• Cardiff University logo

Practical Machine Learning for AI: Foundational Skills and Experiments

Discover machine learning principles and applications on this course for non-ML specialists.

415 enrolled on this course

Man with rounded glasses, short curly hair and facial hair working at his computer with blurred colours surrounded the screen to symbolise a fast moving, technological environment

Practical Machine Learning for AI: Foundational Skills and Experiments

415 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Explore AI with Machine Learning

Unlock the potential of machine learning and take your first steps towards mastering this revolutionary technology. Enrol in this course to uncover its fundamental principles, understand ethical considerations, and gain practical skills that set you apart in the field of artificial intelligence.

Discover the principles of machine learning fundamentals

Machine learning is at the core of today’s AI advancements, influencing technologies, such as self-driving cars and search engines.

You’ll learn what it is, how it works, and why it’s crucial in the modern technological landscape. By the end of this segment, you’ll have a solid understanding of machine learning basics, preparing you for more advanced topics.

Understand the ethical implications of machine learning

Next, you’ll explore topics such as bias in AI, data privacy issues, and the societal impacts of machine learning technologies. Understanding these ethical dilemmas is essential for anyone entering this field, ensuring that the development and application of machine learning solutions are responsible and fair.

Explore data preprocessing techniques

Effective machine learning models depend heavily on the quality of data they are trained on. This section focuses on the fundamental techniques of data preprocessing. You’ll learn how to clean, transform, and prepare data for use in machine-learning models.

You’ll also be able to improve the accuracy and performance of your machine-learning experiments, making your insights more reliable and impactful.

By the end of the course, you’ll be well-equipped to apply machine learning principles in real-world scenarios, paving the way for further study and career advancement in this exciting field.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Machine learning fundamentals

    • The word Welcome written in white text on a light blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Welcome to Practical Machine Learning for AI

      This activity is all about getting to know the course you will be completing, how to use and navigate the FutureLearn platform, and some tips about learning online.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Introduction to machine learning

      In this activity, we will explore the concept and scope of machine learning within the discipline of artificial intelligence. We will discover the importance of machine learning and its applications.

    • The word Two written in white text on a blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Machine learning pipelines

      In this activity, we are going to look at the general process of a machine learning project. We will also explore the key stages in a machine learning pipeline and have a look at the generic structure of any machine learning.

    • The word Wrap up written in white text on a dark blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Summary of week 1

      In this activity, we will reflect on the content covered this week. You will have an opportunity to check your knowledge and reflect on the progress you have made so far.

  • Week 2

    Basic data preprocessing

    • The word One written in white text on a light blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Machine learning approaches

      In this activity, we will discover the three groups of machine learning approaches when we take a look at supervised learning, unsupervised learning and reinforcement learning.

    • The word Two written in white text on a light blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Ethics and Bias

      Ethics or moral philosophy describes the set of moral principles that influence people’s decisions and conduct. Moral codes of conduct shape people’s opinions on what’s good/right or bad/wrong.

    • The word Three written in white text on a light blue background with a white stairs icon to the left

      Machine learning platforms

      This activity will introduce the machine learning development platform that will be used throughout the micro credential - Google Colab.

    • The word Wrap up written in white text on a dark blue background with a white stairs icon to the left.’

      Summary of week 2

      In this activity we'll be reflecting on what we've covered this week. You'll get a chance to check your knowledge and reflect on the progress you've made so far.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe a fundamental understanding of machine learning
  • Identify the fundamental principles underlying common machine learning methods
  • Apply the appropriate environment to run machine learning experiments

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in delving into the field of machine learning.

Whether you’re a non-specialist seeking foundational knowledge, a tech enthusiast, or a professional aiming to upskill, this course provides the essential principles and hands-on experience needed to advance in AI.

Who will you learn with?

Dev Kant

I am working as a Teaching Associate at Cardiff University. My specialization is mainly in Data Science and Software Engineering. I have years of experience working in industry and education sector.

Yukun Lai

I am a Professor in the School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University. My research interests include Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and Machine Learning.

I am Reader at the School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University. My research includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and neural networks.

Who developed the course?

Cardiff University logo

Cardiff University

Cardiff University is a member of the Russell Group of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities and is ranked within the top 150 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings.

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$54/one-off payment

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 26 Feb 2025

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 26 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...