Course Description

This course introduces general users to Microsoft Copilot — an AI assistant built into Microsoft 365 apps. You'll learn what it is, where it works, how to use it effectively, and how to craft better prompts to get the results you want.

Target Student

This course is designed for Microsoft 365 users who want to leverage AI assistance in their daily work. It is relevant to:

• Business professionals using Microsoft 365 applications
• Office administrators and support staff
• Knowledge workers looking to improve productivity
• Team leaders and project managers
• Anyone new to AI-powered productivity tools
• Organisations rolling out Copilot to their workforce
• Users transitioning from other AI tools to Microsoft Copilot

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Understand what Microsoft Copilot is and how it integrates with Microsoft 365 applications
• Access and navigate Copilot across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, and Edge
• Use Copilot to draft, rewrite, summarise, and format content effectively
• Craft clear and specific prompts to achieve desired results
• Apply prompting frameworks and role-based techniques for better outputs
• Leverage Copilot for real-world tasks such as report creation, email management, and data analysis
• Recognise the limitations of AI-generated content and apply human judgment appropriately
• Follow best practices for privacy, data sensitivity, and responsible AI use
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs rather than accepting them verbatim
• Integrate Copilot into daily workflows to enhance productivity and efficiency

Course Content

Module 1 - Welcome to Copilot

• What is Microsoft Copilot?
• How AI is changing the way we work
• Copilot vs. ChatGPT vs. other tools — a quick comparison

Module 2 - Overview of Microsoft 365 integration

• Word
• Excel
• Outlook
• PowerPoint
• Teams
• OneNote
• Copilot in the Edge browser (sidebar, web summary, shopping)
• Accessing Copilot: subscription & setup basics

Module 3 - What Copilot Can Do

• In Word: Draft, rewrite, summarize, tone adjustment
• In Excel: Analyse data, create formulas, summarise trends
• In Outlook: Draft replies, summarise threads, suggest follow up
• In PowerPoint: Generate slides from prompts, improve visual clarity
• In Teams: Summarise meetings, suggest action items
• In OneNote: Organise notes, generate to-do lists, summarise content
• In Edge: Summarise web pages, compare products, rewrite text

Module 4 - Best Practices for Everyday Use

• Be specific: How clear prompts make better results
• Review and refine: Don't just copy paste
• Keep it natural: Talk to Copilot like a teammate
• Be aware of privacy & sensitivity when using company data
• Try small tasks first to build confidence

Module 5 - Intro to Prompting for Productivity

• What is a "prompt" and why it matters
• Simple vs. detailed prompts: examples that work
• Role based prompting: e.g., "Act as a marketer," "Act as a project manager"
• Helpful frameworks: "Summarize," "Draft," "Rewrite," "Visualise"
• Building prompt habits: tips to get consistent results

Module 6 - Real World Use Cases & Demos

• Create a weekly report with Word + Excel
• Turn a messy email thread into action items
• Build a presentation in minutes
• Summarise a Teams meeting and create follow up notes
• Analyse survey results in Excel using natural language

Module 7 - Copilot Pitfalls and Limitations

• What Copilot *can't* do (yet)
• How to spot inaccurate or generic output
• When manual work is still better
• Importance of human judgment

Module 8 - Wrap Up and What's Next

• Recap: Your Copilot toolkit
• Links to cheat sheets, examples, and practice prompts
• How to stay updated as Copilot evolves
• Course feedback and next steps