Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Explore Claude beyond the simple chat interface. Identify its unique strengths, determine when it is the optimal choice
compared to other AI tools, and learn how to personalize the tool so it aligns with the user’s specific profile.
Topics
• Claude’s positioning and its differentiators from other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, and the appropriate use cases for each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, handling hallucinations, and risk mitigation strategies
• Plan differences and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: the primacy of context over syntax; foundational structures; and determining when to initiate a new chat
• Custom Instructions for individual user profiles: defining roles, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions for a specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, including manuals, technical
specifications, and standards. Gain an understanding of Artifacts as a production environment within the chat. Develop
working procedures through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring their own history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Project Instructions vs. Profile Preferences — understanding how they work together
• Sharing Projects with teams: features of 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 workflows
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Create a functional Project tailored to the user’s specific context
• Exercise 4 — Generate a functional Artifact for the user’s specific context
• Exercise 5 — Develop a functional Skill for the user’s specific context
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, Agents, and Microsoft 365 Integration
Transition your perspective from viewing AI as a chatbot to treating it as a work partner capable of operating in the background
on actual 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 use cases, limitations, and security precautions
• Claude Mobile: Utilization in mobile environments, synchronization across devices, and best practices for working on the go
• Cowork: Overview of its capabilities and optimal scenarios for use
• Microsoft 365 connector: Linking to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: Searching, reading, summarizing, writing, and sending
• Scheduled tasks: Utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies to overcome them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Establish a Cowork project and structure its folder system
• Exercise 7 — Configure a complete Cowork project with Skills, instructions, and folders. Validate this Cowork
project by executing a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Utilize Claude within Microsoft 365 applications, 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 generation, table cleanup, indicator interpretation, and executive summary preparation
• Word: Reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Converting content into presentation narratives, drafting scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content for the target audience
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Employ Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Convert a Word document or a set of notes into a PowerPoint presentation structure
Requirements
To engage with the practical exercises, please ensure the following are ready prior to the session:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription is necessary to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilized in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: An active account with access to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to complete the integrations in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Privileges: A computer where you have permission to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (essential for Module 3).
- Personal Files (Strongly Recommended): Bring 2–3 real-world documents (such as a PDF manual, an Excel sheet, or a Word report) to utilize during the hands-on sessions. 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
