Build & Evaluate Decision Trees for ML
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Build & Evaluate Decision Trees for ML
This course is part of Level Up: Java-Powered Machine Learning Specialization
Instructors: Starweaver
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What you'll learn
Explain decision tree fundamentals including tree structure, splitting criteria, and how recursive partitioning builds predictive models.
Build decision tree classifiers using Weka GUI and Java API, implement models with Smile, and configure hyperparameters for optimal performance.
Evaluate decision tree models using confusion matrices, accuracy metrics, cross-validation techniques, and interpret results to assess model quality.
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January 2026
1 assignment
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There are 3 modules in this course
Are you ready to master one of machine learningβs most powerful and interpretable algorithms? This course will guide you through the complete journey of understanding, building, and evaluating decision tree models using Java, the enterprise-standard programming language. Youβll start by exploring the core concepts, how decision trees partition data, why splitting criteria such as entropy and the Gini index matter, and when decision trees outperform other algorithms. From there, youβll move into hands-on implementation, using industry-standard tools like Wekaβs intuitive GUI and Java API along with Smileβs high-performance library to develop, tune, and deploy models. Through practical exercises, youβll learn to configure hyperparameters, balance rapid prototyping with production-ready design, and apply robust model evaluation techniques such as confusion matrices, cross-validation, and key performance metrics.
Aspiring and experienced data scientists, Java developers, and machine learning engineers seeking to build, evaluate, and interpret decision tree models for real-world applications in finance, healthcare, and business analytics. Basic Java programming experience, understanding of object-oriented concepts, and fundamental knowledge of data science principles required. By the end of the course, youβll be equipped to detect and reduce overfitting, optimize model performance, and effectively communicate insights to technical and business stakeholders alike.
Explore decision tree foundations including tree structure, classification mechanics, splitting criteria like entropy and Gini index, and how recursive partitioning creates predictive models for machine learning applications.
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 peer review
4 videosβ’Total 23 minutes
- Welcome to Build and Evaluate Decision Trees with MLβ’3 minutes
- Introduction to Decision Trees and Their Structureβ’6 minutes
- Splitting Criteria for Entropy and Information Gainβ’6 minutes
- Gini Index and Comparing Splitting Methodsβ’7 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 10 minutes
- Welcome to the Course: Course Overviewβ’5 minutes
- Decision Tree Algorithm Fundamentals and Mathematical Foundationsβ’5 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 20 minutes
- Hands-On-Learning: Calculate Splitting Criteria for Medical Diagnosis Datasetβ’20 minutes
Build decision tree classifiers using Weka's GUI and Java API, then explore Smile library for modern implementations. Configure hyperparameters, train models on real datasets, and export trained models.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 peer review
3 videosβ’Total 26 minutes
- Setting Up Your Java ML Environmentβ’7 minutes
- Building Decision Trees with Weka GUI and Java APIβ’10 minutes
- Implementing Decision Trees with Smile Libraryβ’9 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 5 minutes
- Java Machine Learning Libraries and Best Practicesβ’5 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 20 minutes
- Hands-On-Learning: Build and Compare Decision Tree Models Using Weka and Smileβ’20 minutes
Evaluate decision tree performance using confusion matrices, accuracy metrics, precision, recall, and F1-scores. Apply cross-validation techniques to assess model generalization. Learn to interpret results and identify overfitting.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews
4 videosβ’Total 40 minutes
- Understanding Confusion Matrices and Classification Metricsβ’7 minutes
- Cross-Validation Techniques for Model Assessmentβ’13 minutes
- Identifying Overfitting and Model Optimizationβ’15 minutes
- Course Wrap-upβ’4 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 5 minutes
- Model Evaluation Best Practices and Performance Metricsβ’5 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 20 minutes
- Build & Evaluate Decision Trees for MLβ’20 minutes
2 peer reviewsβ’Total 80 minutes
- Hands-On-Learning: Comprehensive Model Evaluation and Performance Analysisβ’20 minutes
- Project: Real-Time Streaming Pipeline for Fraud Detectionβ’60 minutes
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To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
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