This case study discusses factors impacting the attrition and persistence rates of 60 Indonesian educators in an online programme in 2010. Course designers developed three variations of a web-based programme--a fully online, hybrid and web-facilitated model--and placed 20 learners, all with similar technology skills, in the three different models. The online cohort experienced a 31% attrition rate while 100% of learners in the hybrid and web-facilitated models completed the programme. Data collection revealed that the greatest factor impacting attrition or persistence was the absence or presence of face-to-face interaction with the instructor and colleagues. This paper outlines programme design elements that learners found most helpful in successfully completing the course.