Asynchronous discussions are best to encourage participation from students, You should also allow time for students to socialize before starting group discussions to help with engagement. 

A good start to student engagement is by introducing yourself and your resume to your students while also engaging them by having them share a small biography about themselves and their experiences. These are essential first steps to a positive learning atmosphere and getting your class off to a good start.  

As an instructor, I need to understand that what works for some people doesn't work for everyone. I need to learn effective tools that will best suit my teaching style. I also need to understand how students get frustrated with online education and try my best to mitigate confusion by being as clear and direct in my instruction on how to use the CMS.