I learned in college that the act of taking notes by hand helped fix the lectures in my memory. When I'd review the notes later, I'd hear the lecture in my mind along with it.

Laptops in class don't work. Handouts that are copies of the presentation don't work.

Leave the laptop in your room. Just bring a spiral notebook to class and a couple pens. It's the best way to learn from a lecture.

Bonus: years later you'll enjoy going through your notebooks again.