How do I take better notes during a lecture?

Focus on capturing ideas rather than transcribing everything word for word. Listen for signal phrases like "the key point is" or "this is important," and write those concepts in your own words. Leave white space so you can add details later, and use abbreviations to keep up with the speaker's pace. After the lecture, review and expand your notes within 24 hours while the material is fresh. The Cornell method works well for this: divide your page into a main notes section, a cue column for keywords and questions, and a summary at the bottom. Connecting new information to things you already know also helps you retain it and makes your notes more meaningful than a simple transcript.