Our circuit boards aren’t necessarily the smallest or lightest, because they’re built specifically for learning – we provide real-world circuit board modules that students can actually interact with and use, as opposed to only reading about in textbooks.
In order for students to apply their learning in technology today, we believe their education should be kept as hands-on as possible.
Our goal is to help prepare students for successful careers in electronics technology as our nation strives to revitalize its industrial base.
There is a widening disparity between current tech school curricula and growing trends in the electronics industry. Training in robotics is ubiquitous in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, but gaps appear in the curricula for industrial electronics technology, especially in the areas of sensors and industrial wireless communications.
Lab projects for more advanced electronics courses can become quite time consuming, which partially explains the scarcity of relevant lab materials in these areas. The biggest issue, though, is that high-quality educational courseware that supports state of the art technology is hard to come by. Even schools that have strong distance learning programs lack the hardware to offer intricate courses involving industrial electronics technology.
PRESSON Circuit Modules supplies the missing hardware and courseware. We design and sell Circuit Boards and Courseware that maximize the learning experience for students of Electronics Engineering Technology.
PRESSON free standing circuit modules allow hands-on experimentation with actual circuit boards in a distance learning setting, as opposed to just using circuit simulation software.
PRESSON Breadboard modules make breadboarding easier and faster for electronics students.
All PRESSON Circuit Modules can help reduce the amount of time wasted during lab activities by eliminating many of the tedious hookup and wiring tasks involved in experimentation and project development.
There are many products on the market that appear similar to the PRESSON Circuit Modules, but very few of them are designed specifically for electronics education. Many are demonstration and/or development kits offered by semiconductor manufacturers to aid engineers and programmers in the implementation of projects involving microcontrollers and sensors. Some are circuit modules that look like PRESSON products, but are designed for use by makers and hobbyists.
There are other products, frequently offered as small robotic kits, designed to support the STEM curricula. This type of product can provide a true enrichment experience, especially for students at the elementary and middle school level. However, this form of product is not suitable for a more in-depth secondary or post-secondary electronic technology program.
The advantages of the PRESSON Circuit Modules are threefold:
1) They allow users to build and test their projects quickly and reliably, while making just a few jumper wire connections. They also allow experimentation with communication and transducer circuitry that otherwise could not be fabricated directly on a standard prototyping breadboard.
2) These modules are designed specifically for use in secondary and post-secondary technology programs. With easily accessed connectors and test points, the boards are ideal for both online training for the individual student and for more traditional “on campus” lab classes.
3) The modules are competitively priced, often costing less than hobbyist-type kits of equivalent size.
In addition, there are theory lessons and laboratory exercises for these products, available online as PDF downloads. These documents are offered at a fraction of the cost of most electronics laboratory manuals, and can be offered free of charge with bulk purchases of the circuit modules.
A decision to use PRESSON products represents NO SWITCHING COST to a school using either the desktop trainer, the portable trainer, or free-standing breadboards. In fact, because PRESSON products are low enough in price to be student issue, incorporation of these smaller products into a tech school’s lab curriculum could actually increase the school’s revenue!
With relationships fusing and products developed, PRESSON Circuit Modules is ready to place its educational products into the hands of Electronics and STEM teachers in qualified secondary and postsecondary schools in 2017.
There are already five PRESSON Circuit Modules in their beta stage of development – proven to operate correctly, needing only a sampling/feedback cycle for fine tuning. Also, several PDF documents have been created for theses circuit modules, including technical data manuals, user manuals and laboratory manuals.
Except for smaller modules that will be produced by Proto-Advantage (a Canadian company), PRESSON Circuit Modules, Inc. will assemble almost all of its products at its Arlington, Texas, facility, using ExpressPCB (a web-based and streamlined company) boards and components purchased from Mouser Electronics. Mouser is conveniently located in Mansfield, Texas (contiguous to Arlington).
As a Veteran-Owned Texas Social Purpose Corporation, we could possibly become more directly involved in career training for underserved and low-income students as well as veterans transitioning back into civilian life.
Want to learn more about PRESSON Circuit Modules and what they have planned for the future? Make sure to request access to the Business Plan tab of the profile to find out how you can get involved!
James W. Maas – President and Secretary
Jim Maas has over thirty years of experience working electronics. He has held several positions in technical education, including electronics instructor, chief instructor, and director of education. He has also worked as an industrial trainer for Electrocom Automation, National Semiconductor, and Southwestern Bell. Jim has also developed courses and conducted sales force training in addition to working as a semiconductor technical support specialist for Mouser Electronics.
Rene Lazarus – Production Manager
Rene Lazarus has been working as a full-time technical support specialist at Mouser Electronics for nearly twelve years. He also mananged a PCB repair facility and has vast experience in through-hole and surface-mount component soldering and circuit board repair. Rene will supervise module production, control inventory, and be responsible for quality control.
Terrence Bunkley – Computer Systems Consultant
Terrence Bunkley is a recent graduate of the Computer Engineering program of the University of Texas at Arlington. He worked part time as an intern at Mouser Electronics while completing his degree. Upon graduation, he briefly worked as an IT specialist for IBM, Dallas, and now works as a software engineer. He will help to optimize operations and assist in product and courseware development.