What is TechnologyUK?

During the last few years I have been teaching a broad range of subjects that come under the general heading of "Technology". The subjects have included Data Communications, Internet and Multimedia Technology, Systems Analysis and Design, Networking, Computer Programming and Electrical Principles. Useful information can be found on most of these subjects on the Web and in text books. The text books, however, tend to be heavyweight affairs that cover one particular area of a syllabus. If students wished to purchase all of the recommended text books for a two year course (for argument's sake, let's say a BTEC National Diploma) they would need to spend rather a lot of money. Of course, libraries can provide some of the books, but usually have only a limited number of copies, and may not have the one book you really need, when you need it. The Web, on the other hand, offers millions of pages of information on everything under the sun, but finding accurate, reliable materials can be time consuming, simply because of the sheer volume of information available. One of the great things about the Web is that anyone can publish their own web pages without incurring significant costs, and without the involvement of editors or publishers. The down side is that the quality of the materials available on the Web will inevitably vary considerably.

With these things in mind, I decided to publish my own web pages covering some of the material I have taught over many years. I originally did this using my own personal web site as a vehicle, but as the project grew, it became increasingly apparent that it should really have its own domain and a somewhat more appropriate domain name. So here it is - TechnologyUK.net. It will continue to grow, and will hopefully provide a useful resource for students undertaking technology-related courses (and, of course, anyone who is just interested in technology). My aim in presenting these pages is to provide resources that will be useful to students at A-level and above, since most of my teaching has been for courses at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 3. The NQF was recently replaced by the more flexible Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), which allows qualifications to be achieved over time by combining a number of discrete units of study, as well as recognising and accrediting appropriate work-based training. The coalition government has recently announced proposals to scrap the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), which currently takes responsibility for the QCF. The future direction of the qualifications framework is therefore a matter for speculation. Hopefully the materials on this site will continue to be of help to technology students, whatever the outcome.