Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Explore Claude’s capabilities beyond the standard chat interface. Gain clarity on its unique positioning, when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and how to tailor the tool to respond effectively to specific user profiles.
Topics
• Claude’s strategic positioning and its distinguishing features compared to other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, including guidance on when to deploy each
• The probabilistic nature of AI operations, understanding hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Differences between subscription plans and the specific benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting strategies: prioritizing context over syntax, base structural patterns, and determining when to start a new chat
• Custom Instructions for individual user profiles: defining role, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a complaint
• Exercise 2 — Configure Custom Instructions for 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 sheets, and standards. Utilize Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface and define working procedures through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: persistent workspaces featuring independent history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Project Instructions vs Profile Preferences — understanding how these elements complement one another
• Sharing Projects with teams: specific features for 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 applying repeatable procedural workflows
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Build a functional Project tailored to the user’s context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact for the user’s context
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill for the user’s context
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift the perspective of AI from a passive chatbot to an active work partner capable of operating in the background on real, day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: installation, system requirements, authentication, initial configuration, and key differences from browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical use cases, limitations, and security considerations
• Claude Mobile: application in mobile contexts, cross-device synchronization, and best practices for mobile work
• Cowork: understanding its function, capabilities, and optimal use cases
• Microsoft 365 connector: establishing connections to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step workflows: searching, reading, summarizing, writing, and sending
• Scheduled tasks: utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Model Context Protocol and the broader Connectors ecosystem
• Identifying Cowork limitations and strategies to work around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Create a Cowork project and organize its folder structure
• Exercise 7 — Configure a complete Cowork project with Skills, instructions, and folders, then test it on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, utilizing the user’s own files to accelerate analysis, writing, review, and the preparation of work materials.
Topics:
• Excel: data analysis, formula creation, table cleaning, indicator interpretation, and drafting executive summaries
• Word: reviewing and rewriting content, structuring documents, and creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: converting content into presentation narratives, 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 — Transform a Word document or set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage with the practical components of this course, please ensure the following requirements are met prior to attendance:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription is mandatory to unlock Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilized in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A valid account with access to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integration tasks in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: Participants must bring a computer where they have the necessary permissions to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension, which are essential for Module 3.
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): It is strongly advised to bring 2–3 real-world documents (such as a PDF manual, an Excel sheet, or a Word report) for use in the hands-on exercises. Please ensure these files 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
