Doug,
I hate to be a wet blanket on this but I believe that you are biting off more than you will be able to chew.  I have taught CAD drafting at a local university and have done programming classes at several companies I have been employed with in the past.  These classes have been for both programmers and non programmers.  I don't think 1 week is enough to delve into module development even with scripts and templates that do the complicated bits.  Maybe if you have run thru it about a dozen times before hand and know the holes the students are likely to step in.  Kids are not afraid to try anything so they will try things that can get themselves in a state where it may be difficult to figure out why things don't work.  It will burn Lots of time trying to figure out how to handle those situations when you have intimate knowledge of the topic.  Being a novice yourself you will make it even worse. 
 
I still think a DNN implementation using existing modules would have a better chance of success.  There are still enough places to get things really screwed up for anybody.  :)

It sounds like a great idea and I wish I had the time to try something like that around here. 
Godd luck, tell us how it goes.

mj