Coleen,
Self-advocacy does seem to be an issue with online students. Possibly using Social Media in online classrooms would break down emotional behaviors & encourage students to reach out more.
If a student can see an Instructor as a 'real person' rather than an 'authorative figure', then possibly more communication would occur, don't you think?
I wonder what the disadvantage would be if student's viewed their Instructors as 'real people'?