I, on the other hand, find taking notes actively counterproductive. These days, when I go to a seminar, I know to write down no more than the URL or paper titles I need to know if I want to get more information. I can either listen, or write: not both. This was a big problem when I was an undergraduate before the days of handouts, let alone slides available online, when it was necessary to write full speed through the lecture or else you wouldn't have a record of what had been covered!
I find rereading (while thinking!) extremely effective as a way of learning things, but I'd never highlight, as that interferes: what I'm remembering is the layout on the page, etc., of what I'm trying to remember, so anything that alters what it looks like sets me back.
