Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Explore the capabilities of Claude beyond simple chat interactions. Identify its unique strengths, determine when it is the optimal choice compared to other AI tools, and learn how to personalise the tool to align with specific user profiles.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and its differentiators from other AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, along with guidance on when to deploy each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, understanding hallucinations, and strategies for risk mitigation
• Comparing subscription plans and the specific benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: why context outweighs syntax; foundational structures; and criteria for initiating new chats
• Tailoring Custom Instructions for specific user profiles, including role, priorities, and communication tone
Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Constructing a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Setting up Custom Instructions tailored to the user’s profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces equipped with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical specifications, and standards. Explore Artifacts as a production environment within the chat interface and create standardised operating procedures through Skills.
Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces with individual history and dedicated knowledge bases
• Project Instructions vs Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement one another
• Team collaboration: Sharing Projects via Team and Enterprise plans
• File management: Uploading 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 workflows
Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Building a functional Project tailored to the user’s context
• Exercise 4 — Generating a functional Artifact specific to the user’s needs
• Exercise 5 — Developing a functional Skill applicable to the user’s workflow
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a reactive chatbot to treating it as an active work partner capable of operating in the background on real-world, day-to-day data.
Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Installation, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key distinctions from browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical applications, limitations, and security best practices
• Claude Mobile: Usage in mobile environments, cross-device synchronisation, and best practices for remote work
• Cowork: Overview, capabilities, and use cases for effective deployment
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing links to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step workflows: Searching, reading, summarising, writing, and sending documents
• Scheduled automation: Implementing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Understanding the Model Context Protocol and the Connectors ecosystem
• Identifying current Cowork limitations and strategies for working around them
Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Creating a Cowork project and structuring its folder system
• Exercise 7 — Configuring a complete Cowork project with Skills, instructions, and folders, then testing it on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Utilise personal files to accelerate data analysis, content writing, review processes, and the preparation of professional materials.
Topics:
• Excel: Data analysis, formula generation, table cleaning, indicator interpretation, and executive summary creation
• Word: Content review, rewriting, document structuring, drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Transforming content into narrative presentations, script creation, refining key messages, and adapting material for target audiences
Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Utilising Claude to analyse an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Converting a Word document or set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage with the practical exercises, please ensure the following are in place prior to the course:
- Active Paid Claude Account: A Pro, Team, or Enterprise subscription is mandatory to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilised in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A functional account with permissions for OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required to complete the integration tasks in Modules 3 and 4.
- Laptop with Installation Privileges: A device where you have the authority to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (necessary for Module 3).
- Personal Business Documents (Highly Recommended): Prepare 2–3 real-world files (such as a PDF manual, an Excel spreadsheet, or a Word report) for use during hands-on sessions. Please ensure these documents do not contain strictly confidential information.
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
