AVR-Chat

>  It makes more sense to me to
> have the student build their own project as you suggest *after* they've
> messed about with some pre-constructed gadgetry and have a clearer
> vision of where it will all end up.

I agree..  A completed board, with some interesting sensors and output
devices, with well-written code that works, would be a big plus.  It's
always easier to start off by modifying something that works, than to
learn all the twitchy details first.