If they only have about two weeks to "learn" Python, and write a small program or two, what types of things could I have them do? We won't have time to get into GUIs. These can't be very ambitious projects, due to the limited amount of time.
A suggestion\idea made without great conviction, and probably too general to be of great use: Don't ask them to face a blank page. If its Game of Life, start them with functioning code and challenge them to extend it in some fairly specific way. If its graphics, start with functioning code that draws lines, ask them to draw boxes and circles. Even at high levels of programming, few people are asked to face the blank page. One is extending, optimizing, debugging, porting, etc. Give them something broken to fix. Plant a few bugs. But don't ask them to face the blank page. ART