I never had any training what so ever. I had owned two bikes when I was younger, and even though they were small, I always was bad at slow speed stuff. After a while I parked them. 25 years later I got the bug and bought a trike. After a few months on the trike, I was yearning real bad for 2 wheels again. Talked it over with the wife. She said go ahead, but buy a big bike (go figure.) I went down to the local dealer, but couldn't muster up the nerve to take a big bike for a test ride. I signed up for the same class you did. I did mine over a Saturday and Sunday. It really didn't matter if I passed or failed, because I still had my endorsement from years ago. Well, I passed, but I did really-really bad at the U-turns, and I missed the last gate after the two curve roll around the course. But I did pass.
Anyway, it really gave me a big shot of confidence. Two days later I rode home on my Valkyrie. LOL, she DID tell me to get a big bike.........
I'm still not so hot at slow speed tight turns, but I'm better, and I know what I'm doing wrong anyway. I went back to the course (2 minutes from house) to practice once after hours. I probably should do that some more.
Actually, I don't think it was really enough time for a total newbi to learn much. But on the other hand, it does demonstrate to the state that there has been some instruction, and hopefully careful evaluation from a skilled instructor. When I got my first bike, I took a written test, and was given a permit. I could ride solo on city streets in daylight and come back within a year for the driver test. Back then, the riding test was a lot easier then the skills test MSF conducted too.
I went back the following Saturday and showed one of the instructors my new Valkyrie. He forgot that I was a refresher rider, not a total newbi, and he about died when he saw me ride the dragon into the parking lot.
There were a few things I figured out on my own years ago, but I never really knew if I was doing those things "right" or not. The course was real good at pointing out misconceptions, and cementing other things I wasn't sure about.