Intro to Claude: Getting Things Done with Anthropic AI

Important note: This training may demonstrate AI tools that are not approved for use with Stanford data. Inclusion in this session does not imply institutional approval. Participants should refrain from entering Stanford data into unapproved tools. An up-to-date list of approved and reviewed tools is available on the GenAI Evaluation Matrix page.

Includes: 1-month subscription to Anthropic Claude (Pro Tier)

Dive into how to prompt like a pro, analyze documents effortlessly, and generate data visualizations -- turning Claude into a productivity engine for your work or personal projects. Whether you're trying to draft smarter, think deeper, or get answers faster, this course shows you how.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will have the opportunity to: 
- Navigate Claude's chat interface and core features confidently
- Use Extended Thinking to expand, refine, and enhance your ideas
- Upload, summarize, and analyze documents (PDFs, text files, and more)
- Conduct web searches and deep research tasks using Claude's tools
- Craft clear, effective prompts and iterate for better results
- Generate and interpret basic AI-created visualizations
- Apply Claude to real-world workflows: writing, organizing, researching, and planning

Course Modules & Topics
1. Meet Claude: What Sets It Apart
- Overview of Claude's model philosophy (Constitutional AI, helpful-harmless-honest)
- Comparing Claude to ChatGPT and Gemini
- Claude's vibe: more thoughtful, slower, safer -- when that matters

2. Mastering the Claude Interface
- Anthropic Artifacts explained: layout, file support, and chat history
- Navigating model options and system prompts
- How to reset or guide the tone of a conversation

3. Prompting Essentials
- Core rules for effective prompting in Claude
- Using starter prompts and expanding with follow-ups
- Prompt templates for creative, analytical, and planning tasks

4. Claude as a Research Assistant
- Web Search: pulling in real-time insights with citations
- Deep Research: broader exploration across sources
- When to trust it, and when to double-check

5. Extended Thinking in Action
- What it does, and why it's different from a long reply
- Using Claude to brainstorm, refine, and iterate ideas

6. Claude for Document Work
- Uploading and summarizing PDFs, Word docs, etc.
- Extracting key data, patterns, and to-do lists from long content
- Annotating and interacting with documents inside Claude

7. Visual Thinking & Communication
- Requesting charts, tables, and diagrams
- Limitations of Claude-generated visuals
- Using Claude outputs in slide decks or reports

8. Everyday Use Cases (And Why They Work)
- Examples across personal planning, teaching, research, and content creation
- Sample prompts for common needs (e.g., writing emails, creating agendas, summarizing meetings)

Prerequisites
Tech Fluency
- Proficient with browser basics and multitasking between programs
- Comfortable navigating tabs and uploading/downloading files
Zoom Skills
- Know how to use chat, screen share, mute/unmute, and participant tools
- Familiar with Zoom's floating control panel during screen sharing
AI Experience
- Prior use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)
- Basic understanding of what prompts are and how they work