# Module 1 Overview

## Theme

From neurons to multilayer networks

## Essential Question

How does a stack of differentiable units approximate complex functions from data?

## Professional Scenario

A product analytics team has a small labeled dataset and wants a neural baseline before investing in a larger modeling effort.

## Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

- explain the core technical idea in precise neural-network vocabulary
- connect architecture and training choices to the shape of the data and task
- run or interpret the module lab as reproducible evidence
- identify limitations, failure modes, and next steps for a defensible experiment

## Module Components

- Book prose for conceptual framing and practitioner patterns.
- Assignment notebook for the graded artifact: baseline MLP design brief.
- Slides and narration for structured teaching.
- Instructor notes for facilitation, misconceptions, and evidence expectations.
- Lab notebook for hands-on experimentation.
- Rubric for grading technical correctness, evidence, tradeoffs, risk analysis, and communication.