Academic Retention in the Italian Context

This study analyzes if motivation, academic self-concept, perception of the time perspective, self-regulation, and the attendance of specific online laboratory activities influence academic retention and achievement of two group of freshmen attending the first year of their Bachelor’s Degree. The freshmen were monitored along their first academic year. In particular, we try to understand which factors can help student to overcome the transition gap created by the passage from high school to university. The choice of the implementation of an online lab is due to evidence that online platforms are tools that can help to reduce the academic dropout. These platforms allowed students to use a supporting network, but, at the same time, students can autonomously take advantage of suitable materials to achieve their learning goals and to bridge an orientation gap. In Italy, this gap is often present in the transition between high school and university. In general, we can say that the experience of the online laboratory was positive and combined with the enhancement of motivation, academic self-concept, vision of the time perspective, and self-regulation can represent an important support above all for the Italian freshmen.