When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course
This second course of the AI Product Management Specialization by Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering focuses on the practical aspects of managing machine learning projects. The course walks through the keys steps of a ML project from how to identify good opportunities for ML through data collection, model building, deployment, and monitoring and maintenance of production systems. Participants will learn about the data science process and how to apply the process to organize ML efforts, as well as the key considerations and decisions in designing ML systems.
At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:
1) Identify opportunities to apply ML to solve problems for users
2) Apply the data science process to organize ML projects
3) Evaluate the key technology decisions to make in ML system design
4) Lead ML projects from ideation through production using best practices
In this module we will discuss how to identify problems worth solving, how to determine whether ML is a good fit as part of the solution, and how to validate solution concepts. We will also learn why heuristics are useful in modeling projects and the advantages and disadvantages of ML relative to heuristics.
In this module we will focus on the CRISP-DM data science process and how it can be used to organize ML projects. We will begin by understanding what is unique about ML project relative to normal software projects, and then discuss approaches to manage the inherent risks of ML projects. We will also walk through the key roles on a ML project team and how to organize work.
What's included
8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 65 minutes
Introduction and Objectives•2 minutes
ML Projects vs. Software Projects•7 minutes
CRISP-DM Data Science Process•13 minutes
CRISP-DM Case Study•18 minutes
Team Organization•10 minutes
Organizing the Project•6 minutes
Measuring Performance•7 minutes
Module Wrap-up•1 minute
2 readings•Total 60 minutes
Download Module Slides•30 minutes
Why are ML Projects so Hard to Manage•30 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Outcome and Output Metrics (optional)•20 minutes
Data Considerations
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we will explore the key data-related issues that arise in ML projects. Data is the foundation of successful machine learning, and gathering data of sufficient quantity and quality with the right set of attributes is the key to a successful project. We will discuss the key considerations in sourcing data, cleaning data, and developing and selecting a feature set to use in modeling. The module will conclude with a discussion on best practices to ensure reproducibility of your data pipeline.
What's included
8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 58 minutes
Introduction and Objectives•2 minutes
Data Needs•8 minutes
Data Collection•12 minutes
Data Governence & Access•6 minutes
Data Cleaning•9 minutes
Preparing Data for Modeling•10 minutes
Reproducibility & Versioning•9 minutes
Module Wrap-up•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 60 minutes
Download Module Slides•30 minutes
How We Improved Data Discovery for Data Scientists at Spotify•30 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Collecting Data (optional)•20 minutes
ML System Design & Technology Selection
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we will discuss the key decisions to make in designing ML systems, such as cloud vs. edge and online vs. batch, and compare the benefits of each type of system. We will then discuss the primary technology decisions to make in a ML project and introduce the common tools and technologies used to build ML models.
What's included
8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 51 minutes
Introduction and Objectives•1 minute
ML System Design Considerations•7 minutes
Cloud vs. Edge•11 minutes
Online Learning & Inference•9 minutes
ML on Big Data•4 minutes
ML Technology Selection•5 minutes
Common ML Tools•13 minutes
Module Wrap-up•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 60 minutes
Download Module Slides•30 minutes
Why Jupyter is Data Science's Computational Notebook of Choice•30 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Online Prediction (optional)•20 minutes
Model Lifecycle Management
Module 5•7 hours to complete
Module details
The final module in the course focuses on identifying and mitigating the key issues which ML models experience once they are in production. We will discuss how to set up a robust ML system monitoring capability and define a model maintenance plan to maintain high performance of a production model. We will conclude with a discussion on the importance of versioning in ML systems to facilitate continued rapid iteration even after deployment.
Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.
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Learner reviews
4.8
381 reviews
5 stars
82.19%
4 stars
13.61%
3 stars
2.61%
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Showing 3 of 381
D
DM
5·
Reviewed on May 4, 2026
Clear understanding of the different problems on how to approach ML opportunities
J
JI
5·
Reviewed on Jul 10, 2024
I like this course; it is very informative. I learned a lot of useful concepts, and I reinforced much of what I knew. I recommend this course, even if is just for fun.
L
LR
5·
Reviewed on Jun 29, 2023
I appreciate the use cases that were shared throughout the course. It helped tremendously.
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.