I think maybe you’re overly concerned about damaging laps. As long as your students understand that you don’t need a ton of pressure on the lap, BATT or Darkside should work well. I’d recommend 3K BATT for most prepolish, and Darkside with either diamond or oxides for polish. Both are easy to use and quite forgiving. As always, start the facet and then look to see if it’s working properly. Coating the desired facet with a Sharpie gives an instant indication that you have the right index.
Ceramic laps are tough, but even experienced faceters can find them difficult.