I recently taught a group of 6- 11 year old girls how to quilt. Only one had used a sewing machine before. Our project was a mug rug. I had all the parts precut. They made a four-patch, sandwiched it and did a "pillow case" method. Then they quilted it in straight, and not so straight lines. It was completed in a 1 1/2 hour session.
By the end, each girl learned not to fear a sewing machine, had accomplished a finished project, and ALL of them expressed interest in learning more. I consider that a success.
With adult learners, I would still start with a pillow=case style mini quilt. If they have time, they can still put a binding on it to learn the technique, but it is finished even without.
IMHO