David,
School is not always about what you learn, but creating the skills so your students can continue to learn outside of the classroom setting.
With that said, you would want a lab that focuses on the fundamentals. Identifying products that will provide a cross section of the industry.
More specifically, you obviously want to train them how to think critically, being able to create programs from an idea or concept. In essence, thinking like the PLC processes it's program, top to bottom, left to right...in a step by step method.
What would your lab be equipped with?
The PLC obviously, but not a basic unit. One that can enable you to teach about real world occurances. Besides the digital I/O, you would want various types of analog I/O for training them how to work with things like pressure transducers, variable frequency drives, temperature inputs...etc.
Besides the PLC, you will want an operator interface and touch screen in that a larger percentage of PLCs are now installed with some sort of display.
In addition to the hardware, you will want an HMI/SCADA software package in that PLCs are not just for machine control anymore but are also used for process control. The HMI software interface would provide the ability to create real world scenarios that students can actually work with.
It goes without saying that you would need all the peripheral devices that would work in conjunction with the PLC.
With the time typically alloted for semester based courses, you would be hard pressed to offer all of this at one time, therefore you would probably want to create several sections.
1. Introduction to Automation, using PLCs
2. Intermediate PLC course - include analog
3. Advanced PLC course - include various communication protocols
4. Advanced PLC course - Operator interfaces and Touch Screens
5. Advanced PLC coures - HMI/Scada software
It isn't just about showing them how everything works, but, being able to apply what they learn to any situation/scenario they are presented.
Much will depend on your budget and how many credit hours you have been alotted for this course.
My tech went to ITT and had a PLC course that consisted of an AB PLC. The sad part is, they didn't do any of the above, they inputed information into a programmer and saw the lights turn on.
When he came to us, he had a very basic understanding. Everything that he learned about our controllers was done after he was hired. The training that he received provided him with knowing what a PLC was and that was about it.
On a side note, don't let anyone dictate to you what PLC to use. Many will tell you to use AB because it is the most widely used. You are not an AB training school, you are not training them to use AB. You are teaching them the fundamentals, enabling them to take what they have learned and either apply it to what they are confronted with, or be able to find out how.
Hope this helps.
God Bless,