Section 1 of 7
Welcome
Click each card below to explore course details, then scroll down to see how to navigate.
Course Overview
What's This Course About?
Click to reveal
About This Course
Microsoft Copilot is a conversational AI assistant built into Microsoft 365. This course focuses on two real Instructional Design (ID) workflows: turning a spreadsheet of course topics into a Visio-ready flowchart, and generating a first-draft storyboard through structured prompting.
Audience
Who's This Course For?
Click to reveal
Target Learner
Instructional Designers who have no technical background but can describe a task in plain English.
Time Commitment
How Much Time Does This Course Require?
Click to reveal
Course Duration
- · 25 to 30 minutes
- · Self-paced
- · 3 lessons plus a quiz
How to Navigate
1
Open or close the sidebar menu
Click the menu icon in the top-left to show or hide the navigation panel. All seven sections are listed there.
2
Scroll through each lesson
Each section is a scrollable page with animated content. Complete the inline knowledge check before continuing.
3
Click Continue to advance
Use the Continue button at the bottom of each lesson to mark it complete and move to the next section.
Important
Section 6 contains a four-question assessment. Complete it to receive your course completion certificate.
Section 1 of 7
Section 2 of 7
Learning Objectives
Three measurable outcomes tied directly to your instructional design workflow.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1
Lesson 1 · Understand Level
Identify what Microsoft Copilot is and explain at least three ways it supports instructional design work
2
Lesson 2 · Apply Level
Apply the 4-part prompt formula to generate a Visio-ready course structure from a spreadsheet of topics
3
Lesson 3 · Apply Level
Build a first-draft storyboard using structured Copilot prompts and refine it with targeted follow-up instructions
Design Note
Each lesson walks through a realistic scenario so you see Copilot applied to actual ID work before trying it yourself.
Section 2 of 7
Section 3 of 7 · Lesson 1
Identify What Microsoft Copilot Does
Recognize what Copilot is, what it does, and why instructional designers need to understand it now.
AI in Plain Terms
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant built into Microsoft 365 tools including Word, Teams, Outlook, and Edge. You interact with it in plain language: describe what you need, and Copilot drafts, summarizes, or structures it for you.
What Copilot Does for Instructional Designers
The diagram below shows how strongly Copilot contributes to each of the four core ID capabilities. Scores are based on practical application in daily ID workflows.
Hover over each label to learn more
Time Savings Reported by IDs
4 hrs
to
45 min
First draft of a 10-slide storyboard
3 days
to
2 hrs
Course structure from SME interview notes
~6 rounds
to
~2 rounds
Revision cycles on learning objectives
Supplemental Learning
Watch this short video to see Copilot in action across real Microsoft 365 workflows — a helpful complement to the diagram above.
Click to open in YouTube. Video begins at the 4:53 mark.
Section 3 of 7
Section 4 of 7 · Lesson 2
Apply the Prompt Formula to Map Your Course
Follow Alex's scenario to learn how the 4-Part Prompt Formula turns 12 unordered topics into a Visio-ready flowchart structure. Apply the formula in the knowledge check below.
Scenario
Alex, an instructional designer at a manufacturing company, has a spreadsheet with 12 unordered course topics. Her manager needs a Visio-ready flowchart for stakeholder review by end of day. She opens Copilot and applies the 4-Part Prompt Formula.
The 4-Part Prompt Formula
Alex's prompt below is built using four parts: Context, Task, Output Format, and Constraints. Hover over each highlighted section to see what it does and why.
Context
Task
Output Format
Constraints
You are an instructional designer mapping a safety training course for manufacturing floor workers. Generate a Visio flowchart structure for the 12 topics below, organized into logical learning branches. Format as a numbered list of flowchart nodes with connection labels. Keep each label under 8 words. Group related topics. Use plain language.
Hover over each highlighted section to see what it does
Input vs. Output
Alex's spreadsheet — 12 topics
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Hazardous materials handling
- Machine operation safety
- Fire safety and extinguisher use
- Lockout/tagout procedures
- First aid basics
- Slip, trip, and fall prevention
- Chemical storage guidelines
- Noise exposure limits
- Incident reporting process
- Safety signage and symbols
Copilot response — node list for Visio
scroll to see more ↓
Important
Always compare Copilot's sequence against your SME's priority order and the audience's prerequisite knowledge before sharing with stakeholders.
Knowledge Check
Check Your Understanding
Alex submits her prompt and receives output, but the flowchart nodes are missing connection labels. Which part of her prompt should she strengthen?
A
Context: provide more background about the company or learners
B
Output Format: explicitly request connection labels in the format instructions
C
Task: describe the flowchart in more detail
D
Constraints: limit the total number of nodes
Correct. When a specific element is missing from output, the fix is almost always a more explicit Output Format instruction. Name every required component.
Not quite. When a specific component is missing, look to the Output Format section. It should list every element Copilot needs to include.
Section 4 of 7
Section 5 of 7 · Lesson 3
Build a Storyboard Draft with Copilot
Follow Jordan's scenario to learn how the 4-Phase Storyboard Workflow produces a complete first draft using Copilot. Apply what you learn in the knowledge check below.
Scenario
Jordan, an instructional designer, has just received SME interview notes and existing slides for a new ergonomics module. Instead of starting from a blank storyboard, she uses Copilot and her 4-Phase Workflow to generate a structured first draft in one afternoon.
Jordan's 4-Phase Storyboard Workflow
A hero's journey from raw materials to a complete first draft. Hover over each phase to learn how it works.
Phase 1
Gather
Jordan's inputs· Learning objectives
· Audience profile
· SME interview notes
· Existing slide deck
· Audience profile
· SME interview notes
· Existing slide deck
Phase 2
Prompt
Jordan's promptYou are an ID creating a 5-slide ergonomics module...
Generate a complete storyboard.
Format as a table: Slide #, Title, On-Screen Text, Visual, Voiceover.
Friendly tone. Under 80 words. No jargon.
Generate a complete storyboard.
Format as a table: Slide #, Title, On-Screen Text, Visual, Voiceover.
Friendly tone. Under 80 words. No jargon.
Phase 3
Review
Jordan verifies against· Learning objectives
· SME source notes
· Audience expectations
· Factual accuracy
· SME source notes
· Audience expectations
· Factual accuracy
Phase 4
Refine
Jordan's fixes· Tone adjustment
· Reduce on-screen text
· Add knowledge checks
· Improve visual cues
· Reduce on-screen text
· Add knowledge checks
· Improve visual cues
Reference
Use the accordion below for a reference list of refinement prompt templates as you practice.
"Rewrite slide 3's voiceover in a warmer, more conversational tone, as if a colleague is explaining this over coffee."
"Rewrite the on-screen text for all 5 slides so each has no more than 20 words, with one key idea per slide only."
"Add a single multiple-choice knowledge check question after slide 3. Include the correct answer and one sentence of feedback for each option."
"Rewrite the visual descriptions for slides 1 and 4 to be more specific. Include the exact image, layout, and any on-screen labels a developer would need."
Important
Copilot drafts quickly, but accuracy is your responsibility. Before sharing any storyboard with a developer or stakeholder, verify every fact and scenario against your SME's source material.
Knowledge Check
Check Your Understanding
Jordan receives her storyboard draft, but the voiceover scripts are too formal for her audience of office workers. What is the most efficient next step?
A
Discard Copilot's output and rewrite all scripts manually
B
Accept the formal tone since Copilot's output is generally polished
C
Use a follow-up prompt to rewrite the voiceovers in a friendlier, conversational tone
D
Ask the SME to rewrite the voiceover scripts directly
Correct. Follow-up prompts are the fastest way to address specific issues. A single targeted instruction rewrites the tone without discarding the rest of the storyboard.
Not quite. When Copilot output needs a specific adjustment, a follow-up prompt is faster than manual rewriting or involving additional stakeholders.
Section 5 of 7
Section 6 of 7
Knowledge Assessment
Four questions covering all three lessons. Review the feedback after each answer before continuing.
Instructions
Select your answer and click Submit Answer. You will receive immediate feedback. After all four questions, your score will be displayed.
Question 1 of 4
Question 1 of 4
Which statement best describes how Microsoft Copilot supports instructional designers?
A
It replaces the need for SME collaboration and review
B
It automates the entire instructional design process from analysis to delivery
C
It handles repetitive drafting and research tasks, freeing IDs for higher-value design work
D
It is accessible only to IDs with a technical or data science background
Correct. Copilot handles repetitive work so IDs can invest their time in strategic, human-centered design.
Not quite. Copilot is a drafting and research assistant. It handles task-level work, not role-level decisions.
Select an answer above
Question 2 of 4
Alex uses Copilot to organize 12 course topics into a flowchart, but connection labels are missing from the output. Which prompt component should she revise?
A
Context: provide more background about the company or learners
B
Task: describe the flowchart in greater detail
C
Output Format: explicitly list all required components, including connection labels
D
Constraints: reduce the number of nodes to simplify the output
Correct. When output is missing a specific element, the Output Format section must name every required component explicitly.
Not quite. If a specific element is missing from output, the Output Format section of the prompt needs to list every required component.
Select an answer above
Question 3 of 4
Jordan receives a storyboard draft from Copilot. The voiceover scripts are too formal for her audience. What should she do next?
A
Discard the draft and rebuild the storyboard manually
B
Accept the formal tone since Copilot output is generally polished
C
Use a follow-up prompt to rewrite the voiceovers in a conversational, approachable tone
D
Forward the draft to the SME to revise the language
Correct. A single targeted follow-up prompt rewrites the tone without discarding the rest of the storyboard.
Not quite. A follow-up prompt is the most efficient fix for a specific tone issue.
Select an answer above
Question 4 of 4
After Copilot generates a completed storyboard draft, what is the ID's critical next step before sharing it with developers?
A
Submit it directly since Copilot output is ready to use as-is
B
Run it through a second AI tool for a quality check
C
Review the output against learning objectives, SME notes, and audience needs, then refine as needed
D
Ask Copilot to regenerate the same prompt to confirm consistency
Correct. Your ID expertise ensures accuracy, alignment to objectives, and appropriateness for the audience before handoff.
Not quite. The accuracy review belongs to the ID. Check every storyboard against your LOs, SME notes, and audience profile before sharing.
Select an answer above
Assessment Complete
You answered all four questions.
0/4
Questions Correct
Section 7 of 7
Course Summary
A concise recap of the key ideas from all three lessons and a clear path forward.
Three Ideas to Take With You
1
Copilot is a collaborator, not a replacement
It handles first-draft generation and research compression. Your design thinking, learner empathy, and SME relationships remain the irreplaceable core of instructional design work.
2
The 4-part formula produces consistent results
Context, Task, Output Format, and Constraints. When output misses the mark, one of these four parts needs sharpening. Output Format and Constraints are the most common culprits.
3
Iteration is faster than perfection on the first try
A targeted follow-up prompt is almost always faster than rewriting manually. Treat Copilot as an interactive drafting session, not a one-shot request.
Your Next Steps
Pick one upcoming task, such as a course structure, a set of LOs, or a storyboard section, and draft your first Copilot prompt using the 4-part formula. Start with a low-stakes deliverable and build confidence through iteration.
When a prompt produces strong output, save it. Over time you will build a personal library of tested prompts for common ID tasks including storyboards, LO drafts, quiz questions, and facilitator guides.
The fastest way to build team-wide Copilot proficiency is to share successful prompts. Consider creating a shared prompt template document in your team's SharePoint or Teams channel.
Course Complete
You have completed Copilot in Your Instructional Design Workflow, including all three lessons and the knowledge assessment.
Section 7 of 7 · Course Complete