Mastering Microsoft Copilot with Artificial Intelligence

By Christie Turner, South Garland High School

We have been using Microsoft for years to make our lives in business and education easier. Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 as a small software company. Microsoft eventually grew into one of the largest tech companies in the world, known for products like Windows, Office, Xbox, and now recently, Microsoft Copilot. 

Artificial Intelligence: Empowering the Future of Work 

In today’s world of work, technology as we know it, is set at a faster pace than ever before. Technology is transforming the way we work, the way we create and the way we collaborate. With Microsoft Copilot, these tasks seem to make our workloads less strenuous. However, with Microsoft Copilot, Artificial Intelligence has stepped out of the research labs to help integrate everyday tasks into workspaces. Copilot acts as a partner that helps unlock potential and streamline tasks, ensuring that you spend less time on routine work and more time on what truly matters. 

What is Microsoft Copilot? 

Microsoft Copilot is an Artificial Intelligence assistant that is powered to enhance productivity and user experience. It allows humans and machines to collaborate. It was first introduced to the world of technology on February 7, 2023 as Bing Chat, an generative artificial intelligence chat box. Microsoft Copilot assists users with a variety of tasks, including writing and editing, data analysis, presentation creation, communication and collaboration, web browsing and research, creativity and design, voice command, and coding and technical support. Provided below are examples of how Microsoft Copilot assists users when completing tasks: 

1. Writing and Editing ○ Drafting emails, documents, reports and essays 

• Summarizing long texts 

• Improving grammar 

• Creating meeting notes or executive summaries 

2. Data Analysis ○ Analyzing data in Excel 

• Writing and explaining Excel formulas 

• Spotting trends 

3. Presentation Creation ○ Designing slides in Powerpoint 

• Suggesting slide content, layouts, and visuals 

• Turning text into engaging visuals 

• Summarizing presentations for quick reviews 

4. Communication and Collaboration ○ Summarizing Microsoft Teams meetings 

• Drafting replies to emails in Outlook 

• Translating or rewriting messages for clarity or tone 

• Generating agendas and to-do lists 

5. Web Browsing and Research ○ Summarizing websites or articles 

• Comparing products or services 

• Generating citations and reference lists 

• Finding quick answers to complex questions 

6. Creativity and Design ○ Generating images using Microsoft Designer 

• Generating graphics using Microsoft Designer 

• Brainstorming ideas or creating writing prompts 

• Creating social media content 

• Editing images, including background removal and object highlighting 

7. Voice and Accessibility Support ○ Using voice commands to complete tasks 

• Reading and responding to content outloud 

• Providing visual assistance and screen summaries 

8. Coding and Technical Support

• Writing, explaining, or debugging code 

• Suggesting improvements for best practices 

• Helping with databases queries or automation scripts 

How is Microsoft CoPilot Making Teachers Lives Easier? 

Teachers have many tasks and responsibilities that they must complete on a daily basis. Artificial Intelligence tools have made these tasks so much easier to complete at a faster rate than ever before for teachers in education. Artificial Intelligence has made teacher’s jobs more efficient, personalized, and less stressful. 

Microsoft CoPilot Helping Teachers Today: 

1. Lesson Planning 

• Quick Content Creation ○ Lesson Plans 

  • Quizzes 

  • Rubrics 

• Customization

  • Tailoring lessons for different grade levels or learning styles 

• Personal Learning

  • Supports personalized learning 

  • Allows educators to create content, tailored feedback and guidance for students based on their individual needs 

2. Creating Assessments 

• Simplifies the process of creating fair and comprehensive assessments 

• Generates diverse question types 

• Aligns with curriculum standards 

3. Grading and Feedback 

• Rubric-Based Assessments

  • Apply rubrics to student work more quickly 

• Personalized Feedback

  • Suggests personalized comments for student assignments 

4. Communication 

• Parent Emails

  • Drafts personal and clear emails 

• Student Support

  • Teachers can get help crafting responses or announcements in Teams or Outlook 

• Multilingual Support

  • CoPilot can draft content into multiple languages 

  • This allows teachers to be able to communicate with multilingual students and families 

5. Time Management 

• Meeting Summaries

  • In Teams, it can summarize meetings or chats 

• Task Lists

  • Keeps track of to-dos and deadlines 

This is a great resource to help teachers become familiar with and learn more about how Microsoft CoPilot can help teachers in their classrooms. 

The Pros of Microsoft CoPilot  Boosts Productivity  Seamless Integration  Enhances Creativity  Supports Decision-Making  Personalized Learning and Feedback  Real-Time Collaboration  Secure and Compliant  Multilingual and Accessible	The Cons of Microsoft CoPilot  Learning Curve for New Users  Inaccurate and Hallucinations  Limited Context Awareness  Dependence on Microsoft 365 Ecosystem  Privacy and Data Base Concerns  Cost  Can Stifle Original Thinking