A new course in programmable logic controllers: A project-based approach

Group projects provide a means to teach students many of the skills they need to succeed after graduation. In fall semester 2000, we developed and taught a course in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) by employing a project-based approach using an "out-of-the-box" integrated PLC. A major goal of the project is to prepare students to apply effective problem solving techniques by addressing a reasonably complex real world problem. This paper describes the laboratory environment, discusses the project guidelines, and presents the projects implemented in fall 2000. The paper also analyzes the project-based approach and concludes that the project is an essential component of a comprehensive learning experience when teaching PLCs.