The board you specify uses the antique 8255 and NO graduate from your class should ever use that in real life. The 8255 is a reflection on pure unadulterated laziness of developers and authors in updating their material. The 8255 was developed for the x86 type processors and was used in the '51 world till better alternatives came along 10 or more years ago.

My suggestion would be to use one of the SILabs development boards ($99-$149) they even have In Circuit Emulation as part of the kit.

Erik