Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Move beyond the basic chat interface to understand Claude’s unique value proposition. Learn when it is the optimal choice compared to other AI tools and how to customize the assistant to align with your specific user profile and preferences.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and its distinctive features within the 2026 AI landscape
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, including guidance on selecting the appropriate model
• The probabilistic nature of AI, understanding hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Comparison of plan tiers and the specific benefits associated with paid accounts
• Effective prompting techniques: prioritizing context over syntax, foundational structures, and determining when to initiate a new conversation
• Custom Instructions for individual user profiles: defining roles, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions tailored to your specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces equipped with dedicated knowledge bases, including manuals, technical documentation, and standards. Gain an understanding of Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface, and learn to define repeatable working procedures through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring dedicated history and specialized knowledge bases
• Project Instructions versus Profile Preferences — understanding how these elements complement each other
• Sharing Projects with teams: Utilizing Team and Enterprise plans
• File management: Uploading PDFs, Excel files, and images
• Artifacts: Generating documents, dashboards, and interactive prototypes directly within the chat
• Web Search: Accessing real-time information with verifiable citations
• Skills: Defining and implementing repeatable procedures
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Develop a functional Project tailored to your specific context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact for your personal use case
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill suited to your workflow
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a simple chatbot to treating it as a capable work partner that can operate in the background on real-world, day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Installation requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences compared to browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical applications, limitations, and security considerations
• Claude Mobile: Optimizing usage in mobile environments, cross-device synchronization, and best practices for on-the-go work
• Cowork: Understanding its functionality and identifying scenarios where it adds value
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing connections to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step workflows: Searching, reading, summarizing, writing, and sending content
• Scheduled tasks: Implementing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Overview of the Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Identifying current limitations of Cowork and strategies to work around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Set up 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. Utilize your own files to accelerate data analysis, content creation, review processes, and the preparation of professional work materials.
Topics:
• Excel: Data analysis, formula generation, table cleanup, indicator interpretation, and executive summary creation
• Word: Document review, rewriting, structuring, and drafting proposals, reports, meeting minutes, and professional correspondence
• PowerPoint: Transforming content into narrative presentations, developing scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content 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 engage with the practical components, please ensure the following prerequisites are in place prior to the course:
- Active Paid Claude Account: Access to a Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan is mandatory to utilize Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models featured in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A functional account with permissions for OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integrations detailed in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Privileges: A personal device where you are authorized to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension, which are essential for Module 3.
- Personal Documents (Strongly Advised): Prepare two to three real-world files (such as a PDF manual, an Excel spreadsheet, or a Word report) for use in the hands-on sessions. Please verify that these documents do not contain strictly 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
