Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot

Instructor: Microsoft

Access provided by Howard University

12,510 already enrolled

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

101 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

101 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Apply effective prompting techniques using Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Draft, summarize, and refine emails and documents using AI tools.
Prepare for meetings and capture action items using Copilot in Teams.
Analyze data and create presentations using natural language in Excel and PowerPoint.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Microsoft Copilot is changing how work gets done. This course shows you how to use AI tools effectively across your daily tasks so you can save time, improve output quality, and stay focused on what matters most.

This course is for business professionals and anyone who uses Microsoft 365 and wants to boost productivity with AI. No prior AI experience required. Most activities use free Copilot Chat; a few exercises demonstrate enterprise features. You will learn how to use Copilot across Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Starting with the basics, you will build skills in prompting, content creation, communication, meeting support, and data analysis. You will also learn how to evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs to ensure accuracy, tone, and relevance. As you progress, you will integrate Copilot into full workflows — drafting emails, summarizing conversations, preparing for meetings, analyzing data, and creating presentations. By the end, you will use Copilot as a collaborative teammate to plan, execute, and improve your work with confidence.

Professionals spend hours each week on routine tasks—Copilot can help you reclaim that time. In this module, you'll see Copilot in action, learn when to use Copilot Chat versus Microsoft 365 Copilot, and master the 101 prompt formula for writing effective prompts. You'll also practice refining your outputs through iteration—a standard part of working with AI. By the end, you'll have the foundational prompting skills to apply across any Copilot task.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 assignment

Learn to use Copilot for your most common communication tasks—drafting emails, summarizing threads, creating documents, and adapting content for any audience. You'll practice adjusting tone and structure for different recipients, and learn to evaluate outputs before sending.

What's included

3 videos2 readings1 assignment

3 videosTotal 23 minutes

Composing audience-specific emails with Copilot7 minutes
Extracting insights and summaries in emails with Copilot6 minutes
Unlock Efficiency in the O365 Applications: Copilot in Action Part 19 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Why AI-Assisted Communication Matters10 minutes
Activity: Draft and Add Content With Copilot in Word20 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Knowledge Check: Communication & Content30 minutes

Reduce meeting prep time and never lose an action item again. Missed decisions, forgotten follow-ups, and scattered notes are common meeting challenges. Copilot helps you prepare, capture, and act on what matters before, during, and after every meeting. By summarizing prior emails, documents, and discussions, Copilot improves meeting quality and reduces time spent catching up.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment

Learn to ask questions of your data in plain English and transform insights into presentation-ready visuals—no formulas required.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment

Bring it all together—find answers across your organization, validate what you find, and build sustainable daily habits with AI as your consistent work partner.