Pass around a roster sheet on which students can write their names, phone numbers, and email addresses, if possible. To help you get to know your students, ask for student information, including descriptive characteristics, on 5x8 cards, and try to schedule students to come for 10 min. Talk to your students about different learning styles. You might even consider using the Learning Styles game as an icebreaker in your first class. If you are planning to do group work, give the reasons why you are going to do so.
Students love knowing the backbone structure behind the class.
Establish in such a way that they can do it anonymously if they want to. Some of them may come face to face, but the majority not. See previous pages for academic flow chart for your field. Provide homework hints if appropriate. Also review the main points, give handouts, etc.