The instructor should realize and account for the student experience...ways to address it: offering simple assessments on computer skills needed...introductions at the start of a course (let students post pictures - make it personal), offer links to student resources (including remedial), provide clear schedules, have scheduled instant messaging/chat times, etc. 

Additional instructor roles: 

• Establish rapport with students - make them feel at ease and encourage them to participate
• Communicate constantly - regular emails, active involvement in discussion forums (but still allow private student-only forums)
• Flexibility - often online learners are adults who have varying time constraints - expect it and accept it.
• The instructor is the creator and curator of the online environment - levels of respect, concern for learning, etc. are all set by the instructor. An attitude that accepts failure as critical to learning is needed
• It obviously helps the process if the instructor has taken an online course and knows the frustrations and headaches.