Microsoft Copilot Training Course for Developers

Course Introduction

As AI becomes deeply embedded into the modern development workflow, Microsoft Copilot emerges as a powerful tool transforming how developers write, test, and collaborate on code. This hands-on training program is designed to help developers understand, integrate, and maximize the capabilities of Microsoft Copilot within their existing development environments. Over two immersive days, participants will explore Copilot’s features—from basic commands to advanced integrations—enabling a more productive and intelligent development experience.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the core functionality and strategic value of Microsoft Copilot.
  • Set up and configure Copilot within their preferred development environments.
  • Use Copilot to generate, refactor, and document code efficiently.
  • Apply Copilot’s advanced capabilities in team-based and collaborative development settings.
  • Address security, privacy, and ethical considerations while using AI-assisted tools.

Target Audience

This course is tailored for:

  • Software Developers and Engineers looking to integrate AI tools into their daily coding practices.
  • Technical Leads and Solution Architects seeking to enable smarter, faster development across their teams.
  • DevOps and Automation Engineers exploring ways to streamline coding tasks and testing workflows.
  • AI/ML Enthusiasts in the development community wanting to understand real-world applications of GenAI in software development.

Prior experience in software development and familiarity with IDEs like Visual Studio, VS Code, or GitHub Codespaces is recommended.

Training Methodology: Learning By Doing ( With Extensive Hands-On Sessons)

Key Takeaways

Participants will walk away with:

  • A working setup of Microsoft Copilot tailored to their development tools.
  • Practical experience in using Copilot for code suggestions, debugging, and documentation.
  • Knowledge of advanced commands and collaborative features for team environments.
  • Awareness of security best practices and ethical considerations when using AI assistants.
  • A curated list of resources to continue learning and stay ahead of the curve in AI-assisted development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Day 1: Kickstart Your Journey with Microsoft Copilot

🔹 Session 1: What is Microsoft Copilot?

  • Big Picture: Why Copilot matters in the dev world today
  • Core Capabilities:
    • AI-powered code suggestions
    • Natural language to code conversion
    • Context-aware assistance
  • Developer Value:
    • Faster prototyping
    • Reduced cognitive load
    • Cleaner, consistent code
  • Where It Lives:
    • GitHub Copilot in VS Code, Visual Studio
    • Microsoft 365 Copilot (for integration with Teams, Excel, Word)

Outcome: Participants will get a high-level view of Copilot’s potential in modern software development.

🔹 Session 2: Getting Set Up for Success

  • Installation and Activation:
    • GitHub Copilot setup in Visual Studio Code / JetBrains IDEs
    • Subscription requirements & licensing (individual vs. org)
  • Configuration:
    • Tailoring Copilot settings for your dev style
    • Choosing between multiline suggestions, autocomplete behavior
  • Seamless Integration:
    • Connecting with Azure Repos, GitHub, GitLab
    • Integrating with CLI tools and terminal

Outcome: Fully working Copilot environment, ready to build.

🔹 Session 3: First Flight with Copilot

  • The Basics:
    • Writing a function from a comment
    • Completing common code snippets
  • Working in Flow:
    • Accepting, modifying, or rejecting suggestions
    • Triggering inline suggestions vs. block suggestions
  • Interface Tips:
    • Shortcut keys, command palette access, toggling Copilot on/off

Outcome: Confidence in navigating and interacting with Copilot in daily dev workflows.

🔹 Session 4: Using Copilot to Supercharge Developer Productivity

  • Write Less, Do More:
    • Refactoring legacy code
    • Filling in boilerplate or repetitive patterns
  • Debugging Helper:
    • Generating test cases from code
    • Suggesting fixes for common bugs
  • Document Like a Pro:
    • Auto-generating docstrings, README snippets
    • Explaining code to teammates (or yourself in 3 months 😅)

Outcome: See measurable productivity gains by letting Copilot handle the grunt work.

Day 2: Going Pro with Copilot

🔹 Session 1: Going Beyond the Basics

  • Next-Level Prompts:
    • Writing detailed instructions for complex code blocks
    • Prompt engineering for devs: how to talk to Copilot effectively
  • Customize Behavior:
    • Setting up .copilot config files
    • Defining code style preferences
  • Power Combos:
    • Using Copilot with GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Docker

Outcome: Developers will move from passive usage to power users.

🔹 Session 2: Team Collaboration & Copilot

  • Dev Teams + Copilot:
    • Sharing prompts and reusable snippets
    • Maintaining consistent code standards
  • Pair Programming with AI:
    • How to let Copilot be your pair coder
    • Keeping human-in-the-loop
  • Config Sharing:
    • Version controlling Copilot settings across teams

Outcome: Use Copilot not just individually but as a team accelerator.

🔹 Session 3: Security and Responsible Use

  • Behind the Scenes:
    • How Copilot uses public code for training
    • What data is sent to Microsoft/GitHub
  • Best Practices:
    • Avoiding copyright issues
    • Verifying AI-generated code for bugs/vulnerabilities
  • Access & Permissions:
    • Managing organization-level Copilot usage
    • Role-based access and usage tracking

Outcome: Stay secure, compliant, and audit-ready while using AI tools.

About the Instructor:

Saket Karnik – Senior Technical Trainer & Microsoft Certified Expert

With over 25 years in software development and IT education, Saket Karnik is a powerhouse of technical expertise and training excellence. A seasoned trainer and technology evangelist, Saket has delivered 1000+ corporate workshops for global tech giants, consistently earning rave reviews (95%+ feedback scores).

Currently a Technical Director and a recognized external trainer for Microsoft IDC, Saket has deep command over modern stacks including .NET (1.x to 8.0), ASP.NET Core, Azure (DevOps, Serverless, Cosmos DB, ML), React, Angular, Node.js, Xamarin, MAUI, and Generative AI on Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI platform. From GPT-powered solutions to integrating LLMs into enterprise workflows, Saket is at the forefront of enabling teams to build AI-enhanced, cloud-first applications.

He is also a lead author and curriculum designer for Microsoft’s Azure and IoT learning tracks. His training portfolio spans industry leaders like Microsoft, Vodafone, Accenture, Capgemini, Harman, and Barclays – with a focus on real-world use cases, high-impact delivery, and cutting-edge tech.

Saket holds a Master’s in Computer Applications and multiple Microsoft certifications including MCT, MCP, and MCTS. His delivery style is hands-on, business-aligned, and always future-ready.