One of the more common tools is the use of electronic mail, commonly referred to as email. Some Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard come equipped with their own email system, which is linked to a particular class. If such an email is not available, or one is not provided by your school, a separate account can be set up through such email clients as GMail or Yahoo!.
Discussion boards and blogs allow teachers to post questions or topics that their students can respond to, thus creating an ongoing conversation during the time given. This is especially helpful in cases where students have questions regarding a particular assignment or need to troubleshoot a technical problem, since they might be more comfortable asking a fellow student. Discussion boards and blogs are an asynchronous tool, so feedback might not be given immediately following a question. However, creating various topics does lead to a sense of community among online learners.
For those who prefer a more synchronous approach, chat rooms are available in most Learning Management Systems. Much like regular chat rooms found across the Internet, students log into a room designated by their instructor, and type any questions or comments they have, which can either be answered by the teacher or a fellow student. Some software programs, such as Blackboard Collaborate, offer teachers a chance to create "virtual classrooms," which allow for more interactivity among the instructor and students.
Many students use social network sites such as Facebook or Twitter, so one natural tool for communication would be to set up a class account on one of these sites. For example, Twitter can be used for short announcements or to take polls regarding certain topics. Students can also directly message professors from their accounts should they run into any problems.