Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Gain a deeper understanding of Claude beyond the simple chat interface. Identify its unique strengths, determine when it is preferable to other AI tools, and learn how to personalise the tool to align with the user’s specific profile.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and what differentiates it from other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, and their respective use cases
• The probabilistic nature of AI, hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Distinctions between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: the importance of context over syntax; foundational structures; and criteria for starting 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 customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions tailored to the user’s profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical sheets, and standards. Understand Artifacts as a production environment within the chat, and create standardised working instructions through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: persistent workspaces featuring their own history and specialised knowledge base
• Project Instructions versus Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement one another
• Sharing Projects across teams: Team and Enterprise plans
• File uploads: supporting PDFs, Excel files, and images
• Artifacts: creating 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 suited to the user’s specific context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact tailored to the user’s context
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill for the user’s specific context
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Reframe your perception of AI from a chatbot to a work partner capable of operating in the background on real, day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: installation, requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences from browser usage
• Claude in Chrome: installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical applications, limitations, and security measures
• Claude Mobile: usage in mobile environments, cross-device synchronisation, and best practices for working on the go
• Cowork: understanding its function, capabilities, and ideal use cases
• Microsoft 365 connector: integrating with Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: executing search, reading, summarising, writing, and sending workflows
• Scheduled tasks: utilising Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies for working around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Create a Cowork project and organise 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
Utilise Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Leverage 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 executive summary preparation
• Word: reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, and drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: converting content into narrative presentations, writing scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content for the target audience
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyse 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 engage fully with the practical exercises, please ensure the following are ready 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 access to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integrations in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: A computer where you have permission to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (essential for Module 3).
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Bring 2–3 real-world documents (e.g., a PDF manual, an Excel sheet, or a Word report) for use during the hands-on sessions. Please ensure they 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
