Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Gain a deeper understanding of Claude beyond the simple chat interface. Learn to identify its unique strengths, determine when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and configure it to align with specific user profiles.
Topics
• Claude’s strategic positioning and what distinguishes it from other AI tools in the 2026 market
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, including guidance on when to deploy each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, understanding hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Comparison of service plans and the specific benefits offered by paid accounts
• Effective prompting techniques: why context outweighs syntax, foundational structures, and best practices for starting new conversations
• Setting Custom Instructions tailored to user profiles, including role, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions for your specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces equipped with dedicated knowledge bases containing manuals, technical sheets, and standards. Utilize Artifacts as a production environment within the chat, and create standardized working instructions using Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring distinct history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Project Instructions vs. Profile Preferences — understanding how these elements complement each other
• Sharing Projects with teams: Features available in Team and Enterprise plans
• Uploading files: Support for PDFs, Excel files, and images
• Artifacts: Creating documents, dashboards, and interactive prototypes directly within the chat interface
• Web Search: Accessing real-time information with verifiable citations
• Skills: Defining and implementing repeatable procedures
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Build a functional Project tailored to your specific context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact relevant to your workflow
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill applicable to your tasks
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Move beyond viewing AI as a reactive chatbot; start treating it as a proactive work partner capable of processing real day-to-day data in the background.
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 use cases, limitations, and security best practices
• Claude Mobile: Utilizing mobile contexts, synchronizing across devices, and best practices for mobile productivity
• Cowork: Overview of features, capabilities, and optimal scenarios for use
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing connections to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: Executing sequences such as search, read, summarize, write, and send
• Scheduled tasks: Implementing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Understanding the Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Identifying current Cowork limitations and strategies to navigate them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Initiate a Cowork project and organize its folder structure
• Exercise 7 — Configure a complete Cowork project using Skills, instructions, and folders, then test it with a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, leveraging your own files to accelerate analysis, drafting, review, and the preparation of business materials.
Topics:
• Excel: Data analysis, formula generation, data cleaning, interpreting indicators, and drafting executive summaries
• Word: Reviewing and rewriting content, structuring documents, creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Transforming content into presentation narratives, developing scripts, refining key messages, and adapting material for specific audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Convert a Word document or set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully participate in the practical exercises, please ensure the following resources are available prior to the course:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan is necessary to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilized in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A functional account with permissions to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integrations in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: A device where you are authorized to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension, which is essential for Module 3.
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Please bring 2–3 real-world documents (such as a PDF manual, an Excel spreadsheet, or a Word report) to use during the hands-on sessions. Ensure these documents do not contain strictly confidential information.
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
