In order to take effective notes, you need to “listen.”

Lead - Keep yourself in the lead. You need to prepare for your classes. Prepare mentally - a few minutes spent reviewing last day’s class notes helps you remember the ideas that were discussed last time. It is also worth looking ahead at what is coming up. This can provide you with hints about what may be important to copy in your notes. Prepare physically- be ready to write as soon as your professor begins. Be alert and focussed.

Ideas - There is no way you can copy everything down in a lecture. Instead, try to listen for the main ideas and concepts that should be included in your notes.

Summarize - As you listen, try to summarize the lecture into key concepts and ideas. Your lecturer will help you with this by using phrases such as “in conclusion....”, “the three reasons for ...” , “the characteristics of ...” . When you hear these kinds of hints, make sure you record it in your notes.

Talk - take an active role in the class. Even if you don’t like the subject or the lecturer, it will help you understand and remember the material better. Offering your opinions, asking for clarification, and posing questions also can help reduce the amount of distraction you encounter.

End - The last five minutes of the class is often a summary of the day’s lecture. Use this time to fill in any holes in your notes, rather than packing up your books. The conclusion of the lecture is very valuable.

Notes - Take good notes. Experts say that you’ll remember as little as 20% of the lecture after only 24 hours unless you review. Make reviewing your notes part of your daily study routine.