Listen closely to what the speaker is presenting. Note-taking works only if you hear what the speaker is saying. Try not to have too many items around you that could lead to distractions, such as cell phones and music players. These will make having good notes very difficult. Tune out the conversations of others around you so that your main focus is on what the presenter is talking about. Listen out for the speaker's topic headings as they are presented.
When completing your notes write down the main points of what the speaker presented first, then list all of the key factors for each point under the main point. This will give you an overview of what the presenter discussed when reviewing your notes.
File your notes in your class folder and arrange them in order of presentation as soon as you leave class. This will help you when it comes time for you to look back at the notes you took. Make sure you have your notes in the right order and that they are easy to find when you need them.
Finding a note-taking style that works for you is most important. When you find your style you will become faster and more efficient with taking notes. Try and change up your way of taking notes a few times to see which style is most comfortable for you. You may begin using a numbered or lettered list, then switch to just writing out important headings and following it up with subgroups of information, perhaps bulleted. Whichever way is the most comfortable for you will probably work best.