The Cornell note taking system was recommended to me and I use something like it. It's really helpful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes
http://lsc.cornell.edu/LSC_Resources/cornellsystem.pdf
The cues column on the left side can be anything to help remember.
I also make up dumb sayings and mnemonics.
For example, if I need to remember that the symbol for the element tungsten is "W," I tell myself that Tungsten is weird." (Its symbol doesn't include the first letter of its name.) If I need to remember that the symbol for tin is "Sn," I tell myself "Tin is a sin."
