For the Garmin GPSmap 296 and similar, I would advise against the use of the (akward) Garmin yoke mount. I use a bean bag mount to put the GPS on top of the glareshield. Helps to keep your eyes outside and sattelite signal reception is very good without using the patch type antenna.
Interesting reading concerning the use of GPS in the cockpit can be found at
http://http://www.cockpitgps.com/. The document is certainly worth a small donation.
To me it seems pretty obvious a GPS is only a tool assisting you with your navigation. A GPS will not teach you navigation skills and neither will an ADF or a VOR receiver or a map!
Also: learn how to use your tools efficiently. GPS simulators and training courses are available and needed because unfortunately most user manuals coming with GPS units are very much reference oriented and not task oriented.
I distrust built-in GPS units and always use my personal GPS because that is the unit I know and trust: recency of the geo database, additional waypoints I entered, routes I defined and so on.
Have fun flying whatever your preferred nav tools might be!
BTW: you are carrying the most recent version of that VFR map aren't you
