Science experiment - electrolysis. Explain please?

My science teacher did this experiment. She attached to wires to the battery. On the positive side of the crocodile hook or smth, she attached a copper plate, and on the negative a coin. she placed both of these in a copper sulphate solution in a beaker. She said that the copper ions in the copper plate would break down and get stuck to the coin. What if i reverse this? Positive side - coin, negative side - copper plate. Will the ions of the i think silver coin break down and get stuck to the copper plate or will it not stick. And when the plate breaks down, how come i can't see a bit of it chipped off??? I mean how come it doesn't kind of disappear?