Digital course materials and tools developed through a groundbreaking alliance between the University of Virginia (UVa), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: "MSFT"), HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) and Thomson Learning, a part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), are having a positive impact on learning in the UVa classes taking part in the collaboration. According to study results released today, the majority of participating students report that the tools either increased understanding or retention of class content, or stimulated greater interest in coursework.

The results mark the first research findings of the pilot project that was launched at the start of the 2004 academic year aimed at identifying and measuring the value high-tech tools and rich digital content could bring to students and instructors*. The first phase of the project involved 362 UVa students enrolled in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' fall 2004 biochemistry, psychology and statistics classes, as well as their instructors. Students participating in the technology-rich courses provided formal evaluations of the tools and materials and gave predominantly positive feedback on the content, Microsoft® Office OneNote® 2003 software and the HP Tablet PC 1100. A number of benefits and advantages emerged from the study, including the following:

• Digital materials and advanced tools can stimulate students' interest in their courses . Sixty-seven percent of the surveyed students reported an increased interest in the course as a result of using the integrated digital solution.
• Thomson Learning's online resources helped students understand and retain class material . On average, 66 percent of students reported that Thomson resources and content improved their understanding of a topic and 62 percent reported Thomson resources improved their ability to retain/remember.
• Microsoft OneNote note-taking software had a beneficial impact on learning . Seventy-one percent of the surveyed students reported an improved ability to understand and remember class content, using the software in class lectures and specially designed templates as study aids.
• HP Tablet PCs are valuable additions to course materials. Eighty-three percent of students viewed the HP Tablet PC as favorable, and approximately 80 percent of students used the Tablet PC for applications beyond the pilot class such as note-taking in other classes and e-mail.