I am some what self taught and have also taken classes over the years. I am thinking a 3 hour class is more an intro to basic quilting. The last class I took was a basic intro quilt class and used a book and consisted of 4 4 hour class sessions. She didn't do any fabric picking...or colors and that's something I would love to have help with. I think borders are a problem area, as are bindings, and "quilt as desired". I'd love to get help with FMQ on a DSM. Cutting straight strips is also a big problem.
As advance reading for such a class could you suggest a basic quilting book explaining how it used to be done and then you describe how it's done now? Just a thought as I know having read a lot of older quilting books gave me a feeling for mmodern production techniques such as strip sewing, sewing then cutting, etc.