This is even more important in an online environment since your communication will be by writing. Watch your spelling and your sentence construction. Remember, the reader must understand you through the written word. Use the spellchecker. Proofread before you send or attach.
Participation is important in an online environment.
Simply accessing and reading the course is not enough. It is in this mode that a real sense of community evolves in an online course. Share any ideas or questions. Taking an online course is a pretty new concept. Not many have had a great deal of experience here, so there are no dumb questions.