Feature Engineering Studio: Syllabus

• Course: HUDK 5053, Teachers College, Columbia University
• Instructor: Charles Lang, [email protected], @learng00d
• Day/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9:00am - 10:40am
• Location: GDH 535
• Instructor Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1:00pm - 2:00pm or by appointment in GDH 540
• Prerequisite: HUDK 4050
• Credits: 3

Course Description

This course is a design studio-style course teaching how to distill and engineer features for data mining. Students will cover a workflow process for feature engineering and distillation; including brainstorming features, deciding what features to create, visualization, and criteria for selecting features. The class will utilize RStudio and Github.

Each week students will be expected to attend two classes, on Tuesdays tools and methods will be covered, on Thursdays students will workshop their projects.

Assessment

Each student will work on their own feature engineering project that tackles a self-defined problem. However, HUDK 5053 is largely a course about workflow and therefore students will be assessed on the accomplishment of the following workflow milestones, rather than the success or failure of their project:

• Setup
• Problem Design Statement
• Data Submission
• Exploratory Visualization
• Methodological Description
• Logic Model
• Presentation
• Final Deliverable (including resource list)

In addition to these milestones students will also monitor and record their project's progress and will be required to give two progress statements, one verbally and one written. All students must also meet with the instructor once during semester.

Grade Breakdown:

• Workflow Milestones - 60%
• Progress Statements - 30%
• Participation - 10%

Weekly Schedule

Week	Topic	Deliverable$	Due Date
1	Introduction
2	Workflow	Install RStudio, Zotero & create Github Account	September 15
3	Defining Your Problem	Problem Design Statement	September 22
4	Data Sources
5	Data "Tidying"	Tidy Data Upload	October 6
6	Visualization Tools	Exploratory Visualization	October 13
7	Method Selection	Method Description	October 20
8	Feature Distillation
9	Construct Validity
10	Feature Adaption
11	Progress Statement	Progress Statement	November 22
12	Feature Reuse
13	Advanced Visualization	Logic Model	December 8
14	Iteration & Collaboration
15	Presentations/Demos	Presentations	December 22
		Final Deliverables	December 23
$ Deliverables due by close of business (5pm EST)

Fine Print

1. All examinations, papers, and other graded work and assignments are to be completed in conformance with the [Academic Integrity Policy](http://www.tc.columbia.edu/administration/diversity/index.asp? Id=Civility+Resources+and+Policies&Info=Civility+Resources+and+Policies&Area=Studen t+Miscon duct+Policy). Students who intentionally submit work either not their own or without clear attribution to the original source, fabricate data or other information, engage in cheating, or misrepresentation of academic records may be subject to charges. Sanctions may include dismissal from the college for violation of the TC principles of academic and professional integrity fundamental to the purpose of the College.

2. The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities for information about registration (166 Thorndike Hall). Services are available only to students who are registered and submit appropriate documentation. As your instructor, I am happy to discuss specific needs with you as well.

3. The grade of Incomplete will be assigned only when the course attendance requirement has been met but, for reasons satisfactory to the instructor, the granting of a final grade has been postponed because certain course assignments are outstanding. If the outstanding assignments are completed within one calendar year from the date of the close of term in which the grade of Incomplete was received and a final grade submitted, the final grade will be recorded on the permanent transcript, replacing the grade of Incomplete, with a transcript notation indicating the date that the grade of Incomplete was replaced by a final grade. If the outstanding work is not completed within one calendar year from the date of the close of term in which the grade of Incomplete was received, the grade will remain as a permanent Incomplete on the transcript. In such instances, if the course is a required course or part of an approved program of study, students will be required to re-enroll in the course including repayment of all tuition and fee charges for the new registration and satisfactorily complete all course requirements. If the required course is not offered in subsequent terms, the student should speak with the faculty advisor or Program Coordinator about their options for fulfilling the degree requirement. Doctoral students with six or more credits with grades of Incomplete included on their program of study will not be allowed to sit for the certification exam.

4. Teachers College students have the responsibility for activating the Columbia University Network ID (UNI) and a free TC Gmail account. As official communications from the College – e.g., information on graduation, announcements of closing due to severe storm, flu epidemic, transportation disruption, etc. -- will be sent to the student’s TC Gmail account, students are responsible for either reading email there, or, for utilizing the mail forwarding option to forward mail from their account to an email address which they will monitor.

5. It is the policy of Teachers College to respect its members’ observance of their major religious holidays. Students should notify instructors at the beginning of the semester about their wishes to observe holidays on days when class sessions are scheduled. Where academic scheduling conflicts prove unavoidable, no student will be penalized for absence due to religious reasons, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, students and instructors should consult the appropriate department chair or director. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Provost.