For some time I wanted to learn the basics of machine learning. So after some research I found Cousera’s Machine Learning course by Stanford University and that it would start yesterday. So after reading all the great reviews about the course I enrolled and started it a week ago. The content is completely free, but if you pay 74€ you’ll get a certificate if you pass.

First week

Andrew Ng is a great teacher who explains the material very well. For each lesson you have 4 or 5 videos were Andrew teaches and after some time the video will pause and you will have to answer a question, that way you maintain your attention and interiorize the content. After watching all the videos of a section you’ll have to answer a quiz of 5 questions having to get 4 right to pass (I got 100% on both on the first try).

The first week has 3 sections, an Introduction to the basics of machine learning, like terminology and the basic idea and after that the first algorithm: Linear regression with one variable. In the later of the first two sections you’ll also learn about Gradient Descent and it’s application in linear regression.

After that there is a third section that is optional, a basic Linear Algebra Review, for now I didn’t take it because I took Linear Algebra last semester at university.

All in all I had no difficulties understanding the content of the first week and I’m very excited for next week. After some weeks if I keep liking it I’ll probably pay the 74€ for the certificate.