Microsoft Copilot for Office 365

After attending this course, students should be able to:

• Explain how Microsoft Copilot works across Microsoft 365 and what influences its output
• Distinguish between Copilot Chat, in-app Copilot, and customized Copilot experiences
• Use Copilot effectively in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Apply prompt patterns that produce reliable, actionable results
• Identify Copilot limitations, risks, and validation strategies
• Improve Copilot outcomes through better data organization and collaboration practices
• Design role-specific Copilot workflows for common business tasks
• Use Copilot responsibly within security, compliance, and governance boundaries
• Evaluate when AI assistance is appropriate—and when human expertise must lead

This course is for professionals, managers, business leaders, and power users who want to improve productivity, decision-making, and collaboration using Microsoft Copilot without losing control, accuracy, or accountability.
 

Participants should be proficient users of Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and have a foundational understanding of AI concepts.
 

I Understanding Microsoft Copilot

• What Microsoft Copilot Is and Is Not
  • Copilot as an AI orchestration layer, not a replacement for skills
  • How Copilot differs from standalone AI tools
  • Common misconceptions about “AI doing the work for you”
• From GPT Models to Microsoft Copilot
  • High-level overview of large language models
  • Why Copilot is grounded in Microsoft 365 data
  • The role of Microsoft Graph in Copilot responses
• How Copilot Generates Answers
  • Tokens, context windows, and relevance
  • Why Copilot answers vary by user
  • What Copilot can see and what it cannot

II Copilot Interfaces and User Experience

• Copilot Chat vs In-App Copilot
  • When to use Copilot Chat
  • When in-app Copilot is more effective
  • Switching between conversational and task-based workflows

• Copilot Interaction Fundamentals
  • Understanding prompts as collaboration, not commands
  • Asking Copilot “why” and “how,” not just “do this”
  • Iterative prompting for refinement and accuracy

III Preparing Microsoft 365 for Copilot Success

• Why Copilot Performance Is a Data Problem
  • File sprawl, email overload, and noisy Teams channels
  • How poor structure limits AI usefulness
• Improving Information Quality
  • File naming, versioning, and organization strategies
  • Structuring Teams channels for meaningful context
  • Writing emails and documents Copilot can actually summarize
• Permissions, Exposure, and Trust
  • How Copilot respects existing security boundaries
  • Risks of over-permissioned content
  • Why “Copilot surfaced this” is not a security breach

IV Copilot in Microsoft Word: AI-Assisted Writing with Accountability

• Drafting and Refining Content
  • Generating first drafts vs polishing existing content
  • Adapting tone, audience, and purpose
  • Improving clarity without losing intent
• Structured Business Documents
  • Policies, procedures, proposals, and reports
  • Turning rough ideas into structured documents
  • Maintaining ownership and accuracy
• Research, Citations, and Validation
  • Using Copilot to summarize source material
  • Verifying facts and avoiding hallucinations
  • When human review is non-negotiable

V Copilot in Microsoft Excel: Insight Acceleration, Not Skill Replacement

• Asking Questions of Your Data
  • Natural language queries for insights
  • Understanding what Copilot infers vs calculates
• Formulas, Analysis, and Trends
  • Generating formulas and explanations
  • Identifying trends and anomalies
  • Validating AI-generated insights

• Responsible Data Analysis
  • When Copilot helps—and when it can mislead
  • Avoiding blind trust in AI-generated conclusions

VI Copilot in Microsoft PowerPoint: From Content to Story

• Creating Presentations Faster
  • Turning Word documents and notes into slides
  • Structuring decks for clarity and flow
• Design and Layout Assistance
  • Design suggestions vs design decisions
  • Accessibility and localization considerations
• Executive vs Informational Presentations
  • Adapting content for leadership audiences
  • Using Copilot to refine messaging, not dilute it

VII Copilot in Outlook: Managing Attention and Communication

• Email Drafting and Editing
  • Writing clearer, more professional emails
  • Adjusting tone for internal vs external communication
• Inbox Intelligence
  • Email summarization and action extraction
  • Prioritization and follow-up assistance
• Calendar and Task Support
  • Meeting preparation and follow-ups
  • Avoiding over-automation in communication

VIII Copilot in Microsoft Teams: Collaboration Without More Meetings

• Meetings That Leave Clarity Behind
  • Meeting summaries vs decision summaries
  • Capturing action items and next steps
• Chat and Collaboration Support
  • Summarizing long conversations
  • Supporting asynchronous work
• Document Collaboration
  • Co-authoring with Copilot
  • Maintaining shared understanding across teams

IX Advanced Copilot Capabilities and Customization

• Cross-Application Intelligence
  • How Copilot connects content across apps
  • Designing end-to-end workflows
• Introduction to Copilot Studio
  • What Copilot Studio enables
  • When customization makes sense
  • Governance and ownership considerations
• Copilot and the Power Platform
  • Where automation fits
  • AI-assisted workflows vs traditional automation

X Security, Privacy, and Responsible AI Use

• Data Handling and Compliance
  • How Microsoft protects organizational data
  • Compliance and regulatory considerations
• Ethical and Responsible AI Practices
  • Bias, transparency, and accountability
  • Disclosure and professional responsibility
• IT Controls and Governance
  • Admin configuration and policy enforcement
  • Aligning Copilot usage with organizational standards

XI Copilot Limits, Risks, and Reality

• Understanding AI Failure Modes
  • Hallucinations and overconfidence
  • Incomplete or outdated context
• Human Judgment Still Matters
  • Validation strategies
  • Knowing when not to use Copilot
• Avoiding Skill Atrophy
  • Using Copilot as augmentation, not substitution

XII Best Practices for Long-Term Success

• Prompt Patterns That Work
  • High-quality prompt structures
  • Common prompt anti-patterns
• Team Norms and Collaboration
  • Establishing shared Copilot expectations
  • Transparency around AI-assisted work
• Measuring Real Productivity Gains
  • What improvement actually looks like
  • Continuous learning as Copilot evolves