电子课本与纸质教材的对决

Education officials in Shanghai said that about 1,500 digital textbooks will be available to all students in the city's primary, middle and high schools before September next year.

This is part of a pilot program named "e-schoolbag."

The aim is to reduce the number of heavy paper books students have to carry to and from school every day. But for teachers, the benefits of this new technology go beyond this.

"Using electronic devices allows teachers to receive quick feedback from students, so that we can give one-on-one guidance to our students."

Schools in Shanghai have been testing the use of electronic textbooks since 2011.

Both teachers and students are able to download studying materials they need online from their tablet computers.

There are also software programs which teachers can use to interact with students.

Some teachers also say this move has encouraged more students to join in class discussions.

"Previously, few students were willing to answer questions during class, but now they are more active when we have online discussions."

Outside of Shanghai, schools in other major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Hangzhou are also weighing in on the possibilities of replacing paper textbooks with electronic ones.

In March this year, the Beijing municipal government earmarked three million yuan to promote its own "e-schoolbag" program.

But parents have expressed serious concerns over this innovative way of teaching.

"Electronic devices are harmful to children's eyesight. They play games on computers at home and now they will continue to stare at computer screens at school; it's too much for them."

"They are still too young to have the self-control that is needed to study on tablet computers. It's very likely that they will play games instead of study on the tablet computers."

The other downside to tablet computers is that they are too costly for ordinary families.

However, what remains beyond doubt is that technology can make a profound difference in teaching, and electronic textbooks are only the beginning.

Wang Zhuli, is an education expert from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou.

"I believe that the electronic textbook will be a trend of our time. The technology is not yet mature enough now, but in the long term it will doubtlessly be beneficial for teaching. It's better that we let children get acquainted with new things instead of running away from them."

For CRI, this is Duan Xuelian.