The Department of Education and Training at Tasmania has revealed over 30 iPads are being trialled in a number of schools across the state, with plans in the works to also examine the potential for Android and Windows-based tablets to be used as an education device. 30iPads have been provided in about 10 schools.Trevor Hill, Director of Information Technology Services at the department mentioned that a few high schools have ten each are trialling them across some curriculum areas.
The Tasmanian department is divided in four geographical locations, with each region represented by a technical IT consultant who works with the schools in their respective regions to coordinate IT support and desktop and ICT plans. The Victorian Department of Education and Training has distributed 500 iPads across the state as part of the $150 million Brumby Labor Government investment in government school IT programs. The Tasmanian departments provides each school with annual grant money for ICT purchases. Each institution has the prerogative to purchase products that suit it from the DET web-based shop. The online store features equipment from two Windows PC suppliers
