This course is absolutely free, but it's based on a really great text: The Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Learning Edition.
To get the most out of this course, you will need to have these 'course materials'
Microsoft Press Learning Edition (ISBN: 0735619069)
The "Learning Edition" includes both a book and VB.NET Standard. So if you have these items, you're good to go as well:
Visual Studio 2003 or VB.NET 2003
and
Microsoft Press book "Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step By Step 2003" by Michael Halvorson (ISBN: 0735619050)
If you have the previous version: VB.NET 1.0 or "Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step By Step 2003" (ISBN: 0735613745), that's OK. There's not much difference and you will get nearly all of the benefit with the previous version as well.
Although these email newsletters will introduce the information in the text and add to the explanations you find there, you'll discover that without the textbook, you will find it difficult to understand and benefit from the course. You're not required to get the text, but it's a really, really good idea. And, just to put your mind at ease, About Visual Basic and I don't get a dime from Microsoft for using this text in the course. I picked it out because I decided it was the best way for you to learn VB.NET - not because I'm getting paid to recommend it.
Be sure to read through the Introduction in the text. I always read the Introduction in a book and this one is better than most with a lot of good guidance.