Aisles of freshly printed ink on large format paper are a hallmark of major scientific conferences all over the globe. Poster sessions are an arena where seasoned and budding scientists get to communicate about their work, network with peers, and determine new directions in their research. But how can we bring this icon of scientific discourse into the digital classroom? In remote and synchronous online courses, virtual poster sessions can be implemented as an assignment and exercise that allows students to practice real world skills within the community of support inside their course. Poster sessions have long been a tradition in on-ground courses, and are used to give students a taste of what scientific inquiry and discussion is like beyond the classroom. I’ve witnessed countless gatherings of excited students crowded around posters hung proudly on display in hallways at the end of term. These sessions are great practice for students who plan to go to graduate or professional schools...

Thinking critically is a skill gained through practice. Critical thinking has been listed as a top competency needed by college graduates for career readiness, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) . They define critical thinking as a competency that enables students to  " exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness. "  Therefore the more opportunities we can provide students to practice their critical thinking skills, the better they will succeed in their future courses and career.  In February, the School of Life Sciences Teaching Innovation Center hosted a lunch and learn workshop focused on developing critical thinkers. During the hour faculty colleagues shared their experiences and knowledge on the topic. We followed each lightning talk with small ...