Consider making your first online meeting a test session. During this session, you and your students will practice with the software. Before the session, you can send an agenda to your students, telling them exactly what will happen during the session, and what to do if they get lost or if Collaborate doesn't run properly for them. A sample agenda might look as follows:
Our CourseSites Live Test Session
When we will meet: August 14, 2012, at 3 p.m. EST.
Where we will meet: From your home computer.
What you will need: Your computer, a built-in microphone or microphone that you can plug in, and at least a DSL or cable modem.
Who will meet: All of us! This is a compulsory activity.
How we will meet: Using the CourseSites Live tool.
At least two days BEFORE the test session (on August 11 or 12)
Using the same computer and browser (which you will use for our meeting), go to the following link (you should be able to just click it):