1. Effective communication in online courses requires finding the right balance - not communicating too little by frequently monitoring and promptly responding, but also not communicating too much by dominating discussions. 2. It is important to engage "lurkers" or passive students early on through individual outreach like emails to encourage their participation. 3. Different tools like email, telephone, and online meeting spaces each have appropriate uses for public or private communication, but office hours should be kept regularly whether online or offline.