Larcenous Designs

This doesn't answer a simple problem too oft encountered. A student who simply doesn't care. They may not like your class, may have formulated a minimum grade they need to make it, etc. At any rate you are punishing the students who may work because the other will not. From a pedagogical stand point, teaching to the ways of reality has its place. However as these grades are needed in order to secure a good level of continued education, their administering must be fair to each individual. Students in a group have no power to compel a group mate who says no. They can ask/plead/entreat but if that doesn't work they're boned and it's not their fault. Penalizing them in this situation teaches a lesson that their education isn't really in their hands but yours. The student doesn't see that they had the power to alter the outcome and as such can lose motivation. From a pedagogical standpoint, I can't see any advantage to such a course.