Learning Teams Part 1 Group work and team work in a learning environment has a number of strengths and weaknesses. The strengths can add value to the learning experience directly and indirectly. Some of the strengths of learning teams are the benefits that are gained from the interaction and the way ideas can be brought together. Team members are likely to come from a range of background and will have differing ideas and concepts on the subjects that they are learning. Peer learning can be facilitated through team work. There is a wealth of information that extols the virtues of learning from peers. In the classroom there are limited resources and time, some of those attending will not always grasp concepts. Peer learning will help those who need extra time (Eddy et al, 2005). However, it is not only those that need more time that will benefit as a result of interaction with other students, all taking part may find that their knowledge and understanding is increased through discussions of the subject they are learning and the ability to apply it outside of the classroom (Eddy et al, 2005). It may also be argued where there are effective teams there is also the ability to change work patterns for those supporting the teams, such as teachers. A interesting innovation has been for team groups to undertake team marking for some assignments, lessening the workload of the teachers and increasing the consideration of the team members for the subject (Barringer, 2008). It is not only the way that the transfer of knowledge will take place, the collaborative efforts of the team increase the potential for innovation and new knowledge t