updated instructions, separated config lab resources

Author: ChrisHowd

Instructions/Labs/LAB_AK_00_configure_lab_environment.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+lab:
+    title: 'Prepare - Configure your lab environment for GitHub Copilot exercises'
+    description: 'Review lab requirements and configure the resources before launching exercises that use GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code.'
+---
+
+# Configure your lab environment for GitHub Copilot exercises
+
+Your lab environment (either a hosted environment or a local PC) must be configured for C# development using Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot. Access to a GitHub account with GitHub Copilot enabled is required.
+
+Complete the following steps to verify that your lab environment is configured correctly:
+
+1. Verify that Git version 2.48 or later is installed in your lab environment.
+
+    Run `git --version` in a terminal window to check the version of Git installed.
+
+    If you're running Windows and you want to update Git, you can use the following command:
+
+    ```bash
+    git update-git-for-windows
+    ```
+
+    If necessary, you can download Git using the following URL: <a href="https://git-scm.com/downloads" target="_blank">Download Git</a>.
+
+1. Verify that the latest LTS or STS version of the .NET SDK is installed in your lab environment.
+
+    Run `dotnet --version` in a terminal window to check the version of the .NET SDK installed.
+
+    If necessary, you can download the .NET SDK using the following URL: <a href="https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet" target="_blank">Download .NET SDK</a>.
+
+1. Verify that Visual Studio Code and the C# Dev Kit extension are installed in your lab environment.
+
+    If necessary, you can download Visual Studio Code using the following URL: <a href="https://code.visualstudio.com/download" target="_blank">Download Visual Studio Code</a>
+
+    You can install the C# Dev Kit extension using the Extensions view in Visual Studio Code.
+
+1. Verify that you have access to a GitHub account and GitHub Copilot subscription.
+
+    You can log in to your GitHub account using the following URL: <a href="https://github.com/login" target="_blank">GitHub login</a>. Open your GitHub account settings and verify that you have access to a GitHub Copilot subscription. If you have access to a GitHub Copilot Pro, GitHub Copilot Pro+, GitHub Copilot Business, or GitHub Copilot Enterprise subscription that you can use for training exercises, you can use your existing GitHub Copilot subscription to complete the GitHub Copilot exercises.
+
+    If you don't have a GitHub account, you can create an individual account from the GitHub login page. On the login page, select **Create an account**.
+
+    If you have an individual GitHub account, but you don't have a GitHub Copilot subscription, you can set up a GitHub Copilot Free plan from Visual Studio Code during a training exercise.
+
+    > **IMPORTANT**: The GitHub Copilot Free plan is a limited version of GitHub Copilot, allowing up to 2,000 code completions and 50 chats or premium requests per month. If you use a GitHub Copilot Free plan outside training exercises, you may exceed the plan's resource limits before completing the training. The GitHub Copilot Free plan is not available for GitHub Copilot Pro, GitHub Copilot Pro+, GitHub Copilot Business, or GitHub Copilot Enterprise subscriptions.

Instructions/Labs/LAB_AK_01_examine_settings_interface.md

@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ Complete the following steps to verify that your lab environment is configured c
 
 GitHub offers three Copilot plans for individual developers, and two plans for organizations and enterprises. The plans are designed to meet the needs of individual developers, teams, and organizations. The GitHub Copilot Free plan is available to all individual GitHub users, while the paid plans are available to individuals and organizations that require additional features and capabilities.
 
-> [!NOTE]
-> If you've already verified access to a GitHub Copilot subscription in your lab environment, you can skip this section and proceed to the exercise scenario.
+> **NOTE**: If you've already verified access to a GitHub Copilot subscription in your lab environment, you can skip this section and proceed to the exercise scenario.
 
 Complete the following steps to verify that your lab environment is configured correctly:
 

Instructions/Labs/LAB_AK_03_develop_code_features.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-<!-- ---
+---
 lab:
     title: 'Exercise - Develop code features using GitHub Copilot'
     description: 'Learn how to accelerate the development of new code features using GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code.'
---- -->
+---
 
 # Develop code features using GitHub Copilot
 
@@ -51,15 +51,13 @@ Complete the following steps to verify that your lab environment is configured c
 
     You can log in to your GitHub account using the following URL: <a href="https://github.com/login" target="_blank">GitHub login</a>. Check your GitHub account settings to verify that you have access to a GitHub Copilot subscription.
 
-    > [!IMPORTANT]
-    > If you don't have a GitHub account, you can create an individual account from the GitHub login page (select **Create an account**), and then activate the **GitHub Copilot Free** plan in the next section. If you have access to a GitHub Copilot Pro, GitHub Copilot Business, or GitHub Copilot Enterprise subscription from within the lab environment, you can use your existing GitHub Copilot subscription to complete this exercise.
+    > **IMPORTANT**: If you don't have a GitHub account, you can create an individual account from the GitHub login page (select **Create an account**), and then activate the **GitHub Copilot Free** plan in the next section. If you have access to a GitHub Copilot Pro, GitHub Copilot Business, or GitHub Copilot Enterprise subscription from within the lab environment, you can use your existing GitHub Copilot subscription to complete this exercise.
 
 ### Configure the GitHub Copilot Free plan in Visual Studio Code
 
 GitHub offers three Copilot plans for individual developers, and two plans for organizations and enterprises. The plans are designed to meet the needs of individual developers, teams, and organizations. The GitHub Copilot Free plan is available to all individual GitHub users, while the paid plans are available to individuals and organizations that require additional features and capabilities.
 
-> [!NOTE]
-> If you've already verified access to a GitHub Copilot subscription in your lab environment, you can skip this section and proceed to the exercise scenario.
+> **NOTE**: If you've already verified access to a GitHub Copilot subscription in your lab environment, you can skip this section and proceed to the exercise scenario.
 
 Complete the following steps to verify that your lab environment is configured correctly: