Introduction to data mining

School of Computer and Information Sciences

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Information

ITS632 - B03 Intro to Data Mining

Spring 2021 Second Bi-Term

Course Format: Online

CRN: 22087

 

Instructor Information

Name: Matthew Taylor

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 2027166875

Office Location: Conference Call

Office Hours/Preferred Contact Times: Remote- By Appointment Only

Course Description

The goal of the course is to introduce students to the current theories, practices, tools

and techniques in data mining. Because many topics and concepts in data mining are

learned most efficiently through hands-on work with data sets, we will spend time with

software analyzing and mining data. The goal is to gain a better understanding of how

data mining is applied and what is involved in data mining projects.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course:

Explain how businesses can gain competitive advantage through the mining of

data,

Describe when and how various data mining techniques should be applied,

Describe and explain strategic recommendations based on data mining results.

Explain the benefits and uses of data through data mining and machine learning

lenses and tools

Learner Outcomes

Understand the principles of classification and regression techniques

Know the principles of clustering

Understand the principles of the association rule

Understand the principles of spatial and temporal mining

Understand how to interpret the output produced by classification methods

Course Website

Access to the course website is required via the iLearn portal on the University of the

Cumberlands website: http://www.ucumberlands.edu/ilearn/ 

or https://ucumberlands.blackboard.com/

Required Books and Resources

Title: Introduction to Data Mining

ISBN: 9780133128901

Authors: Pang-Ning Tan, Michael Steinbach, Anuj Karpatne, Vipin

Kumar

Publisher: Addison-Wesley

Publication Date: 2013-01-01

Edition: 2nd ED.

Course Required text can be found and purchased via the UC Barnes and Noble

Bookstore: https://cumber.bncollege.com/shop/cumberlands/page/find-textbooks

Suggested Books and Resources

Introduction to Data Mining

ISBN: 9788131764633

Publisher: Pearson Education India

Publication Date: 2020-07-31

Python For Everyone

ISBN: 9781119498612

Authors: Cay S. Horstmann, Rance D. Necaise

Publisher: Wiley Global Education

Publication Date: 2019-02-21

Data Mining for Scientific and Engineering Applications

ISBN: 9781402001147

Authors: R.L. Grossman, C. Kamath, P. Kegelmeyer, V. Kumar, R.

Namburu

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Publication Date: 2001-10-31

Predictive Analytics and Data Mining

ISBN: 9780128016503

Authors: Vijay Kotu, Bala Deshpande

Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann

Publication Date: 2014-11-27

Requirements and Policies

Academic Dishonesty Policy

As a Christian liberal arts university committed to the pursuit of truth and

understanding, any act of academic dishonesty is especially distressing and cannot

be tolerated. In general, academic dishonesty involves the abuse and misuse of

information or people to gain an undeserved academic advantage or evaluation. 

The common forms of academic dishonesty include:

1. cheating –

 using deception in the taking of tests or the preparation of written work, using 

with or without consent, or assisting another in such activities;

2. lying – falsifying, fabricating, or forging information in

either written or spoken presentations;

3. plagiarism –

 using the published writings, data, interpretations, or ideas of another without 

Episodes of academic dishonesty are reported as appropriate to the Vice President

for Academic Affairs. The potential penalty for academic dishonesty includes 1) a

failing grade on a particular assignment, 2) a failing grade for the entire course, 3)

suspension or expulsion, or (4) revocation of a degree.

Attendance Policy

Course enrollment and participation will be monitored and verified for all students

during the first two weeks of classes. Lack of participation during this time may

jeopardize enrollment status. Each student is expected to meet course expectations by

completing the coursework required each week. Active participation and staying abreast

of the material is essential to success. Program specific attendance policies may still

apply.

Participation Policy

Students are expected to actively participate in intelligent discussion of assigned

topics in all areas, such as: Discussion Board Activities, Synchronous Sessions,

Forums, Shared Papers, etc. 

 Point adjustments will be taken for non-participation.

Disability Accommodations

University of the Cumberlands accepts students with certified disabilities and provides

reasonable accommodations for their certified needs in the classroom, in housing, in

food service or in other areas. For accommodations to be awarded, a student must

submit a completed Accommodations Application form and provide documentation of

the disability to the Disability Services Coordinator (Mr. Jacob Ratliff, Boswell Campus

Center, Student Services Office Suite, [email protected]). When all

paperwork is on file, a meeting between the student and the Coordinator will be

arranged to discuss possible accommodations before accommodations are formally

approved. Students must then meet with the Coordinator at the beginning of each

semester before any academic accommodations can be certified for that term.

Certifications for other accommodations are normally reviewed annually.

Academic Appeal

Both undergraduate and graduate students have the right to challenge a grade. If

discussions with the course instructor and department chair do not lead to a satisfactory

conclusion, students may file a formal written appeal with the Vice President for

Academic Affairs, who will forward the appeal to the chair of the Academic Appeals

Committee. This formal written appeal must be filed by the end of the 4th week of

classes in the next regular term following the term in which the course in question was

taken. The Academic Appeals Committee then gathers information from the student, the

instructor, and any other relevant parties. The Committee will deliver its

recommendation on the complaint to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. After

reviewing this recommendation and concurring or amending it, the Vice President for

Academic Affairs will inform the student and instructor of the disposition of the

complaint no later than the last day of classes of the term in which the complaint was

filed. Records of all actions regarding academic grade appeals, including their final

disposition, are maintained by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Academic

Appeals Committee. (Undergraduate Catalog/Graduate Catalog)

Student Responsibilities

Students should: 

Use University of the Cumberlands email system for all academic, administrative,

and co-curricular communication between faculty, staff and peers. 

Check for email and class announcements using iLearn (primary) and University of

the Cumberlands webmail (secondary) daily. 

Demonstrate Cumberlands Character in and outside the classroom per the

University Mission & Vision

Ensure you have consistent required technology for the course

Participate in courses regularly to:

Find announcements and updates

Complete assignments on time. Keep in mind that all deadlines use Eastern

Standard Time (EST).

Engage in discussion

Connect with fellow students and faculty

Present written work in an academic and professional manner.

Take examinations on the designated dates and times. Students should make

arrangements with faculty before the designated date for any needed

accommodations. 

Contact faculty or student success coordinator with questions or concerns.

Course Policies

1. The only authorized electronic means of academic, administrative, and co-

curricular communication between University of the Cumberlands and its students

is through the UCumberlands email system (i.e. Webmail). Each student is

responsible for monitoring his/her University email account frequently. This is the

primary email account used to correspond with you directly by the University;

imperative program information is sent to this email account specifically from

campus and program office.

2. Students should check for e-mail and class announcements using iLearn (primary)

and University of the Cumberlands webmail (secondary).

3. Students are expected to find out class assignments for missed classes and make

up missed work.

4. Students are expected to find out if any changes have been made in the class or

assignment schedule.

5. Written work must be presented in a professional manner.

6. Work that is not submitted in a professional manner will not be evaluated and will

be returned as unacceptable. 

7. There is a craft to writing. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and diction (word

usage) are all tools of that craft. Writing at the collegiate level will show careful

attention to these elements of craft. 

8. Work that does not exhibit care with regard to these elements will be considered

as inadequate for college writing and graded accordingly.

9. Students are expected to take the examinations on the designated dates. If you

are unable to take the exam on the scheduled date and know in advance, you are

to make arrangements with your professor before the designated date. If you miss

the exam, you must have a legitimate reason as determined by your professor.

Recognizing that a large part of professional life is meeting deadlines, it is necessary to

develop time management and organizational skills. Failure to meet the course

deadlines may result in penalties. Keep in mind that all deadlines are set using Eastern

Standard Time (EST). Late assignments will NOT be accepted.

Course Activities and Experiences

Students are expected to:

Review any assigned reading material and prepare responses to homework

assigned.

Actively participate in activities, assignments, and discussions.

Evaluate and react to each other’s work in a supportive, constructive manner.

Complete specific assignments and exams when specified and in a professional

manner.

Utilize learned technologies for class assignments.

Connect content knowledge from core courses to practical training placement and

activities.

Links to Support

UC Academic Catalog: https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/academic-catalog

UC Student Handbook: https://www.ucumberlands.edu/student-handbook

Academic Resources & Writing Center: www.ucumberlands.edu/learningcommons

Library: http://www.ucumberlands.edu/library/ 

Bookstore: https://cumber.bncollege.com/shop/cumberlands/home

About University of the Cumberlands:

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/about/presidents-welcome

Instructions for Accessing, Downloading, and Activating Office 365 Pro Plus

(free for UC Students):

https://helpdesk.ucumberlands.edu/support/solutions/articles/7000045435

Course Evaluation

A student will be evaluated/weighted on the following basis:

1. Exams - Each exam will consist of multiple-choice, multiple answers, matching,

and True/False questions. Exam items derived primarily from lectures and

readings. Exams will be available through iLearn and completed independently.

2. Homework Assignments, Discussion, & Quizzes – Assignments, Discussion, &

Quizzes will be given throughout the term. Each quiz will consist of multiple-

choice/answer, short answer questions, matching, and True/False questions — quiz

items derived primarily from lectures and readings. Quizzes will be available

through iLearn and completed independently. Assignments and Discussions will

come from the course lectures, materials, and required reading assignments.

3. Practical Connection Assignment – Written Assignment where students will reflect

on course concepts and their practical connection to a working environment.

Please note: 

Weekly Assignments and Discussion Board: 60% Course Grade. 

Midterm Exam: 20% Course Grade.  

Final Exam: 20% Course Grade 

Grading Scale

Graded work will receive a numeric score reflecting the quality of performance as given

above in evaluation methods. The overall course grade will be determined according to

the following scale:

A= 900 – 1000 (90% - 100%)

B= 800 – 899 (80% - 89%)

C = 700 – 799 (70% - 79%)

F < 699 (Below 69%)

Course Schedule

Course Schedule

Weekly Unit Readings/Topics Assignments and

Due Dates

Points

Week 1

Date:

03/01/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 1 – Introduction

Discussion Topics

Assignment #1

Required

(Due: 11:59 pm)

*Failing to

Participate in Week

1 may result in

being dropped from

the course. 

40

50

Week 2

Date:

03/08/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 2 – Data, 

Chapter 3 – Exploring Data

Discussion Topics

(Due: 11:59 pm)

40

Week 3

Date:

03/15/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 4 – Classification:

Basic Concepts, Decision

Trees, and Model Evaluation

Discussion Topics

Assignment #2

Required

(Due: 11:59 pm)

40

100

Week 4

Date:

03/22/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 5 – Association

Analysis: Basic Concepts and

Algorithms

Discussion Topics

Midterm Exam

(Chapters 1-5)

(Due: 11:59 pm

40

100

Week 5

Date:

 03/29/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 6 – Association

Analysis: Advanced

Concepts,

Discussion Topics

Assignment #3

Required

40

100

Chapter 7 – Cluster Analysis:

Basic Concepts and

Algorithms

(Due: 11:59 pm)

Week 6

Date

04/05/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 8 – Cluster Analysis:

Additional Issues and

Algorithms, 

Chapter 9 – Anomaly

Detection

Discussion Topics

Assignment #4

Required

(Due: 11:59 pm)

40

50

Week 7

Date

04/12/2021

Read Tan, Steinbach, &

Kumar – 

Chapter 10 – Avoiding False

Discoveries

Practical Connection

Project:

Assignment:

 Provide a reflection of at

least 500 words (or 2

pages double spaced) of

how the knowledge,

skills, or theories of this

course have been applied,

or could be applied, in a

practical manner to your

current work

environment. If you are

not currently working,

share times when you

have or could observe

these theories and

knowledge could be

applied to an employment

opportunity in your field

of study.

Discussion Topics

Final Term Project

(Due: 11:59 pm,

Date  04/18/2021)

40

200

Week 8

Date

04/19/2021

Review Chapters 1 – 10

*SHORT WEEK* All

assignments must be

completed by DATE at

TIME EST. 

Discussion Topics

Final Exam

(Chapters 6-10)

 (Due: 11:59pm)

20

100

Total Points 1,000

x

Syllabus Disclaimer

This syllabus contains important information critical to your success in this course. It

includes guidelines for this course and the instructor’s current expectations about

content, schedule, and requirements necessary for each student to achieve the best

educational results. While you must review and become familiar with the contents of

this syllabus, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments or change in the

syllabus from time to time. Any changes to the syllabus will be discussed with the

students.