Online tools and remote labs for making ICT more attractive for students to prevent dropout

Dropout in ICT studies is a big problem all over the world. This paper gives an overview of research in Estonian ICT student dropout and shows that progress in mathematics and programming courses is important in preventing dropout. Online tools could be used for making these kinds of courses more attractive and effective for students. Possibilities of online tools and two different conceptual remote labs are described in this study in more detail and a combined solution for preventing students' dropout is presented.