Machine Learning Foundations for Product Managers
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Machine Learning Foundations for Product Managers
This course is part of AI Product Management Specialization
Instructor: Jon Reifschneider
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Skills you'll gain
- Logistic Regression
- Model Evaluation
- Predictive Analytics
- Deep Learning
- Decision Tree Learning
- Machine Learning
- Regression Analysis
- Natural Language Processing
- Artificial Neural Networks
- Machine Learning Algorithms
- Applied Machine Learning
- Data Science
- Supervised Learning
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
- Model Training
- Unsupervised Learning
- Computer Vision
Details to know
6 assignments
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There are 6 modules in this course
In this first course of the AI Product Management Specialization offered by Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, you will build a foundational understanding of what machine learning is, how it works and when and why it is applied. To successfully manage an AI team or product and work collaboratively with data scientists, software engineers, and customers you need to understand the basics of machine learning technology. This course provides a non-coding introduction to machine learning, with focus on the process of developing models, ML model evaluation and interpretation, and the intuition behind common ML and deep learning algorithms. The course will conclude with a hands-on project in which you will have a chance to train and optimize a machine learning model on a simple real-world problem.
At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to: 1) Explain how machine learning works and the types of machine learning 2) Describe the challenges of modeling and strategies to overcome them 3) Identify the primary algorithms used for common ML tasks and their use cases 4) Explain deep learning and its strengths and challenges relative to other forms of machine learning 5) Implement best practices in evaluating and interpreting ML models
In this module we will be introduced to what machine learning is and does. We will build the necessary vocabulary for working with data and models and develop an understanding of the different types of machine learning. We will conclude with a critical discussion of what machine learning can do well and cannot (or should not) do.
What's included
10 videos4 readings1 assignment
10 videosβ’Total 47 minutes
- Specialization Overviewβ’4 minutes
- Instructor Introductionβ’1 minute
- Course Overiewβ’5 minutes
- Module 1 Introduction & Objectivesβ’1 minute
- Introduction to Machine Learningβ’9 minutes
- Data Terminologyβ’8 minutes
- What is a Model?β’5 minutes
- Types of Machine Learningβ’5 minutes
- What ML Can and Cannot Doβ’7 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’2 minutes
4 readingsβ’Total 30 minutes
- About the Courseβ’5 minutes
- Report a problem with the course β’5 minutes
- Important Reminderβ’10 minutes
- Module 1 Slidesβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 1 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module we will discuss the key steps in the process of building machine learning models. We will learn about the sources of model complexity and how complexity impacts a model's performance. We will wrap up with a discussion of strategies for comparing different models to select the optimal model for production.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
8 videosβ’Total 40 minutes
- Introduction and Objectivesβ’1 minute
- Building a Modelβ’7 minutes
- Feature Selectionβ’7 minutes
- Algorithm Selectionβ’7 minutes
- Bias-Variance Tradeoffβ’6 minutes
- Test and Validation Setsβ’5 minutes
- Cross Validationβ’4 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’3 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 30 minutes
- Download Module Slidesβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 2 Quizβ’30 minutes
In this module we will learn how to define appropriate outcome and output metrics for AI projects. We will then discuss key metrics for evaluating regression and classification models and how to select one for use. We will wrap up with a discussion of common sources of error in machine learning projects and how to troubleshoot poor performance.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
8 videosβ’Total 34 minutes
- Introduction and Objectivesβ’1 minute
- Outcomes vs Outputsβ’5 minutes
- Model Output Metricsβ’1 minute
- Regression Error Metricsβ’8 minutes
- Classification Error Metrics: Confusion Matrixβ’6 minutes
- Classification Error Metrics: ROC and PR Curvesβ’5 minutes
- Troubleshooting Model Performanceβ’6 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’2 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 30 minutes
- Download Module Slidesβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 3 Quizβ’30 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 20 minutes
- Outcomes & Output Metricsβ’20 minutes
In this module we will explore the use of linear models for regression and classification. We will begin with introducing linear regression and continue with a discussion on how to make linear regression work better through regularization. We will then switch to classification and introduce the logistic regression model for both binary and multi-class classification problems.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment
6 videosβ’Total 33 minutes
- Introduction and Objectivesβ’3 minutes
- Linear Regressionβ’9 minutes
- Regularizationβ’6 minutes
- Logistic Regressionβ’9 minutes
- Softmax Regressionβ’4 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’2 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 30 minutes
- Download Module Slidesβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 4 Quizβ’30 minutes
We will begin this model with a discussion of tree models and their value in modeling compex non-linear problems. We will then introduce the method of creating ensemble models and their benefits. We will wrap this module up by switching gears to unsupervised learning and discussing clustering and the popular K-Means clustering approach.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
7 videosβ’Total 41 minutes
- Introduction and Objectivesβ’1 minute
- Tree Modelsβ’11 minutes
- Ensemble Modelsβ’6 minutes
- Random Forestβ’7 minutes
- Clusteringβ’6 minutes
- K-Means Clusteringβ’6 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’5 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 30 minutes
- Download Module Slidesβ’30 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 5 Quizβ’30 minutes
Our final module in this course will focus on a hot area of machine learning called deep learning, or the use of multi-layer neural networks. We will develop an understanding of the intuition and key mathematical principles behind how neural networks work. We will then discuss common applications of deep learning in computer vision and natural language processing. We will wrap up the course with our course project, where you will have an opportunity to apply the modeling process and best practices you have learned to create your own machine learning model.
What's included
9 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review
9 videosβ’Total 73 minutes
- Introduction and Objectivesβ’1 minute
- Introduction to Deep Learningβ’11 minutes
- Artificial Neuronsβ’11 minutes
- From Neurons to Neural Networksβ’6 minutes
- Training Neural Networksβ’8 minutes
- Computer Visionβ’14 minutes
- Natural Language Processingβ’13 minutes
- Module Wrap-upβ’7 minutes
- Course Wrap-upβ’3 minutes
4 readingsβ’Total 65 minutes
- Download Module Slidesβ’30 minutes
- Course Project Modeling Optionsβ’15 minutes
- About Dialogueβ’10 minutes
- Share your learning experience β’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Module 6 Quizβ’30 minutes
1 peer reviewβ’Total 240 minutes
- Course Projectβ’240 minutes
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Reviewed on Jun 23, 2023
Great way to get started and introduced to concepts. Project work ensure it covers all the topics taught in the course. Great way to recap and apply concepts to play.
Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025
Excellent course, very interesting, useful, well balanced. Very skilled lecturer and the material is easy to understand and fruitful for the graded assignment provided.
Reviewed on Dec 16, 2023
I thought the course had a good pace and was informative. I should have took advantage of the discussion forums more to ask some questions. Doing the project brought even more questions.
Frequently asked questions
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.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you canβt afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, youβll find a link to apply on the description page.
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