Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Go beyond the chat window to understand Claude. Identify its unique strengths, determine when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and learn how to personalize the tool so it responds according to the user’s specific profile.
Topics
• Claude’s positioning and its distinguishing features compared to other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, including guidance on when to use each
• Probabilistic AI operations, hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Distinctions between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: why context outweighs syntax; foundational structures; and determining when to initiate a new chat versus continuing an existing one
• Custom Instructions for each user profile: defining roles, 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
Utilize Projects to establish persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical specifications, and standards. Explore Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface. Develop reusable working procedures through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: persistent workspaces featuring their own history and a dedicated knowledge base
• Project Instructions vs. Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement one another
• Sharing Projects with the team: features available in Team and Enterprise plans
• File upload capabilities: 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
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a mere chatbot to treating it as a capable work partner that can operate in the background on real, day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: installation, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences compared to browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical use cases, limitations, and security precautions
• Claude Mobile: usage in mobile contexts, synchronization across devices, and best practices for mobile work
• Cowork: an overview of its functionality and ideal use cases
• Microsoft 365 connector: establishing connections with Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step tasks: executing search, read, summarization, writing, and sending actions
• Scheduled tasks: utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Identifying current Cowork limitations and strategies to work around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Create a Cowork project and structure its folder system
• Exercise 7 — Configure a comprehensive Cowork project using Skills, instructions, and folders. Test this setup with a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with 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 creation, table cleaning, interpretation of key indicators, and the preparation of executive summaries
• Word: content review, rewriting, document structuring, drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: converting content into presentation narratives, creating scripts, refining key messages, and adapting content to specific target audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Employ Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate 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 with the practical exercises, the following must be prepared prior to the course:
- 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: 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 the authorization to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (mandatory for Module 3).
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Prepare 2–3 real-world documents (e.g., 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
