Use Of Programmable Logic Controllers To Motivate High School Students To Pursue Engineering

The paper describes the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to motivate Appalachian high school students to pursue higher education in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Nationally, college enrollment in STEM areas has been declining; this is particularly true for minority and Appalachian students. This project worked with two batches of twenty students each. Each batch was organized into four teams of five students. All students were first provided instruction in logic circuits and ladder logic. Ladder logic circuits for four tasks were created; a) simulation of automatic garage door, b) simulation of four way traffic light, 3) controlling a light via a physical switch, and 4) physical control of five lights. The five lights mimicked traffic lights (red, yellow, yellow left, green, and green left) at an intersection. The students were asked to control the timing sequence of the lights. Upon completion of the eight hour lecture/laboratory period the student were surveyed. Student responses indicated that a significant portion of both girls and boys agreed or strongly agreed that lecture/laboratory material improved their understanding of PLCs, Boolean algebra, ladder logic, and hardware/software integration. The activity was even considered to be fun by some students.