• Describe the characteristics and relative advantages of network and stand-alone environments.
   

• Describe the difference between a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN).
   

• Describe the required elements of network environments including hardware, software, communications and topology.
   

See the books page for more details about the titles listed below

McWeeney -Pages 55 - 61

Mott & Leeming - pages 223 - 233

Doyle - Chapter 9

Heathcote - Chapter 29

AQA past papers
Past papers. Not as useful as the Psionica database AQA shamefully closed but...

Practice questions
Past paper practice questions for 11.9 (.rtf file - opens in Word/Writer) suitable for revision/homework etc. etc.

Past paper answers
Answers to the questions above. Password protected .doc file. Sorry but the password is only available to teachers.

Older Exam Papers
Past papers (pre 2000) not included on the official AQA site from Colchester VI Form College. These still contain some relevant questions for this topic. Look for IT02/ICT2 papers.




Note: Fixed faulty question/answer links 01/11/05

Links to general online resources for 11.9. I'd recommend right clicking links/icons and "Save Target As..." for anything other than web pages (see key below)

	Flash Notes
Steve Longley's excellent online flash notes for 11.9 - Network Environments. I think this is permanently dead? Use the link below instead.
	Flash Notes
Offline version of the above.  Right click the link (or icon) and Save Target As...
	Network Topologies
Handout covering benefits & drawbacks of ring, star and bus topologies. The original web page this is from can be found here
	Networks
Short PowerPoint presentation based on chapter 29 of Heathcote A level textbook.
	Interactive Diagram
Diagram thingymajig that's, err um, interactive i.e. you fill it in online to test your knowledge (or lack of!!!) of network environments.
	Peer to Peer vs. Client-Server
Relative merits of peer-to-peer and client server are discussed in this doc. Bit dated but the main points are still relevant.
	Online Quiz
Multi-choice quiz from the University of Aberdeen. Answers provide a good intro to network basics.
	Interactive Network Builder
This pretty cool Flash thingy lets you simulate building a network. Think it came from BECTA? Right click and "Save Target As..." for offline viewing.
	What is a network?
Pretty relevant question for this topic if you ask me!!! Follow all the links at the bottom of the page.
	11.9 Network Environments
Summary notes and questions from North Chadderton High School.
	Network Notes
Very short set of notes. Only really useful if you've forgotten to revise for a test in 5 minutes and need something in a hurry!!!
	Network Environments
Page of links from Alcester Grammar School covering this topic.
	Network Components
Very good PowerPoint presentation by Elizabeth Lawley of Rochester Institute of Technology. Where???
	Organising LANs and WANs
Cool mini website from the ever so luvverly Debbie Jones @ Teach-ICT. There's even a worksheet to go with this here
	Home Networking
Home networking is becoming increasingly popular. This site covers the basics.
	Role of Communications & Networking
Massive 42 slide PowerPoint from OCRICT covers just about everything and then some! Highly recommended by FatMax
	Network Environments
Rather good revision factsheet from the rather good ICT-teacher website.

Key to resources:

PowerPoint presentation Word file Web page Macromedia Flash

Word, PowerPoint and Excel resources will also open in OOo Writer, Calc and Impress - check the downloads page.