Community Education & Workforce Development Class Schedule

Local History (Spring 2026)

The Annual Local History Class at ECC is gearing up for its 23rd year! This community class is open to everyone. Presenters touch on a variety of topics related to Franklin County history. Many people return each year because of the varied content. Suzanne Pautler, coordinator, along with Sue Blesi, founder, believe the speaker lineup for the 2026 class is impressive.

There will be two presentations each evening, starting at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

For the Class Schedule, please click here.

The proceeds from the class will be donated to local historical/genealogical societies. Speakers and historical societies will have books and other items available for purchase.

Come join us to learn about Franklin County’s history!

If you have questions about registration, contact Jennifer at jennifer.eagan@eastcentral.edu or call 636-649-5804.

Class Information:

• March 5 – April 30, 2026 (8 Sessions | No class March 19th)
• Thursdays, 8 weeks
• 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• East Central Training Center, 350 Audrey Lane, Union, MO 63084
• Room ECTC Conference Room A and B, Zoom option available.
• COST: $65 for entire series (paid through Community Education – online or at the door on March 5)
• COST: $15 per session (paid at door)

• April 21, 2026
• 8:30AM-12:30PM
• Cost: 300.00 per person
• Location: ECC Business & Industry Center, 42 Prairie Dell Plaza, Union, MO, 63084
  • Room BIC 128
• PARTICIPANTS WILL NEED AN OFFICE 365 USERNAME AND PASSWORD TO FULLY PARTICIPANT IN THE CLASS OR THERE MAY BE APPLICATIONS THE TRAINEE CANNOT PRACTICE DURING THE COURSE TIME.

Course Overview

This 4-hour session helps professionals move from curiosity to confident application of AI through Microsoft Copilot. Participants will build an ‘AI mindset,’ explore practical capabilities across Microsoft 365, and learn to integrate Copilot into real-world workflows. The format blends conceptual learning with immediate, hands-on experience that is adaptable for both beginners and more advanced users.

Course Goals & Learning Outcomes

1. Understand what an AI mindset is and why it matters.
2. Gain foundational fluency with Microsoft Copilot—its strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.
3. Apply Copilot effectively in Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
4. Develop confidence in prompt design, experimentation, and iteration.
5. Recognize key principles of ethical and responsible AI use woven throughout practical exercises.
6. Leave with a personalized ‘playbook’ of prompts and use cases to apply immediately.

Proposed 4-Hour Course Outline

1. Welcome & Skill Mapping (10 min)

• Quick live poll: How often do you use Copilot or other AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)?
• Identify beginner/intermediate/advanced self-ratings.
• Share course flow and how each segment will offer flexible ‘tracks’ or optional challenges.

2. Quick Win Warm-Up: Using Copilot in Action (20 min)

• Facilitator live demo: Watch how Copilot can transform a messy paragraph or summarize meeting notes.
• Participants try one simple prompt themselves right away.
• Debrief: What surprised you?

3. Framing the AI Mindset (20 min)

• Define AI mindset—curiosity, iteration, and resilience.
• Mini-exercise: one fear + one hope about AI.
• Reflect on the first Copilot demo and mindset shift.
• Ethics touchpoint: introduce the concept of responsible curiosity—experimenting safely.

4. What is Microsoft Copilot & How It Works (25 min)

• Overview of Copilot’s architecture, features, and licensing.
• Discuss integration with other AI tools participants may know (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.).
• Q&A to clarify differences and build connections to familiar platforms.

5. Guided Tour & Prompting Practice (45 min)

• Word: rewrite and format reports.
• Excel: analyze data, detect trends.
• Outlook: summarize threads and draft replies.
• Teams: generate meeting notes or follow-ups.
• Participants choose between ‘beginner’ and ‘stretch’ prompts based on comfort level.
• Ethics touchpoint: discuss data privacy when working with sensitive files.

6. Prompting Strategies & Experimentation (25 min)

• Teach context → task → tone → format → refine.
• Partner challenge: each pair writes and tests prompts on their own tasks.
• Group reflection: what worked, what didn’t.

7. Role-Based & Real-World Use Cases (35 min)

• Breakouts by interest: content creation, analytics, communication, or leadership.
• Groups explore tailored examples and share results.
• Ethics touchpoint: identify where AI outputs may need human oversight or verification.

8. Hands-On Exploration Lab (25 min)

• Participants bring their own reports, data, or emails.
• Facilitator circulates to support and challenge advanced learners.
• Quick showcase: best prompt moments.

9. Wrap-Up & Playbook (20 min)

• Share starter playbook of prompts by skill level.
• Invite each participant to name one next-day action.
• Share links to tutorials and Microsoft Copilot learning paths.

This training is tailored to equip participants with the skills and mindset to deliver exceptional customer service. Participants will delve into the principles of customer service excellence, explore effective communication strategies, and develop problem-solving techniques to enhance customer satisfaction. Through interactive sessions and practical scenarios, participants will gain the knowledge and tools needed to create positive and lasting impressions, fostering customer loyalty and organizational success.

Class Information:

• April 28 & 29, 2026
• 12:00pm-4:00pm
• Business & Industry Center, 42 Prairie Dell Road, Union, MO 63084
• Room BIC 129
• COST: $500.00

© East Central College 2024. This content is protected and may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed. These course materials and any related materials are protected by U.S. copyright law and by the policies of East Central College.  East Central College is the exclusive owner of these materials.  Third parties may not reproduce, distribute, post, upload, or display any of these course materials without express written consent.  Please contact Todd Tracy at todd.tracy@eastcentral.edu to seek permission for a specific use.

Contact training hours: 8 hours

Summary statement: This training program is dedicated to equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively navigate and resolve conflicts in the workplace. Through interactive sessions, real-world case studies, and practical exercises, attendees will gain insights into the root causes of conflicts, learn various conflict resolution strategies, and develop the communication and negotiation skills necessary to foster positive resolutions. This training aims to empower individuals to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and collaboration within the organizational setting.

• May 5 & 8, 2026
• 12:00pm-4:00pm
• Location: Washington, MO Chamber of Commerce Board Room
  • 323 West Main Street. Enter the room through the building’s back entrance
• Cost $500.00 per person

© East Central College 2025. This content is protected and may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed. These course materials and any related materials are protected by U.S. copyright law and by the policies of East Central College.  East Central College is the exclusive owner of these materials.  Third parties may not reproduce, distribute, post, upload, or display any of these course materials without express written consent.  Please contact Todd Tracy at todd.tracy@eastcentral.edu to seek permission for a specific use.

This course builds on foundational AI literacy and helps participants move from curiosity and confidence to real‑world capability. Through hands‑on exercises and practical examples, learners will explore how Microsoft Copilot can support productivity, communication, decision‑making, and everyday workflows. Participants will learn how to design stronger prompts, build AI‑powered workflows, collaborate with voice, elevate their communication, and use AI as a thinking partner for better decisions. By the end of the course, learners will leave with practical skills and a clearer mindset for using AI as a trusted thinking and productivity partner. This course is fast‑paced, hands‑on, and designed for anyone who wants to move beyond experimentation into everyday fluency.

Class Information

• May 6, 2026
• 8:30am-12:30pm
• Location: ECC Business & Industry Center, 42 Prairie Dell Plaza, Union, MO, 63084
  • Room: BIC 128
• Cost: $300.00 per person
  • • PARTICIPANTS WILL NEED AN OFFICE 365 USERNAME AND PASSWORD TO FULLY PARTICIPANT IN THE CLASS OR THERE MAY BE APPLICATIONS THE TRAINEE CANNOT PRACTICE DURING THE COURSE TIME.