Course Outline
Phase 1 — Introduction to Claude Code — 30 minutes
- Overview of Claude and the distinctions between Claude Code and standard chat
- Quick orientation: focusing on the Claude app (web or desktop) for today; CLI and other interfaces are detailed in the reference card
- Interface walkthrough: initiating coding sessions and understanding the workspace
- Claude Code’s workflow: the describe → plan → act → review cycle
- Permission management: understanding why Claude requests approval before creating files or executing code
- First project: instructing Claude to build a simple styled webpage from a single-sentence description
- Refining results: applying instructions like “make the header larger,” “alter the color palette,” or “insert a navigation bar”
- Guided exercise: participants initiate a session and construct a personalized “About Me” webpage, refining it through follow-up directions
Objective: Ensure all participants overcome the initial interaction barrier and feel at ease with the interface.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 2 — Creating Real Applications with Plain English — 55 minutes
Three increasingly complex tasks completed using only natural language prompts.
- Task 1 — Interactive dashboard: A styled dashboard featuring sample data, charts, and statistics. Practice providing design directives such as “use a dark theme,” “add a sidebar,” or “ensure it is responsive.”
- Task 2 — Data analysis: Provide a sample CSV file, request Claude to summarize it, identify trends, locate highs/lows, and generate a visual chart. This demonstrates Claude writing and executing code on your behalf.
- Task 3 — Automation tool: Create a simple utility like a unit converter, quiz app, or budget calculator. This introduces the concept that Claude can build interactive tools, not just static pages.
Following each task, the instructor explains the backend actions: files generated, code written, and how to interpret the output. Participants record their most effective prompts in a shared Prompt Playbook.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 3 — Optimizing Claude Code Efficiency — 35 minutes
- Prompting best practices: specific versus vague instructions
- Live demonstration: Side-by-side comparison of weak and strong prompts for the same task
- Iteration and refinement: Requesting Claude to explain decisions, revert changes, or try alternative approaches
- Handling uploaded files: Requests such as “read this document and summarize it” or “convert this spreadsheet into a chart”
- Multi-step workflows: Combining requests to generate complex outputs
- Cost and usage awareness: Understanding tokens, context windows, and subscription tiers
- Distinguishing when to use Claude Code versus standard Claude chat
- Guided exercise: Participants add a new feature to one of their Phase 2 projects using a multi-step prompt, then compare before-and-after prompts to identify key improvements
Objective: Progress from basic functionality to consistently achieving high-quality results.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 4 — Integrating Claude with Your Tools via MCP — 34 minutes
Pre-class preparation: Participants received instructions to connect Gmail or Google Drive beforehand, allowing class time to focus on utilizing the connection rather than authentication.
- Introduction to MCP (Model Context Protocol): The universal integration standard for AI tools
- The significance of MCP: Transforming Claude from a chat assistant into a connected workflow hub
- Connector Directory: Browsing and adding integrations directly within the Claude app
- Desktop Extensions: One-click installation options (for Claude Desktop users)
- Live demo (single workflow): “Check my Google Calendar for tomorrow’s meetings and draft a preparation email for each”
- Guided exercise: Participants use their pre-connected service (or connect one live) to assign tasks to Claude, e.g., “Read my recent emails about project updates and create a summary document”
- Key concepts: OAuth, permissions, managing tool access per conversation, security considerations, and locating new connectors
Objective: Enable participants to view Claude as a connective layer, not just a coding tool.
Phase 5 — Capstone & Conclusion — 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 generate a visual report
- An interactive tool solving a specific problem in their workflow
- A connected workflow: Extract data from the service connected in Phase 4, transform it, and produce a deliverable
The instructor circulates the room to assist with prompt refinement and highlights standout examples.
Conclusion (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 — features unlocked and suitability for different use cases
- Recommended resources: Official documentation, Anthropic’s prompt engineering guide, and community channels
- Participants receive a reference card covering prompting patterns, connector setup, and useful MCP integrations
Requirements
Prerequisites
Familiarity with
- Basic computer skills: managing files and folders, browsing the web, and installing software
- General awareness of AI assistants (e.g., prior casual use of ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude is beneficial but not mandatory)
Experience Requirements
- No coding, programming, or command-line experience is needed. This course is tailored for individuals who have never written code before.
- Prior experience with Claude or other AI tools is not a requirement.
Technical Setup
- Participants must bring a laptop (Mac, Windows, or Linux) equipped with an up-to-date web browser
- A reliable internet connection
- A Claude Pro subscription for the session (a one-month trial subscription is provided upon course registration; setup guidelines are sent prior to the class)
- Claude Desktop is suggested but not mandatory (the claude.ai web application is sufficient for all exercises)
- A Google account is advised for the MCP connector exercise (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar), though alternative connector options exist
Target Audience
- Business professionals aiming to boost productivity and automation through AI
- Marketers, operations managers, and analysts seeking to automate repetitive tasks
- Founders and entrepreneurs looking to create prototypes without hiring developers
- Educators and researchers exploring AI-assisted workflows
- Individuals curious about Claude’s capabilities who lack 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
