I'd still strongly suspect virtual reality glasses like these http://www.vuzix.com/consumer/products_wrap310xl.html would be preferable to just tablets (glasses + tablets combo would perhaps be best). Don't underestimate the value of being "isolated" while watching a lecture.

Monkey don't see and hear no people -> monkey don't talk to people. To that end virtual glasses would be very powerful for focusing attention and certainly better than simply switching the paper for tablets. With glasses students would be isolated and could focus better than if distracted by everything that's going on in the classroom. The teacher still can and should of course regularly employ group-work as a counterweight, but right now students just talk way too fucking much about everything that's not related to learning and a tablet wouldn't counter that trend.