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This is the site for 6.034 Artificial Intelligence, with Professor Patrick Winston.
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</center>
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<big>
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== '''Welcome to the 2017 Edition of 6.034'''==
-
* Use 6.034-staff@mit to contact us.
+
 
-
* [[Calendar]]
+
 
-
* [[Reference material and playlist]]
+
===Suggestions for subjects to take in the coming spring semester, 2018===
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>  
 +
Bob Berwick </td><td>6.863J </td><td>Introduction to Natural Language Processing
 +
</td></tr></table>
 +
 
 +
Two of our 2017 right-now speakers in Brain and Cognitive Science are offering subjects
 +
of interest in this spring semester:
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>
 +
Nancy Kanwisher </td><td>9.11 </td><td>The Human Brain</td></tr><tr><td>
 +
Pawan Sinha </td><td>9.60 </td><td>Machine motivated human vision 
 +
</td></tr></table>
 +
 
 +
Professor Kanwisher has suggested that many of you also would like 9.35:
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>
 +
Josh McDermott </td><td>9.35 </td><td>Perceptual Systems
 +
</td></tr></table>
 +
 
 +
See the [http://catalog.mit.edu/subjects/9/ catelog descriptions] for more information
 +
on 9.11, 9.35, and 9.60.  Note that the prerequisites for these subjects are like stop
 +
signs in Massachusetts: merely suggestions.  We have it on good authority that the
 +
official prerequisites for at least 9.11 and 9.35 have been relaxed, making Course VI
 +
majors welcome.
 +
 
 +
Other great subjects offered by right-now speakers are as follows:
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>
 +
Ed Boyden </td><td>20.309 </td><td>Biological Instrumentation and Measurement    </td></tr><tr><td>
 +
Nick Montfort </td><td>CMS.846 </td><td>The world made digital</td></tr><tr><td>
 +
        </td><td>CMS.844 </td><td>Exploratory programming for the arts and humanities </td></tr><tr></table>
 +
 
 +
And from a right-now speaker in a previous year:
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>
 +
Randall Davis </td><td>6.835</td><td>Intelligent Multimodal Interaction</td></tr><tr></table>
 +
 
 +
And finally, a new subject of note, likely already full:
 +
 
 +
<table cellpadding=5 border=1><tr><td>
 +
Hal Abelson with Natalie Lao</td><td>6.S198 </td><td>[https://www.eecs.mit.edu/academics-admissions/academic-information/subject-updates-spring-2018/6s198 Deep learning practicum]
 +
</td></tr></table>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Alas, two other right-now speakers, Professors Patricia Maes and Gerald Sussman, will be on sabbatical.
 +
 
 +
===Logistical stuff:===
* [[Frequently Asked Questions | Frequently asked questions]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions | Frequently asked questions]]
* [[Grading and collaboration policy]]
* [[Grading and collaboration policy]]
-
* [[Demonstrations]]
+
* [[Staff | Staff names and email addresses]]
 +
* [[Recitations | Recitations]]
 +
* [[Office Hours | Office Hours]]
 +
* [[6.S077_with_Professor_Berwick | 6.S077 with Bob Berwick]]
 +
* [[6.S966:_A_Graduate_Section_for_6.034 | 6.S966 with Gerald Sussman]]
 +
 
 +
* [[Reference material and playlist | What material will be on the quiz?]]
 +
<!--
 +
* [http://goo.gl/forms/5Q6X53fNrE Suggestion Box]
 +
-->
 +
 
 +
===Reference stuff:===
 +
 
 +
* [[Calendar]]
 +
* [[Reference material and playlist]]
* [[Labs]] (also known as "problem sets")
* [[Labs]] (also known as "problem sets")
-
* [[Tutorials]]
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* [http://piazza.com/mit/fall2017/6034 Piazza]
-
* Recitations: Thursdays 11,noon in 36-156; Thursdays 1,2,3pm in 24-407; and Fridays 1,2,3pm in 26-210.
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* '''NEW:''' [http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/sigmoid/ Grade Calculator]
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* [http://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.034f/Examinations/ Quiz archive] [[Index]]
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* [[Demonstrations]]
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* [[Staff]]
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* [http://web.mit.edu/dxh/www/ Dylan's AI Demonstrations]
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</big>
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<!-- * [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxymR0ZPfMmV-vGtvhvTeWHIcnh-bTjDI Jessica's 2016 Recitation Videos] -->
 +
* [http://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.034f/Examinations/ Quiz archive]
 +
 
 +
Note that the current staff mailing list is '''6.034-2017-staff@'''.
== News ==
== News ==
-
=== Monday, November 9 ===
 
-
Quizzes have been graded and will be returned in recitation, then tutorial, then only from PHW's office.
 
-
Breakpoints for Quiz 3:
+
===December 2017===
-
{| align="center" border="1"
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==== Friday, December 15: End-of-semester review sessions ====
-
|
+
-
|Thorough understanding
+
-
|Adequate understanding
+
-
|-
+
-
|Problem 1
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-
| &ge; 43
+
-
| &ge; 37
+
-
|-
+
-
|Problem 2
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| &ge; 33
+
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| &ge; 25
+
-
|-
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|Overall
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| &ge; 76
+
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| &ge; 62
+
-
|}
+
-
Note that the corresponding portion of the final is likely to include a straightforward neural net question and a problem that requires an understanding of mutation and crossover.
+
On Saturday (December 16) and Sunday (December 17), we will be having end-of-semester review sessions covering all 6.034 core topics. More details can be found [[Office_Hours|on the office hours page]].
-
=== Wednesday, October 21 ===
+
==== Sunday, December 10: Quiz 4 thresholds====
-
Quizzes have been graded and will be returned in recitation, then tutorial, then only from PHW's office.
+
-
Breakpoints for Quiz 2:
+
We'll be returning Quiz 4 during recitations this week. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office ([http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/32-251.jpg 32-251]) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. The Quiz 4 thresholds are:  
-
{| align="center" border="1"
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{| cellpadding=2 border=1 cellspacing=2
-
|
+
-
|Thorough understanding
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-
|Adequate understanding
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|-
|-
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|Problem 1
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| ||Thorough understanding (5) ||Acceptable understanding (4)|| Some understanding (3) / Needs work
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| &ge; 45
+
|-
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| &ge; 37
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| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 1: Bayes (50) || ≥ 44 || ≥ 39 || ≥ 33
|-
|-
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|Problem 2
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| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 2: Boosting (50) || ≥ 46 || ≥ 41 || ≥ 35
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| &ge; 45
+
-
| &ge; 40
+
|-
|-
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|Overall
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| style="text-align:left;" | '''Total''' || '''≥ 90''' || '''≥ 80''' || '''≥ 68'''
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| &ge; 90
+
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| &ge; 77
+
|}
|}
-
=== Tuesday, October 20 ===
 
-
The Quiz 2 tomorrow is in 10-250 and starts at 10am sharp. Open book, open notes, but no computers of any kind.
 
-
It will cover Games and Constraint Satisfaction Problems.
 
-
=== Sunday, October 12 ===
+
==== Friday, December 1: Quiz 4 Locations ====
-
Due to there being no Tuesday schedule, there will be an extra tutorial on Tuesday.
+
-
It will be from 8-9pm in 32-124.
+
Quiz 4 will take place on Wednesday, December 6. Locations will be the same as for Quiz 2. That is,
-
=== Thursday, October 8 ===
+
* Family name A-M in Walker, 3rd floor
 +
* Family name N-Z in 10-250
-
Because of the confluence of a Monday holiday and family weekend in the same week, the schedule next week is highly unusual. As indicated on the calendar, there will be lectures on Tuesday and Friday.  Also, there will be no megarecitation next week, because of insufficient accumulation of material to cover.
+
The core topics are Bayesian inference and boosting (Adaboost). The spiritual/right now topics are listed as "4srn" on the [[Reference_material_and_playlist|Reference material page]].
-
Lab 3 is out (short but difficult):
+
===November 2017===
-
  http://ai6034.mit.edu/fall09/index.php?title=Lab_3
+
-
Resubmit lab 2 if you did not download a new tests.py on Saturday and resubmit with it already.  Older submissions are invalid, and you're likely to have a zero on the lab, which you can check at https://ai6034.mit.edu:444/fall09/tester/
+
==== Monday, November 20: 6.034 2017 T-shirts announced ====
-
=== Thursday, October 1 ===
+
By popular request, you can now order a limited-edition 6.034 2017 T-shirt, featuring our class motto as coined by Dr. Vikash Mansinghka, former 6.034 student and Head TA.
-
Quizzes have been graded and will be returned in recitation, then tutorial, then only from PHW's office.
+
This year's T-shirt will be available in sapphire blue, available at cost in both crew-neck ($8) and v-neck ($9). If you would like to buy one, [https://www.customink.com/g/fhs0-00b8-7wfk please order here] by '''Tuesday morning, November 28'''.
-
Breakpoints for Quiz 1:
+
==== Sunday, November 12: Quiz 3 thresholds====
-
{| align="center" border="1"
+
We hope you've had a pleasant long weekend!
-
|
+
 
-
|Thorough understanding
+
We'll be returning Quiz 3 during recitations tomorrow and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office ([http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/32-251.jpg 32-251]) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. The Quiz 3 thresholds are:
-
|Adequate understanding
+
 
 +
{| cellpadding=2 border=1 cellspacing=2
|-
|-
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|Problem 1
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| ||Thorough understanding (5) ||Acceptable understanding (4)|| Some understanding (3) / Needs work
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| &ge; 43
+
|-
-
| &ge; 37
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| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 1: SVMs (50) || ≥ 45 || ≥ 39 || ≥ 33
|-
|-
-
|Problem 2
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| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 2: Neural Networks (50) || ≥ 45 || ≥ 40 || ≥ 33
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| &ge; 46
+
-
| &ge; 38
+
|-
|-
-
|Overall
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| style="text-align:left;" | '''Total''' || '''≥ 90''' || '''≥ 79''' || '''≥ 66'''
-
| &ge; 89
+
-
| &ge; 75
+
|}
|}
-
=== September 29nd ===
 
-
The Quiz tomorrow is in 10-250 and starts at 10am sharp.  Open book, open notes, but no computers of any kind.
+
==== Tuesday, November 7: Quiz 3 Locations ====
-
=== September 22nd ===
+
Quiz 3, covering neural networks and support vector machines, will be held during class time on November 8. You will be in the same location as you were for Quiz 1: in other words,
 +
* Family name A-M will be in 10-250
 +
* Family name N-Z will be in Walker, 3rd floor
-
In response to the large class size, we're very fortunate to be able to
+
===October 2017===
-
bring in Prof. Robert Berwick as a third recitation instructor, adding two
+
-
sections.  For now we'll rely on you to rebalance yourselves.
+
-
The eight recitations now offered are listed below.  The first two Thursday
+
==== Monday, October 23: Quiz 2 thresholds====
-
recitations are new, and are likely to have fewer people at first, so you
+
We will be returning Quiz 2 during recitations on Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office ([http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/32-251.jpg 32-251]) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. Thresholds are:
-
will get a more focused experience. Please attend whichever one best fits
+
 
-
your schedule.
+
{| cellpadding=2 border=1 cellspacing=2
 +
|-
 +
| ||Thorough understanding (5) ||Acceptable understanding (4)|| Some understanding (3) / Needs work
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 1: ID Trees (30) || ≥ 27 || ≥ 24 || ≥ 19
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 2: k-Nearest Neighbors (30) || ≥ 26 || ≥ 22 || ≥ 16
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 3: Constraint Propagation (40) || ≥ 33 || ≥ 26 || ≥ 20
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Total''' || '''≥ 86''' || '''≥ 72''' || '''≥ 55'''
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Saturday, October 14: Quiz 2 Locations====
 +
 
 +
Quiz 2 (covering constraint propagation, k-nearest neighbors, and identification trees) will be held on October 18 at 10am. If you were in Walker for quiz 1, you will be in 10-250 for quiz 2, and vice versa. Hence,
 +
* Family name A-M will be in '''Walker, 3rd floor'''
 +
* Family name N-Z will be in '''10-250'''
 +
 
 +
==== Sunday, October 1: Quiz 1 thresholds====
 +
Quiz 1 will be returned in recitations on Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office ([http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/32-251.jpg 32-251]) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. Thresholds are:
 +
 
 +
{| cellpadding=2 border=1 cellspacing=2
 +
|-
 +
| ||Thorough understanding (5) ||Acceptable understanding (4)|| Some understanding (3) / Needs work
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 1: Search (35) || ≥ 32 || ≥ 27 || ≥ 22
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 2: Rules (35) || ≥ 31 || ≥ 27 || ≥ 21
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | Problem 3: Games (30) || ≥ 28 || ≥ 24 || ≥ 20
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Total''' || '''≥ 91''' || '''≥ 78''' || '''≥ 63'''
 +
|}
-
Thursdays 11am 36-156
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===September 2017===
-
Thursdays noon 36-156
+
-
Thursdays  1pm 24-407
+
-
Thursdays  2pm 24-407
+
-
Thursdays  3pm 24-407
+
-
Fridays    1pm 26-210
+
-
Fridays    2pm 26-210
+
-
Fridays    3pm 26-210
+
-
=== September 15th ===
+
====Saturday, September 23: Quiz 1 Locations====
-
There is a new [http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/labs/lab0/tester.py tester.py] which lets you just run that module to do local tests, and if those succeed, to submit, all in one go. If you're running up against the clock, remember to submit using either the command line or test_online() even if you don't pass the local tests though!  Partial credit is better than none.
+
Quiz 1 (covering rule-based systems, search, and games) will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 10am. Half of you will take the quiz in 10-250, and half in 10-250, enabling less crowded conditions. Locations:
 +
* Family name A-M: 10-250
 +
* Family name N-Z: Walker, 3rd floor
-
A short conversation about [[Mutation]]
+
====Sunday, September 10: Recitations are now assigned====
-
=== September 14th ===
+
Recitations have been assigned! To view or change your recitation, please visit the [https://ai6034.mit.edu:444/recitation/ 6.034 Recitation Self-Service page]. Recitations begin on Monday 9/11 (tomorrow) and Tuesday 9/12. We'll see you there!
-
Note the addition of of a calendar, with locked down Quiz dates, along with a table of reference materials.  These will be integrated, once we figure out how.
+
====Wednesday, September 6: Recitation Sign-Up====
-
=== September 11th ===
+
Recitations will start next Monday 9/11 and Tuesday 9/12. Please fill out the [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVVrHiB9gj2EATvaYFx4HBH0X6gTRjoO1wn3uditphv8tdBQ/viewform recitation request form] by 5pm today to indicate your recitation preferences. Recitation assignments will be sent out by Sunday afternoon.
-
Our email list is incomplete and does not include, for example, late-registering students, so if
+
If you are not yet registered for the class, please fill out the recitation request form anyway, and register for 6.034 as soon as possible.
-
you have not received email from us, please email the [[Staff]] and be sure
+
-
to monitor our web page for announcements during the coming week.
+
-
Professor Teller's subject, 6.142, has moved to an 11am start time to
+
===Summer 2017===
-
accommodate students who want to take both 6.142 and 6.034.
+
-
We will have either tutorials or open office hours on Monday,
+
====Special 2017 opportunity for extra units====
-
depending on whether the registrar can get rooms for us by then.
+
-
The locations will be announced during lecture. 
+
-
Preliminary tutorial assignments are now available: [[Tutorials]]
+
-
The notes from today are available: [http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/Mr1-basics.py] [http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/Mr1-points.py] [http://web.mit.edu/6.034/www/Mr1-gotchas.py]
+
The 2017 edition of 6.034 will offer an optional 3-unit add-on set of lectures given by Professor Robert C. Berwick. This addition will supplement the main lectures and recitations because it will focus on the science side of 6.034, addressing long-standing scientific questions and biological intelligence, rather than existing tools for building applications. Evolution and  human language will be emphasized.
-
=== September 10th ===
+
To avoid conflicts with other classes, Professor Berwick will offer the once-a-week extra session twice:
-
Lab 0 is now available.
+
3-4 on Wednesdays 36-153
-
Please '''do''' bring a laptop to the mega-recitation tomorrow, if you have one.
+
2-3 on Fridays. 36-155
-
Download Python '''2.6''' from [http://www.python.org/download python.org] -- do not download 3.1, as it will be incompatible with some of the software we hand out.  This download also includes the IDLE program, which we will demonstrate tomorrow.
+
You can attend either of the two sessions.
-
=== September 9th ===
+
If you are interested, sign up for 6.S077 in addition to 6.034.
-
[http://doodle.com/tptv9y2bu8qxt6hi Give us your tutorial availability] please.
+
====Special 2017 opportunity for graduate credit====
-
There will be no regular recitations this week. There is a mega-recitation, however.
+
The 2017 edition of 6.034 will offer an optional, experimental, graduate-credit version, for graduate students only, by Professor Gerald J. Sussman. Students involved will do all 6.034 classes, homework, and quizzes plus an extra class with Professor Sussman and extra work. [[Media:6.S966-prospectus.pdf| You can read the prospectus here.]]
-
The slides (missing from lecture today) are now [http://ai6034.mit.edu/fall09/images/6.034-lecture-1.pdf available].
+
The class, 6.S966, will meet on Fridays, 11am-12noon, in 34-303.
 +
If you are interested, register for 6.S966. '''When registering, you must explicitly register for 12 units'''; the registration software will try to default to 1 unit.
-
==== Mega-recitations ====
+
==== 6.034 Lab 0 Released ====
-
Mega-recitations occur on Fridays at 10 AM in 10-250, the same time slot that is occupied by lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays.
+
-
The first mega-recitation, on Friday, September 11th, will be a refresher on the Python programming language.
+
Many students interested in taking 6.034 for credit wonder if their Python skills are adequate for the 6.034 laboratory assignments, especially those who have not taken 6.0001 or equivalent. The answer is to be found in Lab 0, which in past years we have released at the beginning of the semester.
-
==== Times and places of recitations and tutorials ====
+
You can look over Lab 0 now, before the semester begins, so that you can determine if you should review Python for a day or two before the semester begins.  You can find Lab 0 [[Lab 0 | here]].  
-
Please fill out the [http://doodle.com/tptv9y2bu8qxt6hi Tutorial scheduling form].  You will learn which tutorial you are in by email.
+
-
Unexpectedly, the registrar supplied us with recitation time slots we can live with, so attend at the time and place you were assigned.
+
If you have any questions, email the 6.034 staff at 6.034-2017-staff@.  
 +
====About 6.034, Fall 2017 Edition====
 +
In the fall semester of 2017, 6.034 will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 to 11
 +
in 10-250.  Most, but not all of Professor Winston's lectures will be on Monday and
 +
Wednesday.  On many, but not all Fridays, you will learn about what is happening in the
 +
field right now from someone who is doing work right now in an area related to the
 +
Monday and Wednesday lectures.
-
==== Python ====
+
Examinations will cover material from the traditional lectures as well as the right-now
-
The official language of 6.034 is Python for a variety of reasons having little to do with the strengths and weaknesses of the language.  We expect a focused weekend with any of the many Python books would be adequate preparation.  See, for example, the [http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/285856/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_5_last Amazon list].
+
lectures. It will be extremely difficult to field questions on the right-now material
 +
if you do not attend the right-now lectures because the material is not yet in textbooks
 +
or, in many cases, published papers.
-
Alternatively, you can follow one of the suggestions of Rob Speer, head 6.034 TA in 2008:
+
Recitations (previously known as "tutorials") will meet weekly on Monday and Tuesday.  On
 +
the first day of class, you will fill out a form that will enable us to assign you to a
 +
recitation.
-
* [http://diveintopython.org Dive into Python] is a well-recommended book that is available online. It's written for experienced programmers who just don't know Python yet. It's meant to quickly take what you already know about other languages and explain how Python does them.
+
6.034 is no longer offered in the spring term.
-
* At the other end of the spectrum, the text that was used in 6.00 has been expanded into one called ''Think Python''. It's [http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/ online]. It is targeted at people who have not programmed much or at all.
+
More details will emerge during the first lecture.
-
* In the middle is the O'Reilly book ''Learning Python''. MIT has a subscription to O'Reilly, so anyone with an MIT IP address can read the book [http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/9780596513986/ online].
+
'''We are pleased to note''' that Bloomberg has listed 6.034 as among [http://www.csail.mit.edu/node/2500  "Five of the Best Computer Science Classes in the U.S."]
 +
What they meant to say is that 6.034 has had outstanding TAs.

Revision as of 18:30, 6 February 2018

Image:Evolve.jpg
Somewhere, something went wrong.

Contents

Welcome to the 2017 Edition of 6.034

Suggestions for subjects to take in the coming spring semester, 2018

Bob Berwick 6.863J Introduction to Natural Language Processing

Two of our 2017 right-now speakers in Brain and Cognitive Science are offering subjects of interest in this spring semester:

Nancy Kanwisher 9.11 The Human Brain
Pawan Sinha 9.60 Machine motivated human vision

Professor Kanwisher has suggested that many of you also would like 9.35:

Josh McDermott 9.35 Perceptual Systems

See the catelog descriptions for more information on 9.11, 9.35, and 9.60. Note that the prerequisites for these subjects are like stop signs in Massachusetts: merely suggestions. We have it on good authority that the official prerequisites for at least 9.11 and 9.35 have been relaxed, making Course VI majors welcome.

Other great subjects offered by right-now speakers are as follows:

Ed Boyden 20.309 Biological Instrumentation and Measurement
Nick Montfort CMS.846 The world made digital
CMS.844 Exploratory programming for the arts and humanities

And from a right-now speaker in a previous year:

Randall Davis 6.835Intelligent Multimodal Interaction

And finally, a new subject of note, likely already full:

Hal Abelson with Natalie Lao6.S198 Deep learning practicum


Alas, two other right-now speakers, Professors Patricia Maes and Gerald Sussman, will be on sabbatical.

Logistical stuff:

Reference stuff:

Note that the current staff mailing list is 6.034-2017-staff@.

News

December 2017

Friday, December 15: End-of-semester review sessions

On Saturday (December 16) and Sunday (December 17), we will be having end-of-semester review sessions covering all 6.034 core topics. More details can be found on the office hours page.

Sunday, December 10: Quiz 4 thresholds

We'll be returning Quiz 4 during recitations this week. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office (32-251) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. The Quiz 4 thresholds are:

Thorough understanding (5) Acceptable understanding (4) Some understanding (3) / Needs work
Problem 1: Bayes (50) ≥ 44 ≥ 39 ≥ 33
Problem 2: Boosting (50) ≥ 46 ≥ 41 ≥ 35
Total ≥ 90 ≥ 80 ≥ 68

Friday, December 1: Quiz 4 Locations

Quiz 4 will take place on Wednesday, December 6. Locations will be the same as for Quiz 2. That is,

  • Family name A-M in Walker, 3rd floor
  • Family name N-Z in 10-250

The core topics are Bayesian inference and boosting (Adaboost). The spiritual/right now topics are listed as "4srn" on the Reference material page.

November 2017

Monday, November 20: 6.034 2017 T-shirts announced

By popular request, you can now order a limited-edition 6.034 2017 T-shirt, featuring our class motto as coined by Dr. Vikash Mansinghka, former 6.034 student and Head TA.

This year's T-shirt will be available in sapphire blue, available at cost in both crew-neck ($8) and v-neck ($9). If you would like to buy one, please order here by Tuesday morning, November 28.

Sunday, November 12: Quiz 3 thresholds

We hope you've had a pleasant long weekend!

We'll be returning Quiz 3 during recitations tomorrow and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office (32-251) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. The Quiz 3 thresholds are:

Thorough understanding (5) Acceptable understanding (4) Some understanding (3) / Needs work
Problem 1: SVMs (50) ≥ 45 ≥ 39 ≥ 33
Problem 2: Neural Networks (50) ≥ 45 ≥ 40 ≥ 33
Total ≥ 90 ≥ 79 ≥ 66

Tuesday, November 7: Quiz 3 Locations

Quiz 3, covering neural networks and support vector machines, will be held during class time on November 8. You will be in the same location as you were for Quiz 1: in other words,

  • Family name A-M will be in 10-250
  • Family name N-Z will be in Walker, 3rd floor

October 2017

Monday, October 23: Quiz 2 thresholds

We will be returning Quiz 2 during recitations on Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office (32-251) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. Thresholds are:

Thorough understanding (5) Acceptable understanding (4) Some understanding (3) / Needs work
Problem 1: ID Trees (30) ≥ 27 ≥ 24 ≥ 19
Problem 2: k-Nearest Neighbors (30) ≥ 26 ≥ 22 ≥ 16
Problem 3: Constraint Propagation (40) ≥ 33 ≥ 26 ≥ 20
Total ≥ 86 ≥ 72 ≥ 55

Saturday, October 14: Quiz 2 Locations

Quiz 2 (covering constraint propagation, k-nearest neighbors, and identification trees) will be held on October 18 at 10am. If you were in Walker for quiz 1, you will be in 10-250 for quiz 2, and vice versa. Hence,

  • Family name A-M will be in Walker, 3rd floor
  • Family name N-Z will be in 10-250

Sunday, October 1: Quiz 1 thresholds

Quiz 1 will be returned in recitations on Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, you may pick up your quiz from Professor Winston's office (32-251) when he is in, or contact your TA to arrange a pick-up. Thresholds are:

Thorough understanding (5) Acceptable understanding (4) Some understanding (3) / Needs work
Problem 1: Search (35) ≥ 32 ≥ 27 ≥ 22
Problem 2: Rules (35) ≥ 31 ≥ 27 ≥ 21
Problem 3: Games (30) ≥ 28 ≥ 24 ≥ 20
Total ≥ 91 ≥ 78 ≥ 63

September 2017

Saturday, September 23: Quiz 1 Locations

Quiz 1 (covering rule-based systems, search, and games) will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 10am. Half of you will take the quiz in 10-250, and half in 10-250, enabling less crowded conditions. Locations:

  • Family name A-M: 10-250
  • Family name N-Z: Walker, 3rd floor

Sunday, September 10: Recitations are now assigned

Recitations have been assigned! To view or change your recitation, please visit the 6.034 Recitation Self-Service page. Recitations begin on Monday 9/11 (tomorrow) and Tuesday 9/12. We'll see you there!

Wednesday, September 6: Recitation Sign-Up

Recitations will start next Monday 9/11 and Tuesday 9/12. Please fill out the recitation request form by 5pm today to indicate your recitation preferences. Recitation assignments will be sent out by Sunday afternoon.

If you are not yet registered for the class, please fill out the recitation request form anyway, and register for 6.034 as soon as possible.

Summer 2017

Special 2017 opportunity for extra units

The 2017 edition of 6.034 will offer an optional 3-unit add-on set of lectures given by Professor Robert C. Berwick. This addition will supplement the main lectures and recitations because it will focus on the science side of 6.034, addressing long-standing scientific questions and biological intelligence, rather than existing tools for building applications. Evolution and human language will be emphasized.

To avoid conflicts with other classes, Professor Berwick will offer the once-a-week extra session twice:

3-4 on Wednesdays 36-153

2-3 on Fridays. 36-155

You can attend either of the two sessions.

If you are interested, sign up for 6.S077 in addition to 6.034.

Special 2017 opportunity for graduate credit

The 2017 edition of 6.034 will offer an optional, experimental, graduate-credit version, for graduate students only, by Professor Gerald J. Sussman. Students involved will do all 6.034 classes, homework, and quizzes plus an extra class with Professor Sussman and extra work. You can read the prospectus here.

The class, 6.S966, will meet on Fridays, 11am-12noon, in 34-303.

If you are interested, register for 6.S966. When registering, you must explicitly register for 12 units; the registration software will try to default to 1 unit.

6.034 Lab 0 Released

Many students interested in taking 6.034 for credit wonder if their Python skills are adequate for the 6.034 laboratory assignments, especially those who have not taken 6.0001 or equivalent. The answer is to be found in Lab 0, which in past years we have released at the beginning of the semester.

You can look over Lab 0 now, before the semester begins, so that you can determine if you should review Python for a day or two before the semester begins. You can find Lab 0 here.

If you have any questions, email the 6.034 staff at 6.034-2017-staff@.

About 6.034, Fall 2017 Edition

In the fall semester of 2017, 6.034 will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 to 11 in 10-250. Most, but not all of Professor Winston's lectures will be on Monday and Wednesday. On many, but not all Fridays, you will learn about what is happening in the field right now from someone who is doing work right now in an area related to the Monday and Wednesday lectures.

Examinations will cover material from the traditional lectures as well as the right-now lectures. It will be extremely difficult to field questions on the right-now material if you do not attend the right-now lectures because the material is not yet in textbooks or, in many cases, published papers.

Recitations (previously known as "tutorials") will meet weekly on Monday and Tuesday. On the first day of class, you will fill out a form that will enable us to assign you to a recitation.

6.034 is no longer offered in the spring term.

More details will emerge during the first lecture.

We are pleased to note that Bloomberg has listed 6.034 as among "Five of the Best Computer Science Classes in the U.S." What they meant to say is that 6.034 has had outstanding TAs.

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