There is no easy way to take notes in lectures because often its the first time you have been exposed to the learning material so its a struggle to know what to make a note about and sadly some lecturers go so fast its a job to keep up. On the other hand, one cannot and should not expect to be able to grasp it all in one lecturer and often it will take a real effort of study afterwards to get any sort of understanding. So I suggest:
1. Listen out for the main points and note them down. If you try to copy everything you may miss entirely what is being said.
2. As you listen note down any questions you have (or that anyone else voices) because you can ask them in class (although usually there is not enough time to answer all your questions) but more importantly those questions can guide your study afterwards.
Asking questions is always a good thing and there are no foolish questions and you only become a fool when you stop asking questions. But answer those questions yourself that way you will gain maximum learning, don't give up and try to short cut the work by asking someone else all that will do is delay your learning and in any case in the examination there will be no one to ask.
3. Be on the look out all the time for points of interest and make a note of them - believe me learning does not just occur in a classroom it can be done anywhere at any time and often if you miss these tiny opportunities that occur during your day they will be gone forever.
4. You can make a note with you Ipod or iTouch or your phone either by writing or dictation and it can be really useful to take a picture of a page in a book or journal or newspapers or a situation or whatever as soon as you see something you want - if you delay it will be gone, usually for good.
5. There is no easy way to learn, its takes time and it takes effort and there is good statistical evidence that you need to put in at least 20 hours study a week, every week if you want to do well; some in class rooms, some in the library, some in groups, some on your own but when you add it all up it needs to be at least 20 hours.
6. One final caution. Most learning rest on you knowing the BASICS because unless you know those you have nothing to build on and you will NOT be able to learn. The implication here is the you must be persistent and stick to the schedule of at least 20 hours a week because otherwise you will fall behind. Of course you must take breaks regularly but that does not mean taking a break for several weeks and hope you can cram it all at the end - that is a route to disaster.
