I provided a detailed and clear lecture plan. I used infographics to explain the course structure and how assessment would work.
We did a lot of in-class participatory exercises. In order to learn students names, and get them interacting with each other, I used names plates with their names on them. This worked very well.
I frequently stopped my lectures and commented on something that I had said or done to discuss whether it was effective communication or not. I tried to point out where I did things that were not that effective, or where I could have done something differently, as well as when I had done something on purpose because I thought it was an effective way to communicate - e.g. laid a slide out a particular way, presented something in a specific order. I asked their opinion on what I had done and whether they thought it was an effective way to communicate in order to encourage them to provide constructive criticism on my presentation style.
For many students speaking in front other others can be very stressful, and they can react very defensively. Demonstrating self-criticism is one useful way to help relax them. If you make it funny it can help to relax these students.
Here is a more detailed plan for the lectures and tutorials.