Full Answer Section

Sense of competition for grades

There is often a sense of competition for grades in class. This is because grades are often seen as a measure of success. Students who want to do well in school may feel pressure to compete with their classmates for the best grades. This can lead to students adopting an adversarial orientation.

Is it possible to develop true partnerships in which your work depends on others?

Yes, it is possible to develop true partnerships in which your work depends on others. However, it takes effort and communication. Students need to be willing to share their work, trust each other, and be supportive of each other. They also need to be able to communicate effectively so that they can work together effectively.

Here are some tips for developing true partnerships in class:

• Be open to working with others.
• Be willing to share your work.
• Trust your partners.
• Be supportive of your partners.
• Communicate effectively.

If students can do these things, they can develop true partnerships that can help them learn and achieve their goals.

Here are some examples of how adversarial and partnership orientations can play out in the classroom:

• In an adversarial orientation, two students might refuse to share their notes with each other because they are afraid that the other student will use the notes to get a better grade.
• In a partnership orientation, two students might work together on a project and share their ideas and expertise. They might also help each other to understand the material and complete the project.

The adversarial orientation can be harmful to learning because it can lead to students being secretive and not helping each other. The partnership orientation can be beneficial to learning because it can lead to students sharing their ideas and working together to achieve their goals.

Ultimately, the choice of whether to adopt an adversarial or partnership orientation is up to each individual student. However, it is important to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of each orientation so that you can make an informed decision.