Implement

  • 10 minutes

Continue your AI journey by exploring the Implement section for instructions, links, and additional resources that help you design and implement a plan that works best for your organization. This section also helps prepare you to use these tools:

Choose the right AI tools

Deciding whether to add, buy, or build an AI solution depends on your institution's goals, resources, timeline, and technical capacity. The Implement section provides a framework to help you assess your needs and select the right approach.

Key considerations:

  • Do you need an AI solution that's ready to use or one you can fully customize?
  • Will users need access to institutional documents (for example, syllabi, research, policies)?
  • Could a hybrid approach help meet different needs across your institution?

The toolkit organizes AI implementation options into three categories:

  • Free options are ideal for rapid deployment and don't connect to institutional data or systems. They include built-in data protection with school or work accounts and are great for quick idea generation, AI exploration, and personalized learning. Examples include Copilot Chat, Learning Accelerators, and Khanmigo for Teachers.
  • Paid, low- or no-code options are designed to accelerate institutional workflows and inform decision-making. They connect to institutional data sources for context-aware responses and include built-in governance and security controls. Examples include Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, role-based Copilots (Service, Sales, Finance), Copilot in Power Apps, Copilot in Dynamics 365, and Security Copilot.
  • Paid, pro-code options are highly adaptable for advanced, scalable solutions. They require developers and system integrations but keep institutional data private and secure. These are built to power complex, custom AI solutions at a scale specific to your needs. Examples include Azure AI Foundry and GitHub Copilot.

Microsoft Copilot empowers education leaders

Copilot is an AI assistant that helps leaders find the right information, create original content, and complete common tasks. It uses a chat interface and natural language prompts to generate responses that summarize, analyze, compare, and more.

Use Copilot to help develop an implementation plan and these tasks:

  • Research: Gather information about emerging AI technologies and trends.
  • Budgeting: Develop a budget for AI implementation including items like software and training. Copilot can help create budget documents and communication resources.
  • Training plans and materials: Generate learning materials customized for students, staff, and community members.
  • Vendor evaluation: Create evaluation criteria and resources aligned with school priorities and guidelines.
  • Communication campaign: Draft communication to families, students, and staff about the positive impact of AI in education.
Sample family communication prompt:
Communication is a core part of any successful AI programs. Education leaders can use Copilot to help draft communication tailored for specific community members and platforms including email, text blasts, or social media.

Effective Microsoft Copilot prompting

Clear and specific prompts produce better AI results. To maximize Copilot's impact, everyone in your school or institution should practice effective prompting techniques.

Elements of a good prompt

  • Persona: Ask Copilot to take a role
  • Objective: What do you want Copilot to do
  • Audience: Specify who it's for
  • Context: What does Copilot need to know
  • Boundaries: Set your own direction and limitation
Sample effective prompting prompt:
Effective prompting is an important skill for all members of your school community to develop. Your team can use Copilot to generate role-specific guides to help each member of your school community gain and practice their skills
As an education leader introducing AI to students and faculty, develop a list of the top five tips for effectively integrating AI into schools. Ensure your tips are clear and understandable for a diverse audience, including educators and students. Provide relevant examples to illustrate each tip and create a challenge for learners to practice applying these strategies.

Check for accuracy

Remember AI tools are an assistant, not a replacement, for a human review and they can make mistakes, leading to inaccurate or fabricated information. Always review AI responses for accuracy, grammar, and style. Additionally, verify that the content created by AI is factual and check for any irrelevant or inappropriate material.

Professional learning

A well-developed professional learning plan for your community helps facilitate informed adoption of generative AI, promotes responsible practices, and ensures your institution remains relevant and responsive to technological advancements.

Start with low-stakes experimentation. Practice with the Copilot prompts within all the sections of this toolkit and then work through the following.

Building AI literacy across your institution requires a structured approach. The toolkit provides a six-step framework for professional learning:

  • Conduct a needs assessment to identify the gaps and opportunities for adoption. Consider your users' roles and expertise levels and how they can benefit from AI skills.
  • Define clear and measurable objectives that align with your AI priorities. Determine what learners should know and do after completing the AI learning plan.
  • Select relevant and engaging content that covers the topics and skills your learners need. Use existing resources or create your own.
  • Choose the appropriate delivery method for your content—in-person, online, synchronous, asynchronous, or a mix—to meet learner needs.
  • Collect feedback and evaluate the effectiveness of your AI learning plan. Use data and evidence to monitor progress, refine your plan, and improve AI adoption.
  • Foster a community of practice, where learners can share their experiences, challenges, and best practices with AI. Encourage continuous learning as AI evolves.

Microsoft Learn provides regularly updated technical documentation and self-paced learning experiences for different roles and levels. Use these resources to support your professional learning plan:

Microsoft supports student AI skilling with Hour of AI

Microsoft is partnering with Code.org to support the Hour of AI program, building on the successful Hour of Code initiative. Hour of AI helps learners and educators explore AI concepts through easy to follow, hands-on lessons and activities.

The program ensures students and educators have access to the tools and instructional content needed to become creators, all while having fun.

AI Snapshots and Sparks

The Implement section includes AI Snapshots and AI Sparks—practical examples modeling how institutions apply Microsoft AI tools.

AI Snapshots provide quick overviews of how individuals can use AI tools with step-by-step guides and sample prompts for daily tasks.

AI Sparks demonstrate how teams use Microsoft AI tools to create systemic impact, such as institution-wide writing support, district-wide literacy programs, and IT security improvements.