Students may have their own email via their service provider but other email providers such as the free email service of hotmail can be also utilized. Keep in mind that the software recommended by the VB textbook is downloadable from Microsoft as Visual Basic 5.0 - Control Creation Edition. This is a freeware edition of Visual Basic that includes the same controls as the Standard Edition but doesn't provide the MAKE.EXE command. Unfortunately, it also lacks an extremely important component called Data Controls. For this reason, it is not sufficient software to complete the entire course.
Students can use it though for about half the semester.
The ICC computers labs have VB5.0 Standard Edition available. Limited technology support is offered during the course but not for Internet training. Students who are not already familiar with the Internet should consider taking Exploring the Internet prior to taking VB Online.