The challenge
As the vocational education and training (VET) sector rapidly evolves, Chisholm recognised the urgent need to uplift digital capability across its workforce. With generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot reshaping how educators and staff work, the challenge was clear: how can we empower our people to confidently and ethically integrate AI into their daily practice?
About the event
On September 19, 2025, we hosted a transformative Microsoft Copilot Prompt-a-thon, facilitated by Rishona Elijah, an accredited Microsoft trainer. The event brought together 50 educators and professional staff from teaching, learning design, IT, quality, and professional services. Participants explored prompting fundamentals, agent design, and Microsoft's Responsible AI Standards in a hands-on, high-impact learning environment.
The impact
The Prompt-a-thon had a profound impact on participants, sparking curiosity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose in exploring the potential of generative AI. Staff from diverse roles, including teaching, learning design, IT, and quality, engaged deeply with Microsoft Copilot. Through the event, they discovered how it could streamline their workflows, enhance creativity, and support student outcomes.
Participants reported a significant increase in their digital confidence, with many expressing excitement about applying prompting techniques in their day-to-day work and further exploring agent design. The event also fostered a strong sense of community and collaboration, as staff shared ideas, tested prompts, and supported one another in real time.
Importantly, the Prompt-a-thon demonstrated our leadership in digital innovation, reinforcing our strategic commitment to building a future-ready workforce. The event served as a catalyst for broader conversations about AI integration across the institute, underscoring our commitment to innovation and sector leadership.
"Prompt-a-thon really opened my eyes to what’s possible with AI. I now feel confident using Copilot to create engaging content and streamline everyday tasks." – Ellen
"Creating agents in Copilot was particularly impactful. I learned how to automate tasks like generating reports and integrating with other platforms." – Henry
Lessons learnt
- Prompting is a skill that improves with structure and clarity: Participants quickly discovered that well-structured prompts produced significantly better results. This insight reinforces the importance of embedding prompt engineering into professional development programs to build staff confidence and capability.
- AI is most effective when paired with human creativity and context: The event demonstrated that Copilot excels when guided by human insight. This highlights the need for our educators and staff to see AI not as a replacement, but as a collaborative partner that enhances their expertise and judgement.
- Iteration and experimentation are key to unlocking Copilot’s full potential: Staff who experimented with different prompt styles and agent designs achieved the most impactful outcomes. This supports a culture of innovation and continuous learning, where trial and error are embraced as part of the process.
- Staff are eager to learn and apply AI when given the right tools and support: The high level of engagement and enthusiasm confirmed that, with the right scaffolding, staff are ready to embrace AI. This validates our investment in digital capability uplift and highlights the importance of ongoing, structured support.
Challenges faced
- Translating AI potential into role-specific practice: While enthusiasm was high, some participants expressed initial uncertainty about how to apply AI in their specific roles. This highlights the importance of contextualising AI use cases across diverse educational and operational functions to ensure relevance and uptake.
- Ensuring equitable access and sustained support: As we scale our AI initiatives, we must ensure that all staff, regardless of role, digital confidence, or location, can participate meaningfully in the transformation journey. Equitable access to tools, time for experimentation, and ongoing support will be critical to long-term success.
Next steps
The Prompt-a-thon is just the beginning. We will continue our AI journey with a 2-day Hackathon with Microsoft in November 2025, integration of Copilot into a Digital Readiness Plan, and ongoing professional development through the Professional Educator College.
"The workshop showed me how AI can make my workload feel lighter, spark new ideas, and help me focus on what matters most." – Stuart
"The event offered a hands-on introduction to generative AI tools, showing how Copilot can transform day-to-day tasks and educational workflows for educators." – Kriti
