Before arriving in class, read all the assigned materials. By reading the texts thoroughly you are ready for the lecture. Prepare yourself with questions and ideas for the professor. This is the first step to being an active participant in the class. If you are an active participant, you are engaged rather than slumped in your chair copying anything your professor says. Reading also helps you keep up with the course because it is difficult to catch up if you fall behind, especially in classes such as physics or philosophy.
Take effective notes. If you have read the material well, then you can listen aggressively to your lecture. Anything your professor writes on the board must be in your notes. Keep all your notes in the same place for each class. Spiral bound notebooks or large ring bound folders help organize your notes. Follow the lecture intently and think while listening. Memorization does not help you understand the concept. If you do not understand a concept, raise your hand and ask questions. Tape the lecture with a recording device if you are a slow note-taker, but do not rely only on the recording. Recordings do not record what was written on the board.
Read through your notes daily. Examine your notes as you read your assignments. This keeps you up to date with the class and the lecture is still fresh on your mind. Every night spend about 30 minutes reviewing the notes you wrote on that day for each class. It increases the retention of the material and it helps you identify any points that you need clarification. Write those questions and concerns down and ask your professor at the next class meeting.
Start a study group with a few classmates to help with the lectures. By studying the lecture together, the group can ask each other questions and problem solve together. If you have holes in your lecture notes, you can ask to see a classmate's notes. Each person in the study groups can learn from each others experience. However, do not rely on your study group for all the right notes and answers. Being an active participant and keeping up with your reading is more important.
Waiting to study for an exam or writing up an essay the night before is not the best approach. It takes time for the material to set in and for you to become familiar with it. If you wait too long, you may have unanswered questions for your professor. Reading both your notes and your textbook daily. Cramming at the last minute forces you to rely only on your notes and to memorize what your professor has said. You are not truly understanding the lessons, and you may have missing notes and not realize until too late.