2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

High school digital electronics courses typically cover the following topics: 1) logic gates and Boolean algebra; 2) sequential circuits such as flip-flops, latches, counters, and shift registers; 3) memory; 4) programming and interfacing in microcontrollers; and 5) digital systems design for real-world problems. These topics are typically taught through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. High school courses that teach industrial controllers, such as programmable logic controllers (PLC), are relatively uncommon, even though controllers can be used in teaching all the topics listed above. This is due to the high cost of equipment and training and to faculty lacking expertise in PLC.

In this paper, we describe lessons built upon a PLC and student activities utilizing a working model of an automated system built using Fischertechnik building blocks. These materials were implemented within six classes of 15-20 students each. Almost all students lacked awareness of programmable logic controllers and their applications initially. Preliminary results suggest that students learned to describe what a PLC is, applications of PLC in industry, types of industries that use PLCs, and what ladder logic is and how it differs from data logic. In addition, students increased their understanding of careers in industrial automation and how knowing about PLCs can help them in the workforce.