Course Outline
Phase 1 — Meet Claude Code — 30 minutes
- Overview of Claude and what distinguishes Claude Code from standard chat interfaces
- Quick orientation: utilizing the Claude app today (web or desktop); the CLI and other interfaces are covered in the reference card
- Interface tour: initiating a coding session and understanding the workspace
- Understanding Claude Code’s thought process: the describe → plan → act → review loop
- Comprehending permissions: why Claude requests approval before creating files or executing code
- Your first build: instructing Claude to generate a simple styled webpage based on a one-sentence description
- Iterating on results: “increase the header size,” “modify the color scheme,” “add a navigation bar”
- Guided exercise: participants launch a session and construct a personalized “About Me” webpage, refining it through follow-up instructions
Goal: everyone overcomes the initial interaction hurdle and becomes comfortable with the interface.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 2 — Building Real Things with Plain English — 55 minutes
Three progressively complex tasks using only natural language prompts.
- Task 1 — Interactive dashboard: create a styled dashboard featuring sample data, charts, and statistics. Practice providing design direction: “apply a dark theme,” “incorporate a sidebar,” “make it responsive.”
- Task 2 — Data analysis: provide a sample CSV file and ask Claude to summarize findings, identify trends, locate highs/ lows, and generate a visual chart. This demonstrates Claude writing and executing code on your behalf.
- Task 3 — Automation tool: develop a simple utility — such as a unit converter, quiz app, or budget calculator. This introduces the concept that Claude can build interactive tools, not just static pages.
After each task, the instructor highlights what occurred behind the scenes: files created, code written, and how to interpret the output. Participants document their most effective prompts in a shared Prompt Playbook.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 3 — Working Smarter with Claude Code — 35 minutes
- The art of effective prompting: specific versus vague instructions
- Live demonstration: side-by-side comparison of weak and strong prompts for the same task
- Iterating and refining: asking Claude to explain choices, undo changes, or attempt a different approach
- Working with uploaded files: “read this document and summarize it,” “convert this spreadsheet into a chart”
- Multi-step workflows: chaining requests to construct complex outputs
- Understanding costs and usage: how tokens, context windows, and subscription tiers function
- When to use Claude Code versus regular Claude chat
- Guided exercise: participants extend one of their Phase 2 projects with a new feature using a multi-step prompt, then compare before-and-after prompts to identify what drove the difference
Goal: advance from “it works” to “I can achieve excellent results consistently.”
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 4 — Connecting Claude to Your Tools with MCP — 34 minutes
Pre-class: participants received email instructions to connect Gmail or Google Drive prior to the session, allowing classroom time to focus on using the connection rather than authentication.
- What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)? The universal plug system for AI tools
- Why MCP matters: transforming Claude from a chat assistant into a connected workflow hub
- The Connectors Directory: browsing and adding integrations directly from the Claude app
- Desktop Extensions: one-click installs (for Claude Desktop users)
- Live demonstration (one workflow): “Check my Google Calendar for tomorrow’s meetings and draft a preparation email for each one”
- Guided exercise: participants utilize their pre-connected service (or connect one live) to assign Claude a task — e.g., “Read my recent emails about project updates and create a summary document”
- Key concepts: OAuth, permissions, managing tool access per conversation, security awareness, and where to discover new connectors
Goal: participants view Claude as a connective layer, not merely a coding tool.
Phase 5 — Capstone & Wrap-Up — 35 minutes
Capstone mini-project (25 min): Each participant selects one scenario:
- A polished landing page or portfolio site
- A data analysis pipeline: upload a file, analyze it, and produce a visual report
- An interactive tool solving a real problem from their workflow
- A connected workflow: pull data from the service linked in Phase 4, transform it, and produce a deliverable
The instructor circulates, assists in refining prompts, and showcases standout examples.
Wrap-up (10 min):
- Next steps: Claude Code CLI for terminal users, VS Code extension for developers, Cowork for knowledge workers
- Subscription plans: Free vs. Pro vs. Max — what each unlocks and which suits different use cases
- Recommended resources: official documentation, Anthropic’s prompt engineering guide, community channels
- Participants depart with a reference card covering prompting patterns, connector setup, and useful MCP integrations
Requirements
Requirements
Understanding of
- Fundamental computer skills: navigating files and folders, using a web browser, and installing applications
- General knowledge of AI assistants (e.g., having casually used ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude provides helpful context but is not mandatory)
Experience with
- No coding, programming, or terminal experience is required. This course is tailored for individuals who have never written a line of code.
- No prior experience with Claude or any other AI tool is necessary.
Technical Requirements
- Participants must bring a laptop (Mac, Windows, or Linux) equipped with a modern web browser
- A stable internet connection
- A Claude Pro subscription for the session (a 1-month complimentary subscription is included with course registration; setup instructions are provided prior to class)
- Claude Desktop is recommended but not mandatory (the web application at claude.ai is sufficient for all exercises)
- A Google account is suggested for the MCP connectors exercise (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar), though alternative connector options are available
Target Audience
- Business professionals seeking to leverage AI for productivity and automation
- Marketers, operations managers, and analysts aiming to automate repetitive tasks
- Founders and entrepreneurs wishing to build prototypes without hiring a developer
- Educators and researchers exploring AI-assisted workflows
- Anyone curious about Claude’s capabilities who lacks a technical background
Testimonials (1)
That i gained a knowledge regarding streamlit library from python and for sure i'll try to use it to improve applications in my team which are made in R shiny
