This is a widely used method of taking notes. Before the lecture divide your page into four sections. You may like to prepare a number of pages in a note book, or use this template on every second page of a note book leaving space to write additional notes after the lecture.

Layout of Cornell Note taking template

Example:

Try the Cornell Method of annotating to organize your notes and thoughts as you go.

If the slides for a lecture are available beforehand (e.g., posted on your course Blackboard site), you can print the slides in a format that suits your note taking purposes. There are options in Power Point to print multiple slides on a page, from one slide per page to nine. Three slides per page  will make it easy to write notes next to each slide as you follow the lecture.

Mind mapping is a useful technique to use when you want to organize ideas and information as you follow the lecture. It can help you develop your own understanding of topics, as it allows you to explore the relationships between ideas, and begin to critically analyze the information presented in the lecture

As with all note taking methods, reviewing your notes immediately following the lecture will make revision for exams and quizzes more efficient.