CD-ROM supports such gradual involvement with training materials. Components of work can be undertaken at times appropriate to progress. Their sequence is selected as relevant to, and determined by, the user. Such deliberate extension of learning encourages critical inquiry, individual investigation and application of new knowledge. The difficulty with work deliberately extended over time is that it can be more difficult to maintain motivation to continue learning.
Schools are immensely busy places, full of teachers doing difficult work under trying circumstances.
The need to deal with immediate, rather than long-term, issues can be overwhelming. Often, professional development may not seem a priority. Motivation to continue is, in part, linked to teachers' perceptions of how directly the content relates to their own classroom needs. The level of external support they receive and the extent to which the learning meets school and system priorities are influential too. A major benefit of shared participation in programs is the feedback and encouragement colleagues give to help sustain progress.