Learning Objectives

• Configure and enable GitHub Copilot in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
• Interpret, accept, cycle through, and dismiss inline code suggestions effectively
• Use Copilot Chat to ask questions, explain code, and generate solutions within the IDE
• Apply slash commands such as /explain, /fix, /doc, and /tests to common development tasks
• Generate unit and integration test scaffolding from existing functions and classes
• Use Copilot to assist with code refactoring, including renaming, decomposing functions, and improving readability
• Write effective prompts and comments to guide Copilot toward more accurate and useful suggestions
• Recognize the limitations of Copilot-generated code and apply appropriate review practices
• Integrate Copilot into a realistic development workflow without disrupting existing habits

Course Outline

Module 1: Getting Started with GitHub Copilot

This module covers what GitHub Copilot is, how it works at a high level, and how to set it up correctly. Students install and configure the Copilot extension in both VS Code and JetBrains, verify their license and authentication, and review key settings such as language enablement, suggestion delay, and telemetry preferences. The module also introduces the Copilot interface elements students will use throughout the day.

Module 2: Inline Suggestions and Prompt Crafting

Students explore how Copilot generates inline code completions and how to work with them efficiently. Topics include accepting full or partial suggestions, cycling through alternative suggestions, and dismissing unwanted output. The module focuses heavily on how the quality of surrounding code and comments directly influences suggestion accuracy, with hands-on exercises in writing context-setting comments and structuring code to get more useful results.

Module 3: Copilot Chat and Slash Commands

This module introduces Copilot Chat as a conversational interface available directly in the IDE sidebar and inline editor. Students practice using slash commands including /explain to understand unfamiliar code, /fix to address errors, /doc to generate documentation comments, and /tests to scaffold test cases. Exercises cover both targeted single-function queries and broader questions about a codebase, with attention to how to phrase requests to get precise, actionable responses.

Module 4: Test Generation and Documentation

Students use Copilot to generate unit tests for existing functions and classes, then evaluate and refine the generated output. The module covers common testing frameworks (Jest, pytest, JUnit) and how to guide Copilot toward generating tests that cover edge cases, not just happy paths. Documentation generation is also covered, including generating JSDoc, docstrings, and inline comments, as well as reviewing generated documentation for accuracy before committing it.

Module 5: Refactoring Workflows with Copilot

This module focuses on using Copilot to assist with common refactoring tasks: extracting functions, simplifying conditional logic, improving variable naming, and converting legacy code patterns to modern equivalents. Students work through guided refactoring scenarios and learn how to use both inline suggestions and Copilot Chat to propose and evaluate changes. The module also addresses how to maintain intent and correctness when accepting AI-assisted rewrites.

Module 6: Working Responsibly with Copilot

The final module addresses the practical realities of integrating Copilot into a professional development workflow. Topics include recognizing when Copilot output is incorrect, incomplete, or subtly wrong; understanding licensing and code provenance considerations; and establishing a code review habit for AI-generated content. The module closes with a short lab where students complete a realistic feature task using Copilot, applying everything covered during the day, followed by a group discussion on best practices for team adoption.