Course Outline
DAY 1
Module 1 — Claude Fundamentals, Prompting and Personalisation
Move beyond the basic chat interface to understand Claude's unique value proposition. Identify where it excels, when it is the optimal choice over other AI tools, and how to tailor the tool to respond according to your specific user profile.
Key Topics
• Claude's positioning and what distinguishes it from competing AI tools in 2026
• Model families: Fable, Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, and guidance on when to deploy each
• The probabilistic nature of AI, managing hallucinations, and risk mitigation strategies
• Comparing plan tiers and understanding the benefits of a paid account
• Effective prompting: prioritising context over syntax, foundational structures, and determining when to start new chats
• Custom Instructions for tailored user profiles: defining roles, priorities, and communication tone
Practical Exercises
• Exercise 1 — Construct a comprehensive prompt to address a customer complaint
• Exercise 2 — Set up Custom Instructions for your specific user profile
Module 2 — Projects, Artifacts and Skills
Leverage Projects to establish persistent workspaces with dedicated knowledge bases, such as manuals, technical sheets, and standards. Gain insights into Artifacts as a production environment within the chat, and learn to create reusable working instructions through Skills.
Key Topics:
• Projects: Persistent workspaces featuring unique history and dedicated knowledge repositories
• Project Instructions vs. Profile Preferences — understanding how they complement each other
• Sharing Projects with teams: Utilising Team and Enterprise plans
• File handling: 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 applying repeatable workflows
Practical Exercises:
• Exercise 3 — Develop a functional Project tailored to your own context
• Exercise 4 — Create a working Artifact for your specific use case
• Exercise 5 — Build a functional Skill for your operational needs
DAY 2
Module 3 — Cowork, agents and Microsoft 365 integration
Shift your perspective from viewing AI as a conversational tool to treating it as a work partner capable of operating autonomously in the background on real-time, day-to-day data.
Key Topics:
• Claude Desktop: Installation, system requirements, authentication, initial setup, and key differences from browser-based usage
• Claude in Chrome: Installing the official extension, managing permissions, practical use cases, limitations, and security best practices
• Claude Mobile: Application in mobile environments, synchronisation across devices, and best practices for mobile work
• Cowork: Understanding its functionality and identifying scenarios where it adds value
• Microsoft 365 connector: Establishing connections to Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams
• Multi-step workflows: Searching, reading, summarising, writing, and sending
• Scheduled tasks: Utilising Scheduled Prompts
• MCP: Model Context Protocol and the broader Connectors ecosystem
• Recognising current Cowork limitations and strategies to work around them
Practical Exercises:
• Exercise 6 — Establish a Cowork project and structure its folder system
• Exercise 7 — Configure a comprehensive Cowork project with Skills, instructions, and folders. Test this setup on a complex task.
Module 4 — Claude in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Integrate Claude with Microsoft 365 software, including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, to accelerate analysis, writing, review, and material preparation using your own files.
Key Topics:
• Excel: Data analysis, formula generation, table cleaning, indicator interpretation, and executive summary creation
• Word: Reviewing, rewriting, structuring documents, and drafting proposals, reports, minutes, and professional communications
• PowerPoint: Converting content into presentation narratives, scripting, refining key messages, and adapting content for specific audiences
Practical Exercises:
• Exercise 8 — Use Claude to analyse an Excel spreadsheet and generate an executive summary with conclusions and recommendations
• Exercise 9 — Convert 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 prepared prior to the course:
- Active Claude Account (Paid): A Pro, Team, or Enterprise plan is necessary to access Projects, Artifacts, and the advanced models utilised 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 permission to install Claude Desktop and the Chrome extension (essential for Module 3).
- Your Own Files (Highly Recommended): Bring 2–3 real-world documents (e.g., a PDF manual, an Excel sheet, or a Word report) for use during hands-on sessions. Please verify that these do not contain strictly confidential data.
Testimonials (2)
Considerations about privacy and policy
Angelo Stefano Soglia - Parkino srl
Course - Claude AI for Workflow Automation and Productivity
Learning how to prompt Claude and use it to digest all of the data I have available.
