Copilot | UWG

Copilot is provided by Microsoft and is one of many AI-powered interfaces. However, unlike other generative AI tools found online, Copilot is housed within UWG's instance of Microsoft. This means the UWG data is not shared with outside entities or used to train external AI models. All UWG faculty, staff, and students have access to the free online version of Copilot.

Using Copilot

UWG offers two versions of Copilot--Web Copilot and 365 Copilot.

What is the difference between "Web Copilot" and "365 Copilot"?

The web version of Copilot is designed for individual use. With the free tool, you can search for information, ask questions, and customize output with different conversational styles.

Microsoft 365 Copilot requires a specific license and is designed for more advanced business use. For example, it can integrate with Outlook, Office and Teams. Copilot can access your email and documents (in OneDrive) to assist in generating and summarizing documents and managing and organizing Teams inboxes and suggest email responses.

To Access Copilot (either version):

Open your preferred web browser.
Navigate to https://copilot.microsoft.com
You will be prompted to sign in with OneLogin. Use your regular credentials here.
You are now ready to use Microsoft Copilot.

How to Write a Prompt

To use Copilot effectively, you need to give it clear and concise instructions, or prompts. A well-designed prompt will result in the best output in quality, relevance, and diversity. A bad prompt will lead to ambiguous, irrelevant, or biased output. Some tips for writing a prompt are:

Define clear objectives. Determine the main goal of the prompt. Whether creating a syllabus, drafting a quiz, or revising lesson content, have a clear vision of the end goal.
Be specific. AI operates best when given detailed instructions. Specify age level, subject, topic, or any other relevant parameters. For instance, “elementary math quiz on long division" is clearer than “math quiz.”
Structure the prompt. Break complex tasks into smaller parts. Instead of asking Copilot I to draft an entire lesson, request an outline, then pursue specific sections.
Iterate and refine. The first response from Copilot might not always be perfectly what was expected. Rephrase the prompt, ask follow-up questions, or provide more context than was on the initial prompt.
Combine expertise. Use Copilot as a tool to enhance and streamline work but remember to use your educational expertise to get the final result. AI can just suggest content.

365 Copilot Use Cases

In Teams, ask Copilot to find chats that mention a specific topic.

In Outlook Inbox, ask Copilot to look at entire email threads and summarize them.

Also in Outlook, ask Copilot to help draft replies using a specific tone, like friendly, formal or professional.

In Word, ask Copilot to create a draft of document based on your prompts.

In Excel, ask Copilot to create a pivot table or data summary, or ask it to write formulas.

In PowerPoint, Copilot can draft entire presentations. It can be based on a document you have prepared or just create one. It can add graphics, charts, etc. to improve your presentation.

Of course, 365 Copilot can be used in the same way as Web Copilot--without referencing any of your Microsoft apps.

AI Copilot

Using Copilot

What is the difference between "Web Copilot" and "365 Copilot"?

To Access Copilot (either version):

How to Write a Prompt

Web Copilot Use Cases

365 Copilot Use Cases

Copilot Training Resources