Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Gain a deeper understanding of Claude beyond the standard chat interface. Learn to identify its unique strengths, determine when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and tailor the tool to align with your specific professional profile. Key topics include: • Claude’s positioning and its distinguishing features compared to other AI tools in the 2026 landscape • An overview of model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, along with guidance on selecting the right one • Understanding AI’s probabilistic nature, addressing hallucinations, and mitigating associated risks • Clarifying the differences between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account • Effective prompting strategies: emphasizing the importance of context over syntax, foundational structures, and best practices for managing new chat sessions • Setting up Custom Instructions for each user profile, covering role, 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 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. Explore Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface and learn to create standardized working procedures using Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Creating persistent workspaces with independent history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Distinguishing between Project Instructions and Profile Preferences, and understanding how they complement one another
• Collaborative sharing of Projects using 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 workflows
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Develop a functional Project tailored to your specific context
• Exercise 4 — Create a functional Artifact suited to your needs
• Exercise 5 — Design a functional Skill for your own use case
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a simple chatbot to utilizing it as a capable work partner that can operate in the background on daily operational data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Covering installation, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences compared to browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, exploring practical use cases, understanding limitations, and adhering to security best practices
• Claude Mobile: Utilizing the platform in mobile environments, ensuring cross-device synchronization, and adopting best practices for mobile work
• Cowork: An introduction to its capabilities and scenarios where it adds the most value
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing connections with Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Handling multi-step tasks: Searching, reading, summarizing, writing, and sending
• Automating routine work through Scheduled Prompts
• Exploring MCP: The Model Context Protocol and the broader Connectors ecosystem
• Recognizing current Cowork limitations and developing strategies to work around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Set up a Cowork project and structure its folder system
• Exercise 7 — Configure a comprehensive Cowork project incorporating 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: Techniques for data analysis, formula generation, table cleanup, indicator interpretation, and drafting executive summaries
• Word: Skills for reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, and creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional correspondence
• PowerPoint: Converting content into narrative presentations, developing scripts, refining key messages, and adapting materials for specific audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with actionable conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Convert a Word document or set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage in the practical sessions, please ensure the following are prepared prior to the course:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription is essential to access 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 need a computer where they have permission to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension, which is necessary for Module 3.
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Please bring 2–3 real-world documents, such as a PDF manual, Excel sheet, or Word report, to apply during the hands-on exercises. Please confirm that 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
