This is a growing index for DigiKey’s educational materials. It organizes the content into pathways with links to available lesson plans and competency-based activities.
This material is not yet ready to be a complete textbook or lab manual. Instead, it is designed to supplement your learning. The material has utility for the individual learner’s self-study, a workplace mentor, laboratory support, and classroom instruction.
Last updated: 28 Jul 2026
Key Takeaways
- Introductory pathways begin with material suitable for high-school and early-college technical education. Separate pathways address different learner roles, goals, and levels of experience.
- Advanced content is available to challenge experienced field engineers.
- Training materials are being developed and modified with a deliberate bias toward competency-based education.
This page is under construction. Content will change as the pathways are expanded.
Refer to DigiKey’s Field Guide to Industrial Automation and Control for the expanded technical content. Note that the field guide is organized by task rather than instructional pathways.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Institutional Boundaries
DigiKey does not award academic credit or credentials. The learning path content is designed around CBE principles so that colleges, technical schools, instructors, and workforce-development programs may incorporate it into their own assessment structures.
What educational philosophy guides these materials?
The guiding principles are presented in this supporting article. Individual articles are being modified to make the competencies explicit. For example, consider this introductory article which explicitly identifies the competencies.
Industrial Automation Technician
This learning sequence organizes DigiKey learning modules for students preparing to work with industrial automation systems. It is intended as a curriculum-planning resource for instructors, not as a certificate or credential program. Instructors may adopt, reorder, or supplement the modules to fit local program requirements.
The sequence emphasizes the knowledge and practical competencies required to troubleshoot field device control circuitry. The pathway scope extends to small three-phase motors controlled with across-the-line electromechanical starters. It does not address variable frequency drives or content beyond basic PLC functionality.
No prior knowledge of electronics is assumed. Foundational algebra is sufficient for the introductory lessons. The content is scoped to fit within a two-year technical curriculum.
Technician Modules
- Module 1: Electronic Control Fundamentals — DC Emphasis
- Module 2: Industrial Control Logic
- Module 3: Timing and Interposing Relays
- Module 4: Industrial Sensors with Discrete Outputs
- Module 5: Ladder Logic and PLC Fundamentals
- Module 6: Machine and Industrial Control Safety
- Module 7: Electronic Control Fundamentals (AC Emphasis)
- Module 8: Motors and Electromechanical Starters
- Module 9: Ethernet and AS-i Networks
Industrial Automation Engineer
This is a placeholder for an alternative learning path for an industrial automation engineer. It will draw from the technician pathway material while adding content. The content is scoped to fit within a four-year engineering curriculum.
- The focus shifts from troubleshooting to design.
- Additional emphasis is placed on component selection, lifecycle tradeoffs, architecture, and documentation.
- The mathematics requirements shift from algebra to calculus time-rate-of-change to describe dynamic systems.
- Traditional circuit and control theory is emphasized, including power factor calculation and PID control of a process.
Engineer Modules
Advice for a new student studying to be an engineer
- Module 1: Complete the Technician sequence
- Module 2: Tradeoffs
- Module 3: Relay, Solenoid, and Contactor Dynamics
- Module 4: Sensor and Analog Interface Design
- Module 5: PLC Architecture and Program Structure
- Module 6: Functional Safety Design
- Module 7: Motor-Control and Power-System Design
- Module 8: Industrial Networks, Distributed Control, and OT Architecture