good spring break!

  • We resume our normal class meeting schedule this week (and office hours resume on Sunday April 2).

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 7 will release at 9am, Monday, April 3. (It is due Wednesday, April 12, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 7 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, April 5. (Checkoffs are due Monday, April 10, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 8 will release at 5pm, Wednesday, April 5. (They are due Monday, April 10, 9am.)

Midterm Results

  • The midterm grades have been released on Gradescope. You will need to log in with your MIT email for Gradescope access (this applies to cross-registered students as well). The median score is 80, the mean is 77.7, and the standard deviation is 12.5.

  • You can review the midterm exam and midterm solutions.

  • Regrade requests must be made on Gradescope, and must include a clear statement and justification for reconsideration for specific questions(s) and part(s) that you seek a regrade on. Our grading review in response to a regrade request can result in no change, addition of points, or reduction of points; we may also review grading on the rest of your midterm to correct for other grading mistakes, if any.

  • Requests for midterm regrades will open after Spring Break on Sunday, Apr. 2 at 9am, and close on Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 11pm.

  • We hope that everyone has a good Spring Break!

Announcements for the Midterm Week (Mon, Mar. 20 - Fri, Mar. 24)

  • The midterm exam will be held on Thursday, March 23, 7:30pm-9:30pm. You should review midterm logistics, including about selecting your exam room, and practice midterms.

  • There are no Monday/Wednesday classes scheduled this week.

  • All regular office hours will be held as usual this week.

  • On Monday March 20, we will hold optional informal instructors office hours during the normal class times (9:30am-12:30pm, and 1-4pm) in 34-501 (and only 34-501). Please feel free to bring any questions you may have while preparing for the midterm.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Exercises for week 7 will release at 9am, Friday, March 24. (They will be due Monday, April 3, 9am.)

Announcements for Week 6 (Mon, Mar. 13 - Fri, Mar. 17)

  • The midterm exam will be held on Thursday, March 23, 7:30pm-9:30pm. You should review midterm logistics, including about selecting your exam room, requesting conflict exam or accommodations by March 13, and practice midterms.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 6 will release at 9am, Monday, March 13. (It is due Wednesday, March 22, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 6 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, March 15. (Checkoffs are due Monday, March 20, 11pm.)

Announcements for Week 5 (Mon, Mar. 6 - Fri, Mar. 10)

  • The midterm exam will be held on Thursday, March 23 2023, 7:30pm-9:30pm. You should review midterm logistics, including about selecting your midterm room, deadline for requesting conflict exam or accommodations, and practice midterms.

  • The Registrar has posted the MIT Final Exams Schedule. The 6.390 final will be held on Tuesday, May 23 2023, 1:30pm-4:30pm, in Johnson Track. The Registrar will also schedule a Conflict Exam for 6.390, and will announce that schedule after Drop Date (April 25). For cross-registered 6.390 students who have a schedule conflict with the May 23 final exam, we expect to make the 6.390 conflict exam time (as scheduled by the MIT Registrar) available as well.

  • There is a student in our class who needs copies of class notes as an approved accommodation. If you're interested in serving as a paid note taker, please reach out to DAS, at 617-253-1674 or das-student@mit.edu. More details of the job can be found here.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 5 will release at 9am, Monday, March 6. (It is due Wednesday, March 15, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 5 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, March 8. (Checkoffs are due Monday, March 13, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 6 will releaseat 5pm, Wednesday, March 8. (They are due Monday, March 13, 9am.)

  • We have enabled psetpartners for 6.390, for those of you interested in being matched up with other classmates to work on course materials/assignments. It looks like the next match date for 6.390 is Friday, March 10.

Announcements for Week 4 (Mon, Feb. 27 - Fri, Mar. 3)

  • The Registrar has posted the MIT Final Exams Schedule. The 6.390 final will be held on Tuesday, May 23 2023, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time, in Johnson Track. The Registrar will also schedule a Conflict Exam for 6.390, and will announce that schedule after Drop Date (April 25). For cross-registered 6.390 students who have a schedule conflict with the May 23 final exam, we expect to make the 6.390 conflict exam time (as scheduled by the MIT Registrar) available as well.

  • There is a student in our class who needs copies of class notes as an approved accommodation. If you're interested in serving as a paid note taker, please reach out to DAS, at 617-253-1674 or das-student@mit.edu. More details of the job can be found here.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 4 will release at 9am, Monday, Feb 27. (It is due Wednesday, March 1, 11pm.)

    • Lab for week 4 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, March 1. (Checkoffs are due Monday, March 6, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 5 will releaseat 5pm, Wednesday, March 1. (They are due Monday, March 6, 9am.)

  • We have enabled psetpartners for 6.390, for those of you interested in being matched up with other classmates to work on course materials/assignments. It looks like the next match date for 6.390 is Friday, March 3.

Announcements for Week 3 (Mon, 20 Feb - Fri, 24 Feb)

  • Related to the Institute Holiday on Monday Feb 20, we will be meeting on Tuesday Feb 21 for our recitation sessions.

  • Office hours schedules are adjusted this week:

    • Regular Monday office hours (7-9pm and 9-11pm) will be held on Tuesday Feb 21 (7-9pm in 32-044 and 9-11pm virtually).

    • Regular Tuesday office hours (4-6pm and 7-9pm) will be cancelled on Feb 21.

  • Assignments due this week:

  • Assignments releases this week:

    • Homework for week 3 will release at 9am, Monday, Feb 20 (It is due Wednesday, March 1, 11pm)

    • Lab for week 3 will release in lab sessions on Wednesday, Feb 22. (Checkoffs are due Monday, Feb 27, 11pm.)

    • Exercises for week 4 will releaseat 5pm, Wednesday, Feb 22. (They are due Monday, Feb 27, 9am).

  • Tips: Keep an eye out for 6.390 announcements on 6.390 Home Page. Use the Calendar for release and access to all of the assignments and content. Use the Progress page for keeping track of assignments due and progress.

  • For both regular Monday and Wednesday class meetings, you may attend your assigned section only. If you need to change your permanent section assignment, you will be able to self-switch with "Section Signup" through Canvas, subject to section capacity constraints. Self-switching will be open between Feb 6, 5:00pm and Feb 20, 11:59pm; changes made on Canvas will be synced to our site here every 10min.

  • We have enabled psetpartners for 6.390, for those of you interested in being matched up with other classmates to work on course materials/assignments. It looks like the next match date for 6.390 is Friday, Feb 24.

Announcements for Week 2 (Mon, 13 Feb - Fri, 17 Feb)

  • Tip: Keep an eye out for 6.390 announcements on 6.390 Home Page. Use the Calendar for release and access to all of the assignments and content. Use the Progress page for keeping track of assignments due and progress.

  • Exercises for week 2 have been released (as of Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5pm). They are due 9am Monday morning before recitation on Feb. 13.

  • If you missed the Lab for week 1 on Wednesday, Feb. 8, do not worry; you can still work the questions on the lab and have a checkoff in Office Hours for full credit before the lab checkoff due (Monday, Feb. 13 at 11pm).

  • Homework for week 1 is due by Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11pm.

  • Homework for week 2 will release at 9am on Monday, Feb. 13; it will be due Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 11pm.

  • For both Monday and Wednesday class meetings, you may attend your assigned section only. If you need to change your permanent section assignment, you can self-switch with "Section Signup" through Canvas, subject to section capacity constraints. Self-switching is open between Feb. 6, 5:00pm and Feb. 20, 11:59pm; changes made on Canvas will be synced to our site here every 10min.

  • We have enabled psetpartners for 6.390, for those of you interested in being matched up with other classmates to work on course materials/assignments. It looks like the next match date for 6.390 is Friday, Feb. 17.

Announcements for Week 1 (Mon, 6 Feb - Fri, 10 Feb)

  • After the first class meeting, you may attend your assigned section only. If you need to change your permanent section assignment, you will be able to self-switch with "Section Signup" through Canvas, subject to section capacity constraints. Self-switching will be open between Feb 6, 5:00pm and Feb 20, 11:59pm; changes made on Canvas will be synced to our site here every 10min.

  • We have enabled psetpartners for 6.390, for those of you interested in being matched up with other classmates to work on course materials/assignments.

  • If you cross-registered late and do not have an MIT Kerberos yet to login to our website; do not worry. All week 1 course materials will be made publicly viewable, through links on Calendar. Feel free to follow along and submit when your account is ready.

First Class Meeting

Our first class meeting is a recitation on Monday, Feb. 6. If you pre-registered for 6.390, the Registrar likely scheduled you into a section. Our seven section time/room can be found here. If at all possible, please attend the section you are scheduled into by the Registrar for this first session (this helps ensuring everyone would have a seat/table). If you registered later and don't have a section, please come to Section 1, 3, 5, or 7, on Feb 6 to get started.

Pre-semester Information

👋 Hi there! Welcome to 6.390! We're very much looking forward to working with you all this spring!

1. Course Overview

6.390 introduces principles, algorithms, and applications of machine learning from the point of view of modeling and prediction. Topics include e.g. formulation of learning problems; representation, over-fitting, generalization; classification, regression, reinforcement learning, sequence learning, clustering; classical and neural-network methods.

For reference, here is our fall22 syllabus.

2. Prerequisites

Concretely, things we expect you to know (we use these constantly, but don’t teach them explicitly):

Programming

  • Intermediate Python, including the notion of classes.
  • Exposure to algorithms – ability to understand & discuss pseudo-code, and implement in Python.

Linear Algebra

  • Fundamental matrix manipulations, e.g., transpose, multiplication, and inverse.
  • Points and planes in high-dimensional space.
  • Basic matrix calculus, e.g., gradients.

6.1010 [6.009] or 6.1210 [6.006] can serve as the programming prerequisite. 18.06, 18.C06, 18.03, or 18.700 can serve as the linear algebra prerequisite.

3. Useful Background

Things it helps to have prior exposure to, but we don’t expect (we use these in 6.390, but will discuss as we go):

  • numpy (Python package for matrix/linear algebra).
  • pytorch (Python package for neural networks).
  • Basic discrete probability, e.g., random variables, conditioning, and expectation.

4. Class Meeting and Sections

We will be meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays. We have seven sections and you can meet our staff here.

    Section Time Room Instructor
    1 Mon & Wed, 9:30am-11am 34-501 Shen Shen
    2 Mon & Wed, 9:30am-11am 32-044 Vince Monardo
    3 Mon & Wed, 11am-12:30pm 34-501 Tomas Lozano-Perez
    4 Mon & Wed, 11am-12:30pm 32-044 Marzyeh Ghassemi
    5 Mon & Wed, 1pm-2:30pm 34-501 Wojciech Matusik
    6 Mon & Wed, 1pm-2:30pm 32-044 Ashia Wilson
    7 Mon & Wed, 2:30pm-4pm 34-501 Shen Shen

Our first class meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 6. If you pre-registered for 6.390, the Registrar will likely schedule you into a section during the registration week. Towards the end of that week, we'll provide info here on where to see your assigned section and what-to-do if you don't have one.

If at all possible, please attend the section you are scheduled into by the Registrar for this first session. Subsequently, we'll have a mechanism through which you can make changes in your scheduled section. Self-switching will be first-come-first-served and subject to section capacity constraints; the process will be detailed here.

5. Course Number Change

Since fall22, all MIT EECS (Course 6) subjects have been renumbered (rationale and details can be found here). This subject used to be called 6.036; moving forward, we'll refer to it internally as 6.390 ("six three-nine-oh"). But for registration purposes, please register for 6.3900 (note the extra zero).

6. Cross-registration

  • This site is our course site and it uses MIT Kerberos for authentication. Cross-registered students will receive their Kerberos once the registration goes through; however, the process can take a while. We therefore strongly encourage you to cross register early if possible, to avoid delayed access to course materials.

  • We follow MIT's calendar, and do not have additional extensions or accommodations based on home university calendar. Especially important will be for you to plan ahead for our two in-person exams. We'll have a midterm exam on March 23 (in the week before MIT's Spring Break). We'll also have a final exam during MIT's final exam week, Friday May 19 through Wednesday May 24; the final is to be scheduled by the Registrar.

  • If you're not familiar with MIT campus, you might find the whereis site helpful.

7. Listeners

Due to capacity and other constraints, we will not accept Listener registrants in 6.390 this semester.

8. Other Questions?

Feel free to drop us an email at 6.390-inquiry@mit.edu. We'd love to hear from you!