I can think of several possible answers that your teacher might be looking for.
Look 'em up.
Relay ladder logic, Instruction list, Sequential function chart are among the languages used to program PLCs.
Handheld programmers vs programming software running on PCs.
Thinking about the process, constructing a flow diagram, and planning the program ahead of time vs programming the first thing that pops into your head, then the next, then the next...
Doing it yourself vs hiring somebody else to do it.