The MachineLearnAthon is an Erasmus+ cooperation partnership project introducing a new, challenge-based teaching format centered around machine learning (ML) competitions. Our goal is to make machine learning accessible, engaging, and action-oriented by combining theoretical understanding with hands-on application.
Main Results
At the heart of MachineLearnAthon lie four key outcomes that define our approach to modern ML education:
- Didactic Concept:
Developed on principles of action orientation, constructivism, and problem orientation. This concept empowers learners to engage actively with real-world problems rather than passively consume content. - 8 Real-World Challenges:
Authentic prediction tasks based on publicly available datasets form the backbone of our teaching format. Each challenge includes leaderboard access, motivating participants through transparent progress tracking and friendly competition. - 29 Tutorials:
Step-by-step video units (each about 10 minutes long) guiding learners through practical ML implementation in Python—ideal for self-paced study and skill development. - 55 Micro Lectures:
Concise video lectures (each roughly 10 minutes long) covering ML theory, paradigms, frameworks, and data preparation—providing a solid conceptual foundation for subsequent application.
Together, these elements create an integrated learning experience that connects theory with practice and enables independent learning across different levels of expertise.
Our Goals
The project aims to:
- Advance awareness and skills in machine learning across disciplines.
- Enhance data literacy among students with varying levels of programming experience.
- Promote ethically sound, trustworthy, and robust ML solutions.
- Foster international cooperation between students and educators.
- Strengthen collaboration between academia and industry through real-world challenges.
Further Resources
To support both educators and students, we provide several open resources: academic publications and a comprehensive course handbook for teachers, as well as a detailed Glossary and practical Tool Listto help learners navigate key ML concepts and select suitable tools for their studies.
A white paper published on arXiv titled MachineLearnAthon: An Action-Oriented Machine Learning Didactic Concept.
- An extended conference paper Teaching Machine Learning to Programming Novices: An Action-Oriented Didactic Concept.
- A comprehensive Handbook offering examples for curriculum integration at universities or schools.
- A detailed Glossary complementing micro‑lectures that helps users quickly find specific topics.
- A practical Tool List comparing popular ML tools used in tutorials along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Explore more
Stay updated through our monthly News section highlighting ongoing developments within MachineLearnAthon, and learn more about the international Consortium driving this initiative forward.