VIIMSI – Practical Microsoft Copilot Training

Target audience and level: Office workers, specialists, project managers and others interested in using Microsoft Copilot to support everyday work tasks. Basic computer skills are sufficient. Proficiency level: Beginner (with practical examples of use). Microsoft Copilot helps generate ideas, draft and edit texts, create summaries and structure information. In this workshop, we will learn how to use this assistant in practice, starting with simple tasks and moving on to practical office-work examples. We will also explain the differences between Copilot Chat and features available through a paid licence integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, what can be done with different levels of access, and why outputs must be checked and work-related data handled carefully.

In the training, you will learn to:
· Understand the basic capabilities, limitations and ways generative AI and large language models can make mistakes.
· Distinguish Microsoft Copilot Chat from the application-specific capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, and understand the prerequisites for using them.
· Write clear prompts by defining the task, context, format, constraints and quality criteria.
· Use AI to create emails, announcements, summaries, meeting materials and preliminary action plans.
· Check the facts, sources and suitability of generated text, and avoid relying on it without good reason.
· Take into account requirements concerning personal data, confidentiality, copyright and information security, as well as user-relevant principles of the EU AI Act.

Practical exercises
Using sample data, we will draft an email or announcement, change its tone and structure, summarise a longer text and create a list of actions. We will compare an initial prompt with a revised one, check the output and discuss when additional features in Microsoft 365 applications are needed.

Outcome
Participants will be able to write a reusable, effective prompt, use Copilot to support at least one routine office task, and assess the quality of the response and the associated data-protection risks.

Format
· The training combines brief explanations, demonstrations, participant exercises and discussions.
· Participants are recommended to bring a laptop and, if possible, use a suitable AI application.
· Prepared sample data will be used in the exercises; no confidential work-related or personal data will be entered.
· Feedback will be collected at the end of the training; participants will receive sample prompts and practical checklists of questions.

Trainer: Henn Sarv – consultant, expert, practitioner and trainer; IT Koolitus Trainer of the Year 2022; Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) since 1996; Microsoft MVP in data science from 2004 to 2018.