Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Essentials, Prompting, and Personalization
Gain a deeper understanding of Claude beyond the basic chat interface. Determine where it excels, when it is the preferred choice over other AI tools, and how to customize the tool to align with specific user profiles.
Topics
• Claude’s market positioning and its unique differentiators among 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
• Variations between subscription plans and the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting techniques: prioritizing context over syntax; foundational structures; determining when to initiate a new chat versus continuing an existing one
• Custom Instructions for individual user profiles: defining roles, priorities, and communication tones
Practical Activities
• Activity 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a client complaint
• Activity 2 — Set up Custom Instructions tailored to your user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts, and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical specifications, and standards. Treat Artifacts as a production area within the chat interface. Develop standardized working procedures through Skills.
Key Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring independent history and specialized knowledge bases
• Project Instructions versus Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement one another
• Collaborative Project sharing for Team and Enterprise plans
• File management: uploading 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 executing repeatable procedural workflows
Practical Activities:
• Activity 3 — Develop a functional Project suited to your specific work context
• Activity 4 — Create a functional Artifact relevant to your own context
• Activity 5 — Design a functional Skill tailored to your personal workflow
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, Agents, and Microsoft 365 Integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a simple chatbot to recognizing it as a work partner capable of performing background operations on real-time, daily business data.
Key Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Installation steps, 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 measures
• Claude Mobile: Utilization in mobile environments, cross-device synchronization, and best practices for remote work
• Cowork: Overview of features, capabilities, and optimal use cases
• Microsoft 365 Connector: Linking with Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step workflows: Searching, reading, summarizing, drafting, and sending content
• Scheduled automation: Utilizing Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: The Model Context Protocol and its Connector ecosystem
• Current limitations of Cowork and strategies for overcoming them
Practical Activities:
• Activity 6 — Set up a Cowork project and structure its folder hierarchy
• Activity 7 — Configure a complete Cowork project incorporating Skills, instructions, and folders. Evaluate this setup on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude within Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 applications, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, to accelerate analysis, writing, review, and preparation of business materials using your own files.
Key Topics:
• Excel: Data analysis, formula generation, data cleaning, indicator interpretation, and creating executive summaries
• Word: Reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Converting content into presentation narratives, developing scripts, refining key messages, and tailoring content for specific audiences
Practical Activities:
• Activity 8 — Utilize Claude to analyze an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Activity 9 — Convert a Word document or a set of notes into a structured PowerPoint presentation
Requirements
To fully engage with the practical segments, please ensure the following are prepared prior to the session:
- Active Claude Subscription (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan is essential to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilized in Module 2.
- Microsoft 365 Access: A valid account granting access to OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is necessary to complete the integration exercises in Modules 3 and 4.
- Device with Installation Privileges: A computer where you have authorization to install the Claude Desktop application and the Chrome extension (essential for Module 3).
- Personal Business Documents (Strongly Recommended): Bring 2–3 real-world files (such as PDF manuals, Excel spreadsheets, or Word reports) to apply during the practical sessions. Please verify that these documents do not include 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
