Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Go beyond the chat window to understand Claude. Identify where it excels, when it is the best choice over other AI tools, and how to personalize the tool so it responds according to the user’s profile.
Topics
• Claude’s positioning and what sets it apart from other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet and Haiku, and when to apply each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, hallucinations, and risk mitigation strategies
• Differences between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: why context outweighs syntax; foundational structures; and determining when to start a new chat versus continuing
• Custom Instructions for each user profile: defining role, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a complete prompt to address a complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions for a specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Utilize Projects to establish persistent workspaces with their own knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical specifications, and standards. Comprehend Artifacts as a production space within the chat. Develop working instructions through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring their own history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Project Instructions vs Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement each other
• Sharing Projects with teams: Leveraging Team and Enterprise plans
• File uploads: Handling 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 procedures
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Build a functional Project tailored to the user’s own context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact for the user’s own context
• Exercise 5 — Create a functional Skill for the user’s own context
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a chatbot to treating it as 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 compared to browser usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical use cases, limitations, and security precautions
• Claude Mobile: Usage in mobile contexts, synchronisation across devices, and best practices for work on the go
• Cowork: Understanding its function and when it is most effective
• Microsoft 365 connector: Connecting to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: Searching, reading, summarising, writing, and sending
• Scheduled tasks: Implementing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies to work 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. Test this Cowork project on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 software, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, leveraging 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 preparing executive summaries
• Word: Reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, and creating proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Transforming content into presentation narratives, creating scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content for target audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyse 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 PowerPoint presentation structure
Requirements
To fully engage with the practical exercises, please ensure you have the following ready before the course begins:
- 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 to complete the integrations in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Rights: A computer where you are authorized to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (required for Module 3).
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Please bring 2–3 real-world documents (e.g., a PDF manual, an Excel sheet, or a Word report) to use during the hands-on exercises. 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
