What's New in Microsoft EDU - October 2025
Join us on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 for our latest "What's New in Microsoft EDU" webinar! These 30-minute webinars are put on by the Microsoft Education Product Management group and happen once per month, this month both 8:00am Pacific Time and 4:00pm Pacific time to cover as many global time zones as possible around the world. And don’t worry – we’ll be recording these and posting on our Microsoft Education YouTube channel in the new “What’s New in Microsoft EDU” playlist, so you’ll always to able to watch later or share with others! Here is our October 2025 webinar agenda: M365 Copilot and AI updates for Educators and Students Learning Zone public preview and the Copilot+ PC Microsoft 365 LTI for Learning Management Systems AMA - Ask Microsoft EDU Anything (Q&A) We look forward to having you attend the event! How to sign up OPTION 1: October 22nd, Wednesday @ 8:00am Pacific Time Register here OPTION 2: October 22nd, Wednesday @ 4:00pm Pacific Time Register here This is what the webinar portal will look like when you register: We look forward to seeing you there! Mike Tholfsen Group Product Manager Microsoft EducationStep-by-Step: Setting Up GitHub Student and GitHub Copilot as an Authenticated Student Developer
To become an authenticated GitHub Student Developer, follow these steps: create a GitHub account, verify student status through a school email or contact GitHub support, sign up for the student developer pack, connect to Copilot and activate the GitHub Student Developer Pack benefits. The GitHub Student Developer Pack offers 100s of free software offers and other benefits such as Azure credit, Codespaces, a student gallery, campus experts program, and a learning lab. Copilot provides autocomplete-style suggestions from AI as you code. Visual Studio Marketplace also offers GitHub Copilot Labs, a companion extension with experimental features, and GitHub Copilot for autocomplete-style suggestions. Setting up your GitHub Student and GitHub Copilot as an authenticated Github Student DeveloperStep-by-Step: How to Setup Copilot Chat in VS Code
Copilot Chat is an AI-powered chatbot leveraging OpenAI's GPT-4, designed to enhance your coding workflow. Learn how to set up Copilot Chat step by step in Visual Studio Code (VS Code). Benefit from personalized and flexible coding environments, code analysis, automated unit test generation, and bug fixes. Prerequisites include an active GitHub account and the latest version of VS Code. Elevate your coding efficiency to new heights with Copilot Chat.What's New in Microsoft EDU webinar - August 2025
Join us on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 for our latest "What's New in Microsoft EDU" webinar! These 30-minute webinars are put on by the Microsoft Education Product Management group and happen once per month, this month both 8:00am Pacific Time and 4:00pm Pacific time to cover as many global time zones as possible around the world. And don’t worry – we’ll be recording these and posting on our Microsoft Education YouTube channel in the new “What’s New in Microsoft EDU” playlist, so you’ll always to able to watch later or share with others! Here is our August 2025 webinar agenda: Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Chat for students 13+ M365 Copilot updates for Educators and Students Learning Zone public preview and the Copilot+ PC Microsoft 365 LTI for Learning Management Systems Learning Accelerator updates Microsoft 365 app updates AMA - Ask Microsoft EDU Anything (Q&A) We look forward to having you attend the event! How to sign up OPTION 1: August 20th, Wednesday @ 8:00am Pacific Time Register here OPTION 2: August 20th, Wednesday @ 4:00pm Pacific Time Register here This is what the webinar portal will look like when you register: Look forward to seeing you there! Mike Tholfsen Group Product Manager Microsoft EDUCopilot Agents in Education - join us for a webinar to learn more about AI agents
Join us for an session about AI Agents in Microsoft Copilot, tailored for educators. We'll delve into what Agents are, using them and even creating them. We'll highlight how educational institutions can use AI to enhance user engagement, teaching and learning, and productivity. Discover how the Microsoft Copilot Stack can empower educators and students alike.Managing Copilot Chat access for Faculty and Higher Education 18+ student
Exciting news for education audiences! Microsoft has announced availability updates for Microsoft Copilot and Copilot for Microsoft 365. Learn more about the expansion of eligibility and options for managing user access with commercial data protection.Automating PowerPoint Generation with AI: A Learn Live Series Case Study
Introduction A Learn Live is a series of events where over a period of 45 to 60 minutes, a presenter walks attendees through a learning module or pathway. The show/series, takes you through a Microsoft Learn Module, Challenge or a particular sample. Between April 15 to May 13, we will be hosting a Learn Live series on "Master the Skills to Create AI Agents." This premise is necessary for the blog because I was tasked with generating slides for the different presenters. Challenge: generation of the slides The series is based on the learning path: Develop AI agents on Azure and each session tackles one of the learn modules in the path. In addition, Learn Live series usually have a presentation template each speaker is provided with to help run their sessions. Each session has the same format as the learn modules: an introduction, lesson content, an exercise (demo), knowledge check and summary of the module. As the content is already there and the presentation template is provided, it felt repetitive to do create the slides one by one. And that's where AI comes in - automating slide generation for Learn Live modules. Step 1 - Gathering modules data The first step was ensuring I had the data for the learn modules, which involved collecting all the necessary information from the learning path and organizing it in a way that can be easily processed by AI. The learn modules repo is private and I have access to the repo, but I wanted to build a solution that can be used externally as well. So instead of getting the data from the repository, I decided to scrape the learn modules using BeautifulSoup into a word document. I created a python script to extract the data, and it works as follows: Retrieving the HTML – It sends HTTP requests to the start page and each unit page. Parsing Content – Using BeautifulSoup, it extracts elements (headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.) from the page’s main content. Populating a Document – With python-docx, it creates and formats a Word document, adding the scraped content. Handling Duplicates – It ensures unique unit page links by removing duplicates. Polite Scraping – A short delay (using time.sleep) is added between requests to avoid overloading the server. First, I installed the necessary libraries using: pip install requests beautifulsoup4 python-docx. Next, I ran the script below, converting the units of the learn modules to a word document: import requests from bs4 import BeautifulSoup from docx import Document from urllib.parse import urljoin import time headers = {"User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0"} base_url = "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/orchestrate-semantic-kernel-multi-agent-solution/" def get_soup(url): response = requests.get(url, headers=headers) return BeautifulSoup(response.content, "html.parser") def extract_module_unit_links(start_url): soup = get_soup(start_url) nav_section = soup.find("ul", {"id": "unit-list"}) if not nav_section: print("❌ Could not find unit navigation.") return [] links = [] for a in nav_section.find_all("a", href=True): href = a["href"] full_url = urljoin(base_url, href) links.append(full_url) return list(dict.fromkeys(links)) # remove duplicates while preserving order def extract_content(soup, doc): main_content = soup.find("main") if not main_content: return for tag in main_content.find_all(["h1", "h2", "h3", "p", "li", "pre", "code"]): text = tag.get_text().strip() if not text: continue if tag.name == "h1": doc.add_heading(text, level=1) elif tag.name == "h2": doc.add_heading(text, level=2) elif tag.name == "h3": doc.add_heading(text, level=3) elif tag.name == "p": doc.add_paragraph(text) elif tag.name == "li": doc.add_paragraph(f"• {text}", style='ListBullet') elif tag.name in ["pre", "code"]: doc.add_paragraph(text, style='Intense Quote') def scrape_full_module(start_url, output_filename="Learn_Module.docx"): doc = Document() # Scrape and add the content from the start page print(f"📄 Scraping start page: {start_url}") start_soup = get_soup(start_url) extract_content(start_soup, doc) all_unit_links = extract_module_unit_links(start_url) if not all_unit_links: print("❌ No unit links found. Exiting.") return print(f"🔗 Found {len(all_unit_links)} unit pages.") for i, url in enumerate(all_unit_links, start=1): print(f"📄 Scraping page {i}: {url}") soup = get_soup(url) extract_content(soup, doc) time.sleep(1) # polite delay doc.save(output_filename) print(f"\n✅ Saved module to: {output_filename}") # 🟡 Replace this with any Learn module start page start_page = "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/orchestrate-semantic-kernel-multi-agent-solution/" scrape_full_module(start_page, "Orchestrate with SK.docx") Step 2 - Utilizing Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint To automate the slide generation, I used Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint. This tool leverages AI to create slides based on the provided data. It simplifies the process and ensures consistency across all presentations. As I already had the slide template, I created a new presentation based on the template. Next, I used copilot in PowerPoint to generate the slides based on the presentation. How did I achieve this? I uploaded the word document generated from the learn modules to OneDrive In PowerPoint, I went over to Copilot and selected ```view prompts```, and selected the prompt: create presentations Next, I added the prompt below and the word document to generate the slides from the file. Create a set of slides based on the content of the document titled "Orchestrate with SK". The slides should cover the following sections: • Introduction • Understand the Semantic Kernel Agent Framework • Design an agent selection strategy • Define a chat termination strategy • Exercise - Develop a multi-agent solution • Knowledge check • Summary Slide Layout: Use the custom color scheme and layout provided in the template. Use Segoe UI family fonts for text and Consolas for code. Include visual elements such as images, charts, and abstract shapes where appropriate. Highlight key points and takeaways. Step 3 - Evaluating and Finalizing Slides Once the slides are generated, if you are happy with how they look, select keep it. The slides were generated based on the sessions I selected and had all the information needed. The next step was to evaluate the generated slides, add the Learn Live introduction, knowledge check and conclusion. The goal is to create high-quality presentations that effectively convey the learning content. What more can you do with Copilot in PowerPoint? Add speaker notes to the slides Use agents within PowerPoint to streamline your workflow. Create your own custom prompts for future use cases Summary - AI for automation In summary, using AI for slide generation can significantly streamline the process and save time. I was able to automate my work and only come in as a reviewer. The script and PowerPoint generation all took about 10 minutes, something that would have previously taken me an hour and I only needed to counter review based on the learn modules. It allowed for the creation of consistent and high-quality presentations, making it easier for presenters to focus on delivering the content. Now, my question to you is, how can you use AI in your day to day and automate any repetitive tasks?Deploy Your First App Using GitHub Copilot for Azure: A Beginner’s Guide
Deploying an app for the first time can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself switching between tutorials, scanning documentation, and wondering if you missed a step. But what if you could do it all in one place? Now you can! With GitHub Copilot for Azure, you can receive real time deployment guidance without leaving the Visual Studio Code. While it won’t fully automate deployments, it serves as a step-by-step AI powered assistant, helping you navigate the process with clear, actionable instructions. No more endless tab switching or searching for the right tutorial—simply type, deploy, and learn, all within your IDE i.e. Visual Studio Code. If you are a student, you have access to exclusive opportunities! Whether you are exploring new technologies or experimenting with them, platforms like GitHub Education and the Microsoft Learn Student Hub provide free Azure credits, structured learning paths, and certification opportunities. These resources can help you gain hands-on experience with GitHub Copilot for Azure and streamline your journey toward deploying applications efficiently. Prerequisites: Before we begin, ensure you have the following: Account in GitHub. Sign up with GitHub Copilot. Account in Azure (Claim free credits using Azure for Students) Visual Studio Code installed. Step 1: Installation How to install GitHub Copilot for Azure? Open VS Code, in the leftmost panel, click on Extensions, type – ‘GitHub Copilot for Azure’, and install the first result which is by Microsoft. After this installation, you will be prompted to install – GitHub Copilot, Azure Tools, and other required installations. Click on allow and install all required extensions from the same method, as used above. Step 2: Enable How to enable GitHub Copilot in GitHub? Open GitHub click on top rightmost Profile pic, a left panel will open. Click on Your Copilot. Upon opening, enable it for IDE, as shown in the below Figure. Step 3: Walkthrough Open VSCode, and click on the GitHub Copilot icon from topmost right side. This will open the GitHub Copilot Chat. From here, you can customize the model type and Send commands. Type azure to work with Azure related tasks. Below figure will help to locate the things smoothly: Step 4: Generate Boilerplate Code with GitHub Copilot Let’s start by creating a simple HTML website that we will deploy to Azure Static Web Apps Service. Prompt for GitHub Copilot: Create a simple "Hello, World!" code with HTML. Copilot will generate a basic structure like this: Then, click on "Edit with Copilot." It will create an index.html file and add the code to it. Then, click on "Accept" and modify the content and style if needed before moving forward. Step 5: Deploy Your App Using Copilot Prompts Instead of searching for documentation, let’s use Copilot to generate deployment instructions directly within Visual Studio Code. Trigger Deployment Prompts Using azure To get deployment related suggestions, use azure in GitHub Copilot’s chat. In the chat text box at the bottom of the pane, type the following prompt after azure, then select Send (paper airplane icon) or press Enter on your keyboard: Prompt: azure How do I deploy a static website? Copilot will provide two options: deploying via Azure Blob Storage or Azure Static Web App Service. We will proceed with Azure Static Web Apps, so we will ask Copilot to guide us through deploying our app using this service. We will use the following prompt: azure I would like to deploy a site using Azure Static Web Apps. Please provide a step-by-step guide. Copilot will then return steps like: You will receive a set of instructions to deploy your website. To make it simpler, you can ask Copilot for a more detailed guide. To get a detailed guide, we will use the following prompt: azure Can you provide a more detailed guide and elaborate on GitHub Actions, including the steps to take for GitHub Actions? Copilot will then return steps like: See? That’s how you can experiment, ask questions, and get step-by-step guidance. Remember, the better the prompt, the better the results will be. Step 6: Learn as You Deploy One of the best features of Copilot is that you can ask follow-up questions if anything is unclear—all within Visual Studio Code, without switching tabs. Examples of Useful Prompts: What Azure services should I use with my app? What is GitHub Actions, and how does it work? What are common issues when deploying to Azure, and how can I fix them? Copilot provides contextual responses, guiding you through troubleshooting and best practices. You can learn more about this here. Conclusion: With GitHub Copilot for Azure, deploying applications is now more intuitive than ever. Instead of memorizing complex commands, you can use AI powered prompts to generate deployment steps in real time and even debug the errors within Visual Studio Code. 🚀 Next Steps: Experience with different prompts and explore how Copilot assists you. Try deploying more advanced applications, like Node.js or Python apps. GitHub Copilot isn’t just an AI assistant, it’s a learning tool. The more you engage with it, the more confident you’ll become in deploying and managing applications on Azure! Learn more about GitHub Copilot for Azure: Understand what GitHub Copilot for Azure Preview is and how it works. See example prompts for learning more about Azure and understanding your Azure account, subscription, and resources. See example prompts for designing and developing applications for Azure. See example prompts for deploying your application to Azure. See example prompts for optimizing your applications in Azure. See example prompts for troubleshooting your Azure resources. That's it, folks! But the best part? You can become part of a thriving community of learners and builders by joining the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Community. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore hands-on projects, and stay updated with the latest in cloud and AI. 💬 Join the community on Discord here.How to Customize Visual Studio Code Chat with GitHub Copilot and Semantic Kernel
Discover how to customize Visual Studio Code Chat to revolutionize your development workflow with AI. By leveraging GitHub Copilot, Semantic Kernel, and Azure AI Agent Service, you can create chat participants tailored to tasks like project creation, requirement analysis, and code orchestration. Learn to integrate models like o1-mini for reasoning and .NET Aspire for distributed application management. Empower your IDE with AI to streamline complex workflows and boost efficiency.How to use GitHub Copilot for Azure?
Good news for everyone - GitHub Copilot is now available for free in VS Code!! Excited to try GitHub copilot for Azure in VSCode? Prerequisites: Account in GitHub Sign up for GitHub Copilot Account in Azure Install VSCode Step 1. Installation How to install GitHub Copilot for Azure? Open VS Code, in the leftmost panel, click on Extensions, type – ‘GitHub copilot for azure’, and install the first result which is by Microsoft. As shown in the Fig. 1.1 below: Fig. 1.1 How to install GitHub Copilot for Azure in VSCode 2. After this installation, you will be prompted to install – GitHub Copilot, Azure Tools, and other required installations. Click on allow and install all required extensions from the same method, as used above. Fig. 1.1.1 Installation of GitHub Copilot and sign in with GitHub Step 2: Enable How to enable GitHub Copilot in GitHub? Open GitHub, Click on top rightmost Profile pic, a left panel will open. Click on Your Copilot. Fig. 1.2 Locate GitHub Copilot Upon opening, enable it for IDE, as shown in the below Fig. 1.3 Fig. 1.3 Enabling Copilot Chat in the IDE Step 3: Walkthrough Open VSCode, and click on the GitHub Copilot icon from topmost right side. This will open the GitHub Copilot Chat. From here, you can customize the model type and Send commands. Type azure to work with Azure related tasks. Below Fig. 1.4 will help to locate the things smoothly: Fig. 1.4 Locating GitHub Copilot Chat in VSCode Scenario: Using the GitHub Repository If you have any of your project already available in the GitHub public repository, then paste the link of it in the chat section and append it with the below prompt: Prompt: This is my website deployed locally in GitHub, help me deploy in Azure. Hit Enter from the keyboard or Click the arrow sign, and proceed further with the instructions generated by the Copilot. Note: You will be prompted to Authenticate your Azure Account, simply follow the instructions said to authenticate. If you don’t have any website, paste the prompt written below in the chat section: Prompt: Could you help me create and deploy a simple Flask website by using an azd template? Fig. 1.5 Reply from GitHub Copilot for Azure As visible in the above Fig. 1.5, the GitHub Copilot for Azure will send template in the response. Hover the arrow over it, and then click on Insert into terminal, this will automatically insert the command in the terminal. Meanwhile, you may need to Authenticate your Azure Account, simply follow the instructions said to authenticate. It will take a few minutes to initialize. Meanwhile, answer the questions it asks, if unsure, simply ask the same question by copy pasting in the GitHub Copilot Chat, and it will guide you. You can ask more questions like: What does azd init command do? How the website will be deployed? What region, should I select? Once, you are clear with all of the doubts, type azd up command in the terminal, this will deploy the website in azure. Fig. 1.6 GitHub Copilot guiding the user to deploy This Command will ask which subscription you want to use to deploy your website. Fig. 1.7 Finding Subscription in Azure Portal Open the Azure portal, and type subscription in the search bar, as visible in Fig. 1.7. Click the first result and copy paste the Subscription ID visible there, to the GitHub Copilot chat, and append something like below: <Subscription ID> This is my Azure Subscription ID, deploy my website using it. <I reside in <Country Name> Once, done, you would be able to view the deployed website along with the new resources created in the Azure Portal. To un-deploy it, to free up the Azure resources, ask the same to GitHub Copilot, and it will guide you further! Tips and Tricks: For any error or Questions, directly ask to GitHub Copilot for Azure and it will answer your all queries, no limit! If unsure about anything, just paste the subscription id and share your country in the chat to get customized queries to run! Summary: GitHub Copilot can be used in VS Code for free, by installing thru extensions tab of VS Code. The deployment is done using just 2 commands: azd init and azd up To un-deploy, simply visit the directory and type azd down Happy 2025 with unlimited experiments using GitHub Copilot for Azure @VSCode for free!
