Course info

The following reference materials were provided as context. Use them as guidance only -- always prefer the latest, most current information over any potentially outdated content in these files. --- Reference: LCLICW.pdf --- Claude Cowork: AI That Acts on Your Behalf Overview In this two-day course, students will be introduced to using Claude Cowork, which is Anthropic's autonomous AI agent language and execution system used to manage complex, multi-step knowledge work directly within the Claude Desktop (https://claude.ai) environment. The course covers the structural requirements, permission frameworks, and interface dynamics needed to safely run computer use capabilities, but the emphasis is on leveraging Claude Cowork to handle long-running, autonomous business workflows. Students will learn how to configure persistent workspace context files, integrate native connectors and third-party Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, build reusable custom AI skills, and schedule fully automated daily or weekly tasks. This instructor-led course consists of a combination of lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on labs. Software Used During the Class The standard lab setup for this class consists of a Windows or macOS PC with the Claude Desktop App (with Cowork mode enabled) installed, a modern text or Markdown editor (such as VS Code or Obsidian), a web browser with the Claude extension, and an environment preconfigured with target cloud tools (such as Google Workspace). Audience This course is intended for business users, operations managers, and professional knowledge workers who have been using standard conversational interfaces like Claude Chat and are ready to step into the power of autonomous AI agents. Delegating multi-step, background-running workflows is a highly effective next step for experienced Claude users looking to scale their productivity. Prerequisites Although deep technical coding experience is not required for this class, students should have prior experience interacting with Claude Chat or similar large language models. Basic familiarity with navigating local file structures and utilizing standard markdown formatting will help students get the most out of the hands-on lab work. Course Outline Day 1: Foundations, Workspace Architecture, and Browser Automation Introduction to the Claude Agentic Ecosystem • Understanding the AI spectrum: Claude Chat vs. Claude Code vs. Claude Cowork • Subscription requirements, enterprise licensing tiers, and usage limits • Core architecture of autonomous agents: Planning, tool execution, and self-correction • Exploring the parallel background execution engine and persistent artifacts Environment Setup, Security, and Desktop Controls • Installing and enabling Cowork mode within the Claude Desktop interface • Digital hygiene: Granting safe folder permissions and local file system access • Setting up sandboxed boundaries to prevent unintended system actions • Executing your first basic multi-step file manipulation task Workspace Management, Context Control, and "Business Brain" Configuration • The structural importance of persistent workspace memory • Creating and optimizing the CLAUDE.md and MEMORY.md directory architecture • Implementing the "300-Line Rule" to prevent context degradation and memory drift • Establishing global instruction files and a master "Business Brain" root profile • Session pruning, archiving legacy conversations, and data cleanup strategies • Migrating a standard conversational Claude Project into a standalone Cowork workstation Browser Use, Web Research, and Background Workflows • How Claude navigates the live web using background Chromium automation • Initiating deep market research, competitive analysis, and due diligence sessions • Leveraging the Claude in Chrome browser extension for real-time manual data gathering • Overcoming HTML scraping hurdles to extract clean, structured data from complex sites • Monitoring parallel background research tracks while working on primary tasks • Executing an autonomous, end-to-end SaaS market analysis and compiling a structured findings report Day 2: MCP Integrations, Custom Skills, and Scheduled Automations Expanding Agent Capabilities with Connectors and MCP • Overview of native cloud Connectors (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Notion) • Authenticating, authorizing, and securing external application data channels • Introduction to the open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture • Connecting advanced third-party developer tools (e.g., YouTube transcript extraction via Composio MCP) • Integrating productivity webhooks and software dashboards (e.g., Fireflies meeting notes, platform metrics) • Chaining cross-application tool workflows to eliminate manual copy-pasting Building Custom Reusable AI Skills • Differentiating between a general Cowork Workstation and a specialized, reusable Skill • Writing explicit, high-signal instruction templates and prompt definitions for custom skills • Building an automated Document-to-Presentation Skill • Designing an Infographic and Visual Asset Generation Skill • Content repurposing frameworks: Transforming raw long-form audio/video into structured social media • Financial and administrative automation: Expense report sorting, receipt parsing, and data visualization • Testing, versioning, and refining custom skills with evaluation examples • Reviewing and utilizing persistent artifact outputs effectively Scheduled Tasks, Dispatch, and Production Workflows • Introduction to Scheduled Tasks and time-driven autonomous automations • Configuring autonomous daily triggers (e.g., building a "Morning Brief" pipeline) • Utilizing the "Dispatch" feature to chain multiple background actions • Managing token usage, monitoring tracking data, and optimizing execution costs • Troubleshooting runtime errors and gracefully managing permission popup interruptions • Sharing skills, workspaces, and automations across teams • Developing an end-to-end autonomous business workflow from the ground up • Course capstone: Designing, deploying, and validating a production-ready autonomous workflow LCLICW ONLINE (c) 2026, ONLC Training Centers 800-288-8221