Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Explore Claude beyond the simple chat interface. Discover its unique value proposition, determine when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and learn how to tailor the tool to align with specific user profiles for more relevant responses.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and its differentiators in the 2026 AI landscape
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, including guidance on appropriate use cases for each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, managing hallucinations, and mitigating associated risks
• Comparing subscription plans and understanding the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: the primacy of context over syntax, foundational structures, and best practices for initiating new conversations
• Custom Instructions for individual user profiles: defining roles, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Constructing a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Configuring Custom Instructions to match a specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces equipped with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical specifications, and standards. Utilize Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface, and define repeatable workflows through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring dedicated history and custom knowledge bases
• Project Instructions versus Profile Preferences — understanding how these elements complement each other
• Sharing Projects across teams: Capabilities within Team and Enterprise plans
• File uploads: Handling PDFs, Excel files, and images
• Artifacts: Creating documents, dashboards, and interactive prototypes directly within the chat
• Web Search: Accessing real-time information with verifiable sources
• Skills: Defining and implementing repeatable procedures
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Building a functional Project tailored to the user’s professional context
• Exercise 4 — Generating a functional Artifact relevant to the user’s workflow
• Exercise 5 — Creating a functional Skill applicable to the user’s specific needs
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Move beyond the concept of AI as a mere chatbot and begin leveraging it as a capable work partner that can execute background operations on real-world daily data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Installation, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences from browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical applications, limitations, and security protocols
• Claude Mobile: Optimizing usage in mobile environments, cross-device synchronization, and best practices for mobile work
• Cowork: Understanding its functionality and identifying optimal scenarios for deployment
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing connections with Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: Executing search, reading, summarization, drafting, and sending actions
• Scheduled tasks: Utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and its ecosystem of Connectors
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies to mitigate them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Establishing a Cowork project and organizing its folder architecture
• Exercise 7 — Configuring a comprehensive Cowork project including Skills, instructions, and folders, followed by testing it on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Utilize personal files to accelerate data analysis, content creation, review processes, and the preparation of professional work materials.
Topics:
• Excel: Conducting data analysis, generating formulas, cleaning tables, interpreting key indicators, and drafting executive summaries
• Word: Reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, and creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Converting content into narrative presentations, writing scripts, refining key messages, and adapting materials for specific audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Using Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary containing conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Transforming a Word document or a collection of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage with the practical components, please ensure the following resources are prepared prior to the start of the course:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription is necessary to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilized in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: An operational account with permissions for OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integration tasks in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: A computer that allows the installation of Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension, both of which are essential for Module 3.
- Personal Documents (Highly Recommended): Prepare 2–3 real-world files (such as a PDF manual, an Excel spreadsheet, or a Word report) to utilize during practical sessions. Please confirm that these documents do not contain highly sensitive confidential data.
Testimonials (2)
Learning how to prompt Claude and use it to digest all of the data I have available.
Mike Hartleroad - Furniture Row
Course - Claude AI for Data Analysis and Business Intelligence
how to engage with the Office environment and set up repetitive tasks
