Course Outline
Phase 1 — Getting to Know Claude Code — 30 minutes
- What Claude is, and what distinguishes Claude Code from standard chat interfaces
- Quick orientation: we are using the Claude app today (web or desktop); the CLI and other interfaces are covered in the reference card
- Interface tour: initiating a coding session and understanding the workspace
- How Claude Code processes requests: the describe → plan → act → review loop
- Understanding permissions: why Claude seeks approval before creating files or executing code
- Your first build: instructing Claude to create a simple, styled webpage from a one-sentence description
- Refining results: instructions such as “increase the header size,” “change the colour scheme,” or “add a navigation bar”
- Guided exercise: participants initiate a session to construct a personalised “About Me” webpage, refining it through follow-up instructions
Objective: ensuring everyone surpasses the initial interaction hurdle and feels comfortable with the interface.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 2 — Constructing Practical Items Using Plain English — 55 minutes
Three progressively complex tasks utilising only natural language prompts.
- Task 1 — Interactive dashboard: a styled dashboard featuring sample data, charts, and statistics. Practice providing design direction: “apply a dark theme,” “include a sidebar,” or “ensure it is responsive.
- Task 2 — Data analysis: provide a sample CSV file, and ask Claude to summarise the data, identify trends, locate highs/lows, and generate a visual chart. This demonstrates Claude writing and executing code on your behalf.
- Task 3 — Automation tool: develop a simple utility — such as a unit converter, quiz app, or budget calculator. This introduces the concept that Claude can build interactive tools, not just static pages.
Following each task, the instructor highlights Claude’s behind-the-scenes actions: files created, code written, and how to interpret the output. Participants document their most effective prompts in a shared Prompt Playbook.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 3 — Working Smarter with Claude Code — 35 minutes
- The art of effective prompting: specific versus vague instructions
- Live demonstration: side-by-side comparison of weak and strong prompts applied to the same task
- Iterating and refining: asking Claude to explain decisions, undo changes, or attempt a different approach
- Working with uploaded files: commands such as “read this document and summarise it,” or “convert this spreadsheet into a chart”
- Multi-step workflows: chaining requests to construct complex outputs
- Understanding cost and usage: how tokens, context windows, and subscription tiers function
- When to use Claude Code versus standard Claude chat
- Guided exercise: participants extend one of their Phase 2 projects with a new feature using a multi-step prompt, then compare the before-and-after prompts to identify what made the difference
Objective: advancing from “it functions” to “I can achieve excellent results consistently.
Break — 7 minutes
Phase 4 — Connecting Claude to Your Tools via MCP — 34 minutes
Pre-class: participants received emailed instructions to link Gmail or Google Drive prior to the session, allowing classroom time to focus on utilising the connection rather than authentication.
- What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)? The universal plug-in system for AI tools
- Why MCP matters: transforming Claude from a chat assistant into a connected workflow hub
- The Connectors Directory: browsing and adding integrations directly from the Claude app
- Desktop Extensions: one-click installations (for Claude Desktop users)
- Live demonstration (one workflow): “Check my Google Calendar for tomorrow’s meetings and draft a preparation email for each one
- Guided exercise: participants use their pre-connected service (or connect one live) to assign a task to Claude — e.g., “Review my recent emails regarding project updates and create a summary document
- Key concepts: OAuth, permissions, managing tool access per conversation, security awareness, and locating new connectors
Objective: enabling participants to view Claude as a connective layer rather than solely a coding tool.
Phase 5 — Capstone & Conclusion — 35 minutes
Capstone mini-project (25 min): Each participant selects one scenario:
- A polished landing page or portfolio site
- A data analysis pipeline: upload a file, analyse it, and produce a visual report
- An interactive tool addressing a real problem from their workflow
- A connected workflow: extract data from the service linked in Phase 4, transform it, and produce a deliverable
The instructor circulates, assists with refining prompts, and showcases standout examples.
Conclusion (10 min):
- Next steps: Claude Code CLI for terminal users, VS Code extension for developers, and Cowork for knowledge workers
- Plans: Free versus Pro versus Max — understanding what each unlocks and which fits which use case
- Recommended resources: official documentation, Anthropic’s prompt engineering guide, and community channels
- Participants depart with a reference card covering prompting patterns, connector setup, and useful MCP integrations
Requirements
Requirements
An understanding of
- Basic computer literacy: navigating files and folders, using a web browser, and installing applications
- A general awareness of what AI assistants do (e.g., having casually used ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude provides helpful context, but is not mandatory)
Experience with
- No coding, programming, or terminal experience is required. This course is tailored for individuals who have never written a single line of code.
- No prior familiarity with Claude or any other AI tool is necessary.
Technical requirements
- Participants must bring a laptop (Mac, Windows, or Linux) equipped with a modern web browser
- A stable internet connection
- A Claude Pro subscription for the session duration (a 1-month gift subscription is included with course registration; setup instructions are provided prior to class)
- Claude Desktop is recommended but not essential (the web application at claude.ai is sufficient for all exercises)
- A Google account is recommended for the MCP connectors exercise (utilising Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar), though alternative connector options are available
Audience
- Business professionals aiming to leverage AI for enhanced productivity and automation
- Marketers, operations managers, and analysts seeking to automate repetitive tasks
- Founders and entrepreneurs interested in building prototypes without hiring a developer
- Educators and researchers exploring AI-assisted workflows
- Anyone curious about Claude’s capabilities who lacks a technical background
Testimonials (1)
That i gained a knowledge regarding streamlit library from python and for sure i'll try to use it to improve applications in my team which are made in R shiny
