In the modern corporate world, data is viewed not only as a necessity for day-to-day operation, it is seen as a critical asset for decision making. However, raw data is of low value. Succinct generalizations are required before data gains high value. Data mining produces knowledge from data, making feasible sophisticated data-driven decision making. This unit will provide students with an understanding of the major components of the data mining process, the various methods and operations for data mining, knowledge of the applications and technical aspects of data mining, and an understanding of the major research issues in this area.
At the completion of this unit, students will have:
Knowledge of:
Skills in using data mining tools to solve data mining problems
Understanding of current major research issues
You may not study this unit and COT 5230 Data Mining or translation set GCO5828 Applications of Data Mining in your degree.
Monash is committed to ‘Excellence in education’ (Monash Directions 2025 - http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html) and strives for the highest possible quality in teaching and learning.
To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning Monash regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through Unit Evaluation Surveys. The University’s Unit Evaluation policy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/unit-evaluation-policy.html) requires that every unit offered is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they are an important avenue for students to “have their say”. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
Faculties have the option of administering the Unit Evaluation survey online through the my.monash portal or in class. Lecturers will inform students of the method being used for this unit towards the end of the semester.
Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
| Week | Topic | Key dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Need for Data Mining | |
| 2 | Model Building | |
| 3 | Model Representation | |
| 4 | Data Mining Process | |
| 5 | Performance Evaluation | |
| 6 | Engineering the input and output | |
| Mid semester break | ||
| 7 | Algorithms | |
| 8 | Implementation Issues | |
| 9 | Market basket analysis | |
| 10 | Cluster Analysis & Anomaly Detection | |
| 11 | Case Study | |
| 12 | Data Mining Applications & Research Issues | |
| 13 | Study Week | |
Witten, I.H. & Frank, E. Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools and Techniques, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, second edition, 2005.
Kennedy, R.L., Lee, Y. Roy, B.V., Reed, C.D. & Lippman, R.P., Solving Data Mining Problems through Pattern Recognition, Prentice Hall, 1998.
1. Software Title: WEKA, version 3.6
2. Magnum OPUS version 4
Both are freeware and they are made available in the GSIT CD-ROM or retrievable from the websites stated in the relevant unit home page.
Software may be:
Study resources we will provide for your study are:
A printed Unit Book containing the unit information and 12 Study Guides.
A CD-ROM sent at the start of the year, with software required for all units.
The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.
The Educational Library and Media Resources (LMR) is also a very resourceful place to visit at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/library/
All unit and lecture materials are available through MUSO (Monash University Studies Online). Blackboard is the primary application used to deliver your unit resources. Some units will be piloted in Moodle. If your unit is piloted in Moodle, you will see a link from your Blackboard unit to Moodle (http://moodle.monash.edu.au) and can bookmark this link to access directly. In Moodle, from the Faculty of Information Technology category, click on the link for your unit.
You can access MUSO and Blackboard via the portal: http://my.monash.edu.au
Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then Blackboard under the MUSO learning systems.
In order for your Blackboard unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.
For example:
For more information, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html
You can contact the MUSO Support by phone : (+61 3) 9903 1268
For further contact information including operational hours, please visit: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html
Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site: http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html
The unit is assessed with three assignments and a three-hour closed book examination. To pass the unit you must pass each individual hurdle:
and
If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination assessment then a mark of no greater than 44-N will be recorded for the unit.
Title : Assignment 1
Description :
Weighting : 10%
Criteria for assessment :
To get a Pass grade, students must perform data preparation/preprocessing,
produce several different models and choose the best model, and submit
a clearly written report describing the process.
To get a better grade, students must show that they have performed extra data analysis and preprocessing,
explored a wide range of different models and describe how the final model is
produced and how it can be applied for future predictions.
More detail criteria will be provided in the sample marksheet in the assignment web page.
Due date : 8 April 2009
Title : Assignment 2
Description :
Weighting : 10%
Criteria for assessment :
Due date : 6 May 2009
Title : Assignment 3
Description :
Each student can choose either
(A) To conduct an in-depth study of a specific method for data mining, or
(B) To conduct a review of a current research topic.
Weighting : 20%
Criteria for assessment :
Students are required to write a report on the chosen topic which should contain:
Due date : 20 May 2009
Weighting : 60%
Length : 3 hours
Type ( open/closed book ) : Closed book
Assignments will be submitted electronically via WebFace (http://wfsubmit.its.monash.edu.au/)
The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.
Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 10% a day. Assignments received later than one week after the due date will not be accepted.
Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with the University Plagiarism policy and procedure (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) which applies to students detected plagiarising.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.
The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.
Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:
Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.