I will take the time when I respond by email and follow some of the writing strategies listed here. 

Creating a welcome video is a great start to a class -and one I will try next!

I will try to engage students more during lecture and also keep promoting an "open door policy" to reach out and communicate with me should there be confusion towards course material.

Some students have an "all or nothing" mindset when it comes to learning, and avoid learning when it becomes challenging, interferes with other responsibilities, or doesn't seem relevant. Encouraging students to lean into a growth mindset that they can progressively improve in areas of working together, interacting with each other/the instructor, display responsibility, and embrace diversity.

Comment on Elizabeth Lane's post: I agree with this, having tutorials/FAQ for the technology that will be used for class is essential to make sure students are able to feel competent with the system, so it doesn't inhibit learning the material. The technology is always going to be evolving, so staying up to date with what possibilities can make teaching more effective is essential.

Providing concise instruction means getting confirmation from students that the expectations are understood. Understanding tone and delivery of messages even when you can't hear someone or see them is part of communication.

Tinto's module  has been in practice for many years and continues to be a module to review and learn from.  It makes sense to work to cultivate a relationship early on with students and find ways to offer an open door policy or open channels of communication.  In particular, being a new freshmen on a larger or busy campus can be overwhelming and intimidating.  

Comment on Elizabeth Lane's post: I completely agree with the tips you gave on creating methods that help students process and retain complex information! 

We can not assume what students have knowledge of or what they have access too like a computer or reliable internet. Ensuring we are communicating clearly and meeting them where they are. 

When working with your students it is important to consider using available tools to help students learn and be motivated.  But in the same sense make sure it is going to benefit the course and the learning