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Leave large empty spaces in your notes . Leave plenty of room for filling in information you missed. Use a signal or symbol that means you missed something so you will remember to come back to it. Make the space obvious
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Be willing to make choices . When an instructor talks fast, focus your attention on key points. Do not try to write everything down. Choose what you think is important and do not panic. Sometimes students paralyze themselves with fear that they are missing something important. Occasionally you will make a wrong choice and neglect an important point. Worse things could happen. Stay with the lecture, write down key words and revise your notes immediately after class.
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Exchange photocopies of notes with classmates . Your fellow students might write down something you missed, and your notes might help them. Compare notes and if this is the case, make an agreement to exchange notes regularly.
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Take more time to prepare for class . Familiarity with a subject increases your ability to pick out important points. If an instructor lectures quickly or is difficult to understand, make a point of conducting a through preview of material to be covered. Set the stage for the lecture.
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See the instructor after class . Take your class notes with you and show the instructor what you missed. Most instructors appreciate visits from students. You can also ask questions you did not ask in class.
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Ask the instructor to slow down . We saved the obvious for last. You can simply ask her to slow or, if that seems inappropriate, ask him to repeat what you missed.
Sometimes it is helpful to tape the class so you may review it later with you notes. Be sure to get your instructior's permission.