How to learn Keynote
- Published on September 12, 2018
Keynote is a presentation design software application for macOS computers and iOS devices. Apple Keynote has similar capabilities to Microsoft PowerPoint. Learning Keynote is helpful for MacOS users as it is a widely-used application in many businesses, organizations, and schools. The fastest way to learn Keynote is generally through Keynote classes, offered either in-person or online. There are courses which teach keynote stills alone, and also presentation design classes for learning Keynote along with the techniques for creating impactful, well-designed presentations.
Although Keynote includes templates which make it relatively easy to create the most basic template, courses help users to understand how to modify existing templates, create their own templates, and how to navigate efficiently through the application’s interface. For those who need to create presentations that have impact, engage users, and are memorable, a day with a professional design instructor is a worthwhile investment.
Keynote classes also help users to understand collaboration capabilities, and how to work with Keynote across various devices, ranging from iMacs, MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones. Keynote for Windows PC users via iCloud makes it possible for collaboration with non-Apple users when creating presentations.
Learning Keynote in the Classroom
Keynote courses generally start with and orientation to the user interface, tools, how to access themes and templates. Courses also include working with master slides, formatting and positioning text and objects, incorporating images, charts, and videos. Applying transitions is are also covered. Small group classes led by an in-person instructor helps participants to receive personalized attention as they are learning. The best Keynote classes go beyond the how-to skills and incorporate presentation design techniques so that slides are visually appealing and clearly convey the intended message.
Customized and Private Keynote training
Organizations that need to teach a group of designers how to create Keynote presentations, or an entire sales organization how to use Keynote generally find that private Keynote training is the best option. This allows for class topics to be aligned to specific business needs and the experience level and type of work being performed with presentations. For example, those creating presentations generally need to learn Keynote more thoroughly than those who make occasional edits to existing presentations. A private Keynote training session accommodates these different needs. Additionally, in-class projects can also be tailored in a private session to create specific presentations that will be used by participants.
Regardless of the method used to learn Keynote, spending time with a skilled instructor makes it possible to operate more efficiently while creating memorable presentations.
About the author
Christopher Smith is president of American Graphics Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the publisher and editor of the Digital Classroom book series, which have sold more than one million copies. At American Graphics Institute, he provides strategic technology consulting to marketing professionals, publishers and to large technology companies including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and HP. An expert on web analytics and digital marketing, he delivers Google Analytics classes along with workshops on digital marketing topics. He is also the author of more than 10 books on electronic publishing tools and technologies, including the Adobe Creative Cloud for Dummies. Christopher did his undergraduate studies the at the University of Minnesota, and then worked for Quark, Inc. prior to joining American Graphics Institute where he has worked for 20 years.
