FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about my CISC 186 Visual Basic Programming class.

• Is this a fully online class?
  Yes, this is a fully online class.

• Will there be any days where we have to meet on campus?
  No. All class activities are online. You only have to go to the campus if you do not have a computer or for non-class related activities.

• What is the required textbook for this class?

  	Starting Out with Visual Basic 2010 - Fifth Edition by Tony Gaddis and Kip Irvine. Copyright © 2011, Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 0-13-611340-0.
  An eTextbook is available for about half the price of a paper textbook. Your professor uses an eTextbook and likes it a lot. Check out CourseSmart.com for details.

• Can I use the previous edition of this textbook?
  There are no previous editions of this textbook that uses Microsoft Visual Basic 2010. If you use the fourth or other previous edition, you will not be using Visual Basic 2010, but all of my assignments and quizzes will be based on Visual Basic 2010.

• Can I use another Visual Basic programming textbook?
  Yes, you can, but you must also use the required textbook since all assignments and lessons will be based on the required textbook.

• How can I get an add code for this class?
  I have a link to that on this web site. See the "Add Code" link for details.

• Can I get free software?
  The software for this class is all free from Microsoft. See the "Software" link for details.

• What computer do you recommend?
  Any Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 computer will work for this class as long as it has at least 1 GB of memory and about 2 GB of free hard disk space. I recommend a 17 inch of larger video monitor. If you use a notebook or laptop computer, I recommend a minimum resolution of 1024x768. See the "Software" link for more detailed system requirements.

• Can I take this class on a Mac?
  Yes, you could, but you will not be able to do any of the assignments on a Mac unless you have access to a Windows computer or a Windows emmulator. Microsoft Visual Basic works only on Microsoft Windows.

• I never took a computer programming class before. Will this class be right for me?
  This class does not require any previous programming experience. I will be teaching this class as if this is your first computer programming class. This is not an introduction to computers. I will assume that you already know how to use a computer to access the Internet, use a web browser, and save and retrieve files from your computer’s operating system.

• I never took an online class before. Will this class be right for me?
  If you have the discipline to read the textbook, take notes, read my notes, do the exercises, do the assignments, and take quizzes without me telling (nagging) you to do so, you will do fine. If you need hands-on assistance, if you are a visual learner, if you learn by seeing and doing more than by reading and doing, you may have trouble keeping up in this class.

Email me at rpelleti@sdccd.edu if you have any questions that were not covered here or on the syllabus.