1) With a basic PPL everything you do will involve looking out of the window - VFR only. You can use the compass headings to assist you in navigation, but taking up a heading, burying your head in the panel for 300 miles then looking up and declaring "Ooo, we have arrived!" isn't going to work.
Besides, looking at the view is what makes it all worthwhile!
2) Some aircraft do have whizz-bang avionics that will give you a wind direction and speed, but most, especially training aircraft do not. During your preflight planning as you rightly say you will account for the forecast winds to calculate a heading to fly.
Your instructor will have a preference for exactly where but it will involve some sort of position check at stages along your planned route. You'll compare where you think you should be to where you actually are and then correct accordingly. (Again, your instructor will teach you this.)
Good luck with your training.