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AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Educators: AI Tools

Referencing

If you use AI at all in your studies, you must acknowledge its use.

Current copyright and referencing advice relevant to using Gen AI in a TAFE environment can be found here Using Generative AI Platforms in TAFEs - Smartcopying.

Microsoft Co-pilot

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It helps you work smarter, faster, and more creatively by understanding natural language and turning it into actions. 

You can access Microsoft 365 on all TAFE SA Laptops by going to https://www.microsoft365.com and logging in with your TAFE SA email address and password.

TAFE SA staff and students can also install Microsoft Office 365 on up to five personal devices for free. This means access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and more on your home computer, tablet and mobile as long as you have an active TAFE SA account. Find out how to install Office 365 at home.

How Can Students Use Copilot?

TAFE SA recommends only using AI to help you with your studies and does not allow you to submit any AI generated assessments.

Be aware that all AI is a tool and can be wrong. Any use of AI is to supplement your studies and is not a replacement for learning. 

Here are some practical ways students can use Copilot in their studies:

In Word

  • Draft essays or report templates from a prompt, i.e. what create an outline for an essay or literature review
  • Summarize information on a topic to help you get started
  • Help you improve writing by improving your clarity, tone, or grammar, i.e. spellcheck
  • Generate citations or bibliographies in different styles.
  • Generate quizzes or flashcards to help you study

In Excel

  • Analyse data with natural language questions like “What are the trends in this data?”
  • Create charts and graphs automatically.
  • Generate formulas without needing to know Excel syntax.

In PowerPoint

  • Turn a Word document into a presentation in seconds.
  • Design slides with suggested layouts and visuals.
  • Summarize presentations or generate speaker notes.

In Outlook

  • Draft emails quickly and professionally.
  • Summarize long email threads to catch up fast.
  • Suggest replies based on the context of the conversation.

How to Use It

  1. Look for the Copilot icon (a sparkle or star-like symbol) in your Microsoft 365 apps.
  2. Type a natural language prompt, like:
    • “Summarize this document.”
    • “Create a chart showing sales by month.”
    • “Write a professional email to my tutor about missing class.”
  3. Review and edit the output—it’s a starting point, not the final product!

For more information on how to use Copilot see this helpful overview

Important Reminders

  • Always review what Copilot generates—AI can make mistakes.
  • Use it ethically—don’t use it to cheat or plagiarize.
  • Protect your privacy—don’t share sensitive personal info.

For more information about using Co-pilot for work please see here