Microsoft is offering free Machine Learning Course for beginners

If you are searching for how you can increase your machine learning skill level and, thus, a machine learning course for free, then Microsoft Inc. has the answer as it launches a free course in the field of Machine Learning (ML). Machine Learning, a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer science, focuses on the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn. Such courses are in great demand as this learning path seems to have exciting careers in the future. The 12-week free online course is MIT-approved and aims at teaching students the basics of machine learning.

What is the free Microsoft course?

The online courses have come in as a boon for the learners, and so is this machine learning course that has been put together by Azure Cloud advocates and the student authors, contributors, and reviewers of Microsoft. The course mainly covers basic concepts. The lesson plan uses pre and post-lesson quizzes, videos, knowledge checks, infographics, sketch notes, and assignments to imbibe the skills of machine learning in students. The curriculum is built with the aim of teaching the classic ML using the Scikit-learn as a primary resource library, and avoiding deep learning which is covered in the upcoming course 'AI for Beginners'.

What are the course contents?

‘Machine Learning for Beginners’ explains the key concepts of machine learning, history, introduction to tools and techniques, besides the concepts of fairness and data bias in ML. The course contents include Reinforcement Learning, Natural Language Processing, Time Series Forecasting, Clustering, Regression, and Classification along with hands-on practical lessons for teaching the usage of the models inside of web applications. 

The Certificate Course curriculum covers the following:

• What techniques do ML researchers use to build ML models?
• Getting started with Python and Scikit-learn for regression models
• Visualization and clean data in preparation for ML
• Build linear and polynomial regression models
• Build a web app to use your trained model
• Sentiment analysis
• Real-world applications of classical ML

How to begin with the course?

For using the curriculum, you need to fork the entire repo to your own GitHub account and then complete the exercises on your own or with a group:

• Start with a pre-lecture quiz
• Read the lecture and complete the activities, pausing and reflecting at each knowledge check.
• Try to create the projects by comprehending the lessons rather than running the solution code; however, that code is available in the /solution folders in each project-oriented lesson.
• Take the post-lecture quiz
• Complete the challenge
• Complete the assignment
• After completing a group lesson, visit the Discussion board and ‘learn out loud’ by filling out the appropriate PAT (Progress Assessment Tool) rubric.

Start the Machine Learning for Beginners by clicking here.

Other Top Microsoft courses

Last year itself, Microsoft had launched an initiative of helping 25 million people all over the world in acquiring digital skills, in the pandemic-hit economy. Software development, graphic designing, data analysis, financial analysis, and IT administration were among the top 10 jobs identified having the greatest number of job openings and steady growth in the past 4 years. This initiative was in light of how important digital skills are in order to navigate the post-pandemic world.

Besides, Microsoft has courses listed on the edX platform as well. The courses there are taught by the experts of Microsoft. They offer hands-on experience with broad reach, cutting-edge technologies in areas including cloud services, mobile development, and data sciences. The courses are ideal for students and working professionals as they teach them to build innovative applications, services, and experiences on the Microsoft platform.

Why is Microsoft doing so?

Companies like Microsoft look to help in filling the demand for digitally skilled workforces and, thus, as a part of Microsoft’s global initiative that was launched in 2020, the company aims at doing the following:

1. Use data to research and identify in-demand jobs and the skill set required for the same
2. To provide free access to develop skills
3. To provide free job-seeking tools and low-cost certifications to aid the process 

If you're in search of similar courses, head on to D2C Academia for free programs by industry experts.

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