Star Date 5.3.2013 -- watching myself being an online student makes me realize that when I teach online I will need to focus on such things as
 -- small assignments that will make students interact with the content in the course -- larger, longer assignments will just foster procrastination, with the final disaster as almost certainty.
 -- ensuring ways that students can connect effectively with each other -- again, small things need to happen -- it may be a group task or an ongoing monitored discussion.  Otherwise, though, an individual student will never be able to join the community.

I know that this is not ground breaking new stuff, but it is always different to read about it and then to experience this oneself.