Microsoft CoPilot is an AI-powered chat assistant designed by Microsoft to make everyday tasks a little bit easier.
Microsoft CoPilot is built into Windows 11, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Bing Search, and even has free iOS or Android apps. Having an AI-powered chat assistant in so many easy-to-access places means that anyone can harness the power of an AI assistant in an instant! Now, the question is: how can you use CoPilot to make your life just a little bit easier? If you are an educator, we are here to help you answer that question and help you understand how to use CoPilot just a little bit better. Here are 6 ways you can use Microsoft CoPilot to help make end-of-school tasks easier.
Once you are ready to dive into the world of a generative AI assistance, you might want to consider a live webinar. The TechSperts at STCNtech have just the solution! On June 19th from Noon to 1:00 PM we will be running a Meet Your AI Assistant for Education webinar open to anyone and everyone in the education space! This webinar is not only for folks who are Microsoft schools -- so click here to register today! Done registering? Good. Now, on with how CoPilot can help you NOW!
Writing Effective Prompts
Prompting Copilot to generate content requires practice. Including specific information in your prompt helps produce more relevant responses.
An effective Copilot prompt:
Asks the tool to take on a role called a persona.
Provides an objective that tells the tool what to do or produce.
Defines the audience who will be using whatever Copilot generates.
Includes context that gives the tool background information.
Sets boundaries that limit or constrain responses.
Using these tips, we have to consider that any good prompt (AI or not) must also:
Give clear instructions
Provide the proper context
Allow for iteration & experimentation
Now that we have laid the groundwork -- let’s learn how Copilot can help you complete six common end-of-school-year tasks.
1. Craft student feedback at the end of the school year
Copilot can help you write end-of-school-year feedback in a style and tone that all students can understand. Simply craft a prompt that includes the subject area and details about the feedback you want to provide, and Copilot can draft a constructive, supportive statement written specifically for students. Take this example prompt below, craft something similar for CoPilot, and input it in to see what you get!
You are a fourth-grade teacher who is writing feedback on a student’s current reading skills. The student uses details to explain what text means but is unable to draw inferences in fiction. The student can identify in-text examples that illustrate a given theme but is unable to independently produce a theme without guidance. Write a short statement that explains this feedback to a student. Include a description about why using details is important and 1-2 ways to develop this skill. The paragraph should be written with plain text so that a fourth-grade student will understand.
You can always refine your prompt if the response is not what you expected. Simply include something like, “Re-write this feedback in Spanish” without selecting New topic, and Copilot will continue where you left off. Give it a try.
2. Write end-of-school-year reflections
Educators often write end-of-school-year newsletters for families, update class blogs with a final post, and draft reflections on school year goals. Copilot can assist with all these tasks and can help you create personalized, engaging visuals for your content. For example, you can use the following prompt to produce a summer newsletter for families -- change up the details to fit YOUR classroom, see what you get from CoPilot! Maybe you are in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Harrisburg!
You are the science department leader for a middle school in Philadelphia. Draft a summer newsletter for families that includes an introduction that talks about the past year and 5 sections: Science Books for Young Adults, Science at Home, Science Summer Camps, Science Events in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Science Museums. Only include information that can be linked to a website to learn more. The newsletter should be written in plain text using an informal tone.
You can also share your experiences, memorable moments, and insights from the school year and Copilot will help you find creative ways to share this information with colleagues, families, and students.
3. Organize classroom materials at the end of the school year
The last few weeks of a school year includes packing up classrooms for the summer, collecting books and devices, and organizing materials for the next year. Copilot can create checklists or reminders for end-of-school-year tasks like these and offer suggestions that you might not even consider. For example:
You are a high school library media specialist who checks out technology to administrators and educators. Write a checklist of the 5 most important things to do before returning each of the following devices: document camera, tablet, digital projector, games, and wires. Make each device a section heading and use bulleted lists for the content. Write the checklists so that the content is easily understood by people with varying levels of technological expertise.
Another way to use Copilot when you are organizing classroom materials is to ask for suggestions for efficient ways to declutter and prepare your classroom for the next school year.
4. Plan an end-of-school-year celebration
Many schools celebrate major milestones like the start of summer or moving from lower grades to higher grades with a party or ceremony. Copilot can be your personal planner and assist with brainstorming ideas for end-of-school-year events, awards ceremonies, or virtual gatherings. It can even suggest ways to be more inclusive in areas you might not have considered, like food options in the prompt below.
You are a guidance counselor in charge of helping rising eighth-grade students transition from middle school to high school. Draft a letter to middle school teachers that shares the biggest differences between middle school and high school. Include paragraphs on class schedules, touring the high school, meeting educators, extracurricular activities, and summer reading books. The letter should be written in a formal, conversational tone.
Whether you are creating invitations, planning activities, or drafting speeches, Copilot can be your creative collaborator.
5. Develop transition materials at the end of the school year
When students enter elementary school or move to middle or high school, everyone involved in the transition needs to know how to prepare for this change. Students need to know what to expect, families need to know how to support their children, and current educators need to provide relevant information. Copilot can help create transition materials so that everyone stays informed using a prompt like this example:
You are a guidance counselor in charge of helping rising eighth-grade students transition from middle school to high school. Draft a letter to middle school teachers that shares the biggest differences between middle school and high school. Include paragraphs on class schedules, touring the high school, meeting educators, extracurricular activities, and summer reading books. The letter should be written in a formal, conversational tone.
You can also use Copilot to write welcome letters, tips for success, or information about what to expect in the upcoming year.
6. Streamline parent communication at the end of the school year
Copilot can help you create templates for parent-teacher conferences at the end of the school year, as well as student progress updates, and letters to families. For example, you can ask Copilot to create a message to families about signing up for conferences with the following prompt.
You are a high school math teacher who teaches introductory algebra. Write a letter to families about parent-teacher conferences. Include an introductory paragraph that thanks families for their ongoing support and paragraphs about what will happen during the conferences, why conferences are important, who should attend, and how to prepare for the meeting. Conclude the letter with a paragraph about how to sign up for a conference slot. Write the letter using an approachable, informal tone.
Microsoft Copilot is a versatile AI tool for educators that adapts to your specific needs. To learn more about Microsoft’s AI solutions and resources, check out Smart learning: AI resources every educator should know and the AI for educators learning path on Microsoft Learn. Most importantly, enjoy the end of the school year with your students and the time you saved by using Copilot.
Missed the link to our Meet Your AI Assistant for Education webinar open to anyone and everyone in the education space! Well here it is again! This webinar is not only for folks who are Microsoft schools -- so click here to register today!
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