A GROUP of grade 5 and 6 students from Epsom Primary School received free Apple iPads as part of a state-wide education study launched yesterday.A total of 26 tablets were loaned to the students to evaluate the feasibility of the gadget as a teaching tool.Epsom Primary was the only regional Victorian school to take part in the Brumby Government funded study.It is one of nine public schools across the state to benefit from more than 500 iPads worth more than $600 each.Within minutes of opening the boxes the students haddownloaded several teaching applications, including iBooks, to help them with learning.“I’m really excited to be using the iPad,” grade 6 studentMichaella Perkins said.“It will help me with maths and writing as well as creatingmusic.”Each students was given a $100 iTunes voucher to download applications ranging from math and literature applications to music and video editing software.Principal Kerry McGuffie said the students were already using notebooks in the classroom and said she was confident the device would not be misused.Department of Education and Early Childhood Development regional director Ron Lake said the device would assist students in developing innovative and creative new ways of learning.