Management of a user's continued attention to distance learning content using a general purpose computer having a central processing unit and an operating system configured to run multiple program applications concurrently. A memory stores the distance learning content. A distance learning module comprises code executable on the central processing unit, as one of the multiple program applications. The distance learning module presents the distance learning content to a user and is operable to interrupt a presentation of the distance learning content in response to prescribed events concerning another one of the multiple program applications. A method executing on a computer that an concurrently run multiple applications identifies events concerning an application other than the distance learning application, processes the identified events so as to identify a prescribed event among the identified events, and interrupts the presentation of the distance learning content in response to the prescribed event.