About those pins. Regular sewing pins are fat by comparison with quilters' pins. You can use regular pins, but they tend to distort your work. When you get that ruler, make sure you can see through it well. IMHO, the ones with fairly wide yellow lines are a poor bet. Make sure there are marks which allow you to check on 1/4" measures.
Enjoy. Besides your instructor, you have lots of buddies here to give you hints as you go along.