Sean Kelly wrote:
For lectures I basically have a choice between two options:1. Take notes and not remember a darn thing that was said. 2. Not take any notes and remember the lecture.
Eh, I found that the physical act of taking notes tended to fix it in my brain. Furthermore, at Caltech there tended to be no textbook and no handouts, so you went by your notes. Exams were open-note, too. So taking good notes was indispensible.