If you have a disability requiring accommodation please contact your instructor now. Attendance is required, see grading below. Instructors have two goals, that students learn much and that they enjoy their work. Individuals perform best, and enjoy the experience and learn the most, when working in a cooperative and competitive environment. An example is a league of sports teams.
Competition occurs because grades are determined by exams.
You are welcome to cooperate in all other activities including homeworks, but still turn in your own. I am in the latter category. The textbook is the sage, I help you learn it. Chapters are about 25 pages with many illustrations. So class time is spent in discussion.