Press Release Details

Local publisher offers working sessions with students, educators and school

administrators to explore new solutions and learning alternatives

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thomson Learning, part of The Thomson Corporation (TSX: TOC; NYSE: TOC), participated today in Connecticut's Textbook Summit which examined factors relating to the cost and use of textbook and supplemental materials required for courses in the state's colleges and universities. Susan Badger, CEO of Thomson Higher Education, spoke on Thomson Learning's commitment to finding higher education solutions and described three areas of focus for the company: (1) improving student success, (2) lowering costs wherever possible, and (3) expanding the range of choices.

"Thomson Learning has invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours to find new ways to improve how instructors teach and students learn, including the highly publicized Thomson Learning Labs research at the University of Virginia," said Badger at the summit. "In fact, we have a long history of helping to resolve educational challenges, going back to the low cost paperback options we first introduced nearly fifty years ago for emerging two-year schools. Today we offer a complete portfolio of options and choices for every discipline including both low-cost Advantage Series titles and full color, high-tech options."

In her remarks, Badger described several research-based solutions already available from Thomson Learning and spoke about the custom solution trend that has led to the development of more assignable digital homework products to encourage active learning and more personalized study plans for students.

"We have learned from our research that technology as so- called "enrichment" is not valued. Students value only what they use and what is assigned in class, which is why both professors and students are embracing more custom solutions today--learning materials tailored to the specific requirements of a course. Our research also shows that students value customizable digital homework," explained Badger. "Examples of these solutions include our OWL online homework product for chemistry, developed with our partner at U Mass and also our Web-based NOW study system, available in a wide range of disciplines."

Badger also explained Thomson Learning's partnerships with schools to pilot new business models, including licensing digital content, and including textbooks with tuition, for example. In her remarks, Badger announced that Thomson Learning will host a follow-on working session to bring concerned parties together to create some specific new solutions and alternatives for delivering value and expanding the range of choices for Connecticut. The publisher will be reaching out in the coming days to identify interested participants.

About The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Higher Education

The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2004 revenues from continuing operations of $8.10 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) has approximately 40,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. Its learning businesses and brands serve the needs of individuals, learning institutions, corporations and government agencies with products and services for both traditional and distributed learning. Thomson Higher Education is a leading provider of higher education textbooks, software, and Internet materials for the humanities, behavioral and social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, and business and economics. It publishes under the brands of Thomson Wadsworth, Thomson Brooks/Cole, Thomson South-Western, Thomson Heinle, and Thomson Schirmer.

SOURCE  The Thomson Corporation
    -0-                             10/06/2005
    /CONTACT:  Media Contact: Adam Gaber, Senior Director, Public Relations of
Thomson Learning, +1-203-539-8663, adam.gaber@thomson.com /
    /Web site:  http://thomsonlearning.com /
    (TOC TOC.)

CO:  The Thomson Corporation; Thomson Learning
ST:  Connecticut
IN:  EDU HED BKS PUB
SU:  CHI TDS

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8829 10/06/2005 13:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com