Outline expectations for class participation. Since you will not see your students face to face, and you will not record attendance, you need alternate ways to assess participation. Define how often you expect students to participate in any discussion forums or online chats. Outline the type of participation you expect, including possible word counts or number of postings required to earn high marks in this category.
Set up a grading policy. Determine how much of the grade you will allocate to specific course requirements, such as participation in discussion boards, papers, tests, quizzes and group assignments. Include your penalties for late assignments.
Identify chances for student-professor interactions. Set up times when you will be available to your students via phone call, Internet chat or email. Remember that students taking courses online often work full-time or have other daytime obligations, so they will need some time in the evenings to confer with you. Give a cut-off time after which you will not accept phone calls; otherwise, your phone may ring into the late hours of the night.
Map out the course site. Students will use your policy page as a go-to reference for your course. Point them in the direction of homework assignments, discussion boards and group pages as needed.
Assign due dates and explain course topics. Students may want to plan ahead in case they need to work on assignments in advance. Provide them with a list of the topics you will cover and the assignment due dates in your policies page. Also include information on how they will submit these assignments to you.