Vic school picks Android for classrooms

While iPads have been the tool of choice for equipping the modern-day classroom, one Victorian school will see its students equipped with Acer tablets running Android.

(Credit: Acer)

Staff and year 9 to 12 students from Brighton Grammar in Victoria will receive Acer Iconia Tab A500 devices as part of a new teaching program.

Acer Computer Australia plans to roll out over 600 of the tablets to the school, which will be used as a supplementary device to aid in learning.

"Tablets are not intended to replace techniques such as handwriting, physical activity or face-to-face discussion, but rather to add extra dimensions to all our current teaching and learning practices," said Brighton Grammar deputy head of curriculum Andrew Baylis.

"We see tablets as adding to the teaching and learning experience with 'instant on, quick connectivity' that allows us to capture the moment of inspiration."

"Everybody is learning how to use digital formats, and we're really trying to provide a comprehensive digital solution for Brighton Grammar in moving to a 21st-century learning environment," said Acer national education sales manager Derek Walker.

The tablets will connect to the internet via a new wireless LAN network that is currently being installed at the school, and will also allow teachers to stream information to students' devices. In addition, the tablet's HDMI output will allow class work to be projected onto a larger screen.

Acer recently won a contract with the Queensland Department of Education and Training to provide up to 65,000 notebooks to schools.