Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Gain an understanding of Claude beyond the standard chat interface. Identify its unique strengths, when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and how to customize the tool to respond according to the user’s specific profile.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and what distinguishes it from other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, and guidance on when to use each
• Probabilistic operation of AI, understanding hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Differences between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: why context outweighs syntax; base structures; and when it is appropriate to start a new chat
• Custom Instructions for each user profile: defining role, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a complaint
• Exercise 2 — Configure Custom Instructions tailored to the user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Utilize Projects to create persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical sheets, and standards. Understand Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface. Create standardized working instructions through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: persistent workspaces featuring their own history and dedicated knowledge base
• Project Instructions vs Profile Preferences — how these elements complement each other
• Sharing Projects with teams: capabilities available in Team and Enterprise plans
• File upload support: 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 tasks
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Build a functional Project aligned with the user’s specific context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact tailored to the user’s specific context
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill applicable to the user’s specific context
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 collaborative work partner capable of operating in the background on real day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: installation process, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences compared to browser-based use
• Claude in Chrome: installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical use cases, limitations, and security precautions
• Claude Mobile: utilizing the tool in mobile contexts, device synchronization, and best practices for on-the-go work
• Cowork: definition, functionality, and scenarios where it is beneficial to use
• Microsoft 365 connector: connecting to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: executing search, read, summarize, write, and send workflows
• Scheduled tasks: utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Model Context Protocol and the broader Connectors ecosystem
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies to work around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Establish a Cowork project and organize its folder structure
• Exercise 7 — Configure a complete Cowork project with Skills, instructions, and folders. Test this setup on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Leverage Claude with Microsoft 365 software—including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations—to accelerate analysis, writing, review, and the preparation of work materials by utilizing your own files.
Topics:
• Excel: data analysis, formula creation, table cleaning, interpretation of indicators, and preparing executive summaries
• Word: reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: transforming content into presentation narratives, creating scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content for the target audience
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and produce an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Transform a Word document or a set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage in the practical exercises, please ensure the following are ready prior to the course:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): Access to Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models used in Module 2 requires a Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A valid account with access to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is necessary to complete the integrations outlined in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: A computer where you are permitted to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (required 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) to utilize during the hands-on exercises. Please ensure these do not contain strictly confidential data.
