ACES Copilot Training Hub

Copilot Training Hub

Click on any module below to expand the lesson. Learn how to leverage web-based enterprise AI to streamline your research, extension, and administrative workflows.

Lesson 1 The Edge Sidebar: Chatting with Dense PDFs Learn how to extract data and summaries from massive agricultural reports without reading them cover-to-cover. ▼︎

The Scenario

You have a 40-page USDA or Extension report open and need to extract the methodology and specific statistical data points quickly for a presentation.

The Workflow

  1. Open the target PDF directly inside the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. Click the blue Copilot icon in the top-right corner to open the sidebar.
  3. Paste the exact prompt below into the chat box to instantly query the document.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"Based strictly on the PDF currently open in this tab, summarize the primary methodology used in 3 bullet points. Then, list any specific statistical data mentioned regarding water retention or crop yields."

Lesson 2 Ideation for Grant Funding & Literature Reviews Use Copilot as your dedicated research assistant to structure USDA or NIFA proposals. ▼︎

The Scenario

You need to draft a new grant proposal focusing on drought-tolerant crops, but you are stuck staring at a blank page and need a structured outline to begin writing.

The Workflow

  1. Navigate to copilot.microsoft.com and ensure you are logged in with your NMSU credentials.
  2. Set the conversation style to "More Precise" for academic accuracy.
  3. Feed Copilot the parameters of your grant and ask for a structured outline.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"Act as a senior agricultural researcher. I am writing a grant proposal for NIFA focusing on implementing drought-tolerant jujube crops in arid environments. Provide a comprehensive 5-section proposal outline, including potential research objectives, methodology, and expected community impacts."

Lesson 3 Developing Syllabi and Grading Rubrics Generate structured course outlines and detailed evaluation metrics in seconds. ▼︎

The Scenario

You are finalizing an ACES course for the upcoming semester. You have your learning objectives written but need to build a 16-week schedule and a comprehensive grading rubric.

The Workflow

  1. Open Copilot in your browser.
  2. Copy your rough course objectives and assignment details from your notes.
  3. Prompt Copilot to format the raw data into an organized academic structure.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"I am teaching an undergraduate course on Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Based on these three learning objectives [insert objectives], create a 16-week syllabus schedule with weekly topics. Then, generate a 4-point grading rubric for a final group presentation on resource management."

Lesson 4 "Translating" Academic Science for the Public Instantly convert dense Experiment Station studies into engaging community resources. ▼︎

The Scenario

You need to turn a heavily scientific agricultural study into a highly readable, 500-word blog post or Extension newsletter aimed at local producers and 4-H families.

The Workflow

  1. Open the academic study in Microsoft Edge.
  2. Open the Copilot Sidebar.
  3. Instruct Copilot to alter the reading level and tone of the document.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"Using the document currently open in this browser, extract the core findings and rewrite them as a friendly, engaging 500-word newsletter article aimed at local New Mexico farmers. Keep the reading level at an 8th-grade standard and remove heavy academic jargon."

Lesson 5 Rapid-Fire Event Planning & Agendas Generate logistics, schedules, and checklists for Field Days and community workshops. ▼︎

The Scenario

You are organizing an upcoming Agricultural Science Center Field Day. You need to create a day-long agenda for attendees and a logistical checklist for your staff.

The Workflow

  1. Open Copilot and set the conversation style to "More Creative."
  2. Provide the time constraints and the main events of your Field Day.
  3. Ask Copilot to break down the timeline and generate the operational checklist.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"I am organizing an agricultural Field Day from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We will have a welcome breakfast, three rotating field tours, a catered lunch, and a closing Q&A. Create a detailed public agenda for attendees, and a separate, itemized logistics checklist for my event staff."

Lesson 6 Bilingual Community Materials Provide rapid, natural-sounding Spanish translations to better serve rural communities. ▼︎

The Scenario

You have drafted an English flyer for an upcoming Extension workshop on food safety, and you need an accurate Spanish version to distribute to local stakeholders.

The Workflow

  1. Paste your finalized English text into the Copilot chat.
  2. Prompt Copilot to translate the text, specifically requesting a conversational, localized tone rather than a rigid, robotic translation.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"Translate the following event flyer text into Spanish. Ensure the tone is welcoming, professional, and easily understood by agricultural workers and community members in southern New Mexico. [Insert English Text]"

Lesson 7 Generating Formulas and Scripts Use natural language to conquer complex Excel formulas and logic flows. ▼︎

The Scenario

You have a massive spreadsheet of crop yield data, and you don't know the exact Excel formula needed to extract and filter the specific data points you want.

The Workflow

  1. Open Copilot in your browser.
  2. Describe your exact columns, the data inside them, and what you are trying to achieve using plain English.
  3. Copy the resulting formula and paste it directly into your spreadsheet.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"I am working in Excel. Column A contains full names, Column B contains dates in MM/DD/YYYY format, and Column C contains crop types. Provide the exact formula I need to place in Column D that will extract only the year from Column B, but only if Column C says 'Pecans'."

Lesson 8 Drafting Professional Communications Turn rough, bulleted notes into polished executive memos or department guidelines. ▼︎

The Scenario

You need to send a department-wide update regarding a new software rollout, but you only have a few bullet points of raw information.

The Workflow

  1. Jot down the mandatory facts, dates, and rules you need included.
  2. Open Copilot and instruct it to adopt an executive, administrative persona.
  3. Provide your raw notes and specify the desired output format.

💡︎ The Magic Prompt

"Act as a university department manager. Take the following raw notes and turn them into a polished, professional email memo directed to ACES faculty and staff. The tone should be informative and polite, clearly stating the deadlines and required actions in a bulleted list. [Insert raw notes]"