i teach a blended learning course where I have face-to-face with my students several times a week.  I suggest that they use whatever technology or skills they use to remind themselves of other important committments.  My younger students I suggest a cell phone alarm, some of my older students I suggest keeping a paper calendar they can check.

One of the things I like about online instruction is giving the student multiple opportunities to understand my questions.  Many times I find my students will have great answers to questions I have not asked.  I like being able to explain to the student exactily what the question requires.  I face this issue in my management of employees and I think it's an important job skill that online learning teaches more efficiently than classroon instruction.  The student is not embarrassed when I redirect a question to them.