[zerr]

I'd say it depends on the lecturer and how the lecture is held. Some read it specifically for the notes to be taken. And it is assumed that students would learn from these notes afterwards, which are much more concise compared to textbooks.

[WalterBright]

My notes were usually just copying whatever the prof wrote on the blackboard while lecturing. It was usually all I could do to keep up.

But reading the notes later would cause me to recollect what was said, and so the notes were very useful. Unfortunately, enough time has passed that I've forgotten what was said, and only have the notes.

It's like watching a sitcom with the sound turned off :-/