Making groups work: improving group work through the principles of academic assertiveness in higher education and professional development

The aim of this material is to help students to help themselves to work better in groups, in higher education or professional development. Through provision and application of some basic principles of academic assertiveness

Group work is central to many areas of academic and personal development work, from joint work on critique and problem solving to lab work and research and in the development of products such as films, buildings, art work and advertisements. Academic assertiveness is described broadly as a set of emotional and psychological orientations and behaviours that enable a learner appropriately to manage the challenges to the self in the course of learning and their experiences in formal education and personal development work. This material aims to provide academic and practical resources for learners and their tutors.