This study analyzes the possible influences of some individual variables related with the attendance of specific online laboratory activities on the academic retention and achievement of a group of freshmen attending the first year of the Bachelor of Education. Online platforms allowed students both to use a supporting network and autonomously taking advantage of suitable materials to achieve their learning goals and to bridge an orientation gap that often, in Italy, is present in the transition between high school and University. In general, we can say that the experience of the online laboratory was positive and represented a supporting element for these students. [For full proceedings, see ED571332.]