my guild offers a beginner class to any member (often the reason join--about 1/3 of them become very active, a 1/3 decide quilting is not their thing due to time/interest/finances; a 1/3 continue but it isn't a big priority). It's 5 Saturdays, for a total of 25 hrs. they get a notebook with quilting terms, color--value, etc; thread, needle, etc. First session: split rail fence to learn 1/4" seam, sewing strip sets, using the rotary cutter and rulers. 2nd--HST--we give the written directions for several methods, but teach the one with a square, stitched 2 diagonals and cut. We encourage several different ways to piece together. 3rd--flying geese--again notebook has several ways to do them, but we do the stitch and flip method in class. 4th--Drunkard's path--cutting on straight of grain vs. bias and when both help with stitching, stitching the curve. 5th (this one has a couple weeks between it and 4th to give time to catch up or make additonal blocks)we use a placemat to teach basting, quilting on DSM, binding. We also include things like labels, sleeves, prep for LA quilter, etc in the notebook.
A couple of years ago we cut the classes from 7 to 5 because we found that participants were just worn out trying to learn so much new stuff. Thus we cut out the applique class (which had become overwhelming due to so many ways to applique) and the handquilting(although both are in the notebook). At the end of the beginner class they are able to do most quilt patterns except applique and paper piecing, and EPP.