How to improve a virtual programming course?

The University of Joensuu started to offer virtual Computer Science studies to high school students in the surrounding rural area of Joensuu beginning in fall 2000. We evaluated the first programming course and modified the course based on the analyzed feedback of the students who dropped out. In fall 2001, we branched out to the rural region of a neighboring province and evaluated the differences between the new and old areas. The percentage of dropouts is somewhat larger in the new area. The course arrangements are the same in both areas, but we found factors, such as the knowledge of the course standards, the experience and attitudes of tutor-teachers, the students´ own activities, as well as the students´ earlier experience in programming, which may have influenced the dropout phenomenon. We are using stepwise dropout treatment during the first programming course.