The lecture challenges the assumptions in the reading passage, presenting the benefits of competition in the classroom. According to the lecturer, higher motivation, productivity, and fun do not justify
competitive classrooms.
First, although high achievers may be motivated by competing with their classmates, most students
experience performance anxiety before the competition, and low self-esteem when they don't win.
According to the professor, cheating, fear, and antagonism often occur as a result of competition in the
classroom.
Next, the professor cites research by Kohn in which he looked at 122 studies of cooperation in the
classroom. In half of the studies, productivity was higher in a cooperative classroom, and in a quarter of
the studies, there was no difference between the levels of productivity in cooperative and competitive
classrooms.
Last, the lecture discredits the idea that a competitive classroom is fun, specifically that games
and sports like spelling bees and science projects are more interesting and entertaining. The professor
argues that in the past, it was fun to play, but currently, the emphasis is on winning, and it is only fun for
those who manage to beat their fellow students in the competition. The lecture makes a case for students having the opportunity to compete against themselves to improve their scores
The lecture challenges the assumptions in the reading passage, presenting the benefits of
competition
in the classroom. According to the lecturer, higher motivation, productivity, and
fun
do not justify
competitive classrooms.
First
, although high achievers may
be motivated
by competing with their classmates, most students
experience performance anxiety
before
the
competition
, and low self-esteem when they don't win.
According to the professor, cheating, fear, and antagonism
often
occur
as a result
of
competition
in the
classroom.
Next
, the professor cites research by Kohn in which he looked at 122 studies of cooperation in the
classroom. In half of the studies, productivity was higher in a cooperative classroom, and in a quarter of
the studies, there was no difference between the levels of productivity in cooperative and competitive
classrooms.
Last, the lecture discredits the
idea
that a competitive classroom is
fun
,
specifically
that games
and sports like spelling bees and science projects are more interesting and entertaining. The professor
argues that in the past, it was
fun
to play,
but
currently
, the emphasis is on winning, and it is
only
fun
for
those who manage to beat their fellow students in the
competition
. The lecture
makes
a case for students having the opportunity to compete against themselves to
improve
their
scores