====== First semester ======

> **Summary**
> //The first semester is the starting semester of the broad bachelor and Associate degree at Fontys ICT. On this wiki page a number of important things about the first semester are elaborated.//

===== Purpose =====

The first semester has as main goal: orientate on Fontys ICT's HBO-ICT study programme and the broad professional field of ICT. Orientation means for students: Do you have a good idea of the study programme and the professional field and do you choose to continue this study programme? Is your first choice for Bachelor's or [[..:beleid:brede_associate_degree|Associate degree]] still the best choice? For Fontys ICT, orientation means: are we confident that the student will be able to have a successful study programme with us? 

===== Orienting and selecting character =====
The first semester is the starting semester (half year) of Fontys ICT, with the aim to orientate on the study programme
HBO-ICT of Fontys ICT and the broad professional field of ICT. This means that students at the end of the first semester
can answer the following questions for themselves: Do I have a good idea of the study programme and the
professional field? Do I choose to continue with this study programme? 

Lecturers guide students during the orientation and selection process around the continuation of their studies. Lecturers also indicate whether they are confident that the student will be able to follow a successful study programme at Fontys ICT. In addition to orientation, the first semester also pays attention to (self) selection with regard to the continuation of the study. In the first semester students orient themselves on 5 ICT profiles:
  * ICT & Business;
  * ICT & Infrastructure;
  * ICT & Media Design;
  * ICT & Software Engineering;
  * ICT & Technology.
On the basis of this orientation, students then choose the ICT discipline that ultimately appeals to them the most. In addition to substantive professional orientation, students learn to develop professionally.  In the first semester, students will work on both substantive professional development with regard to the 5 ICT profiles, as well as [[..:beleid:criteria_professionele_ontwikkeling_hbo-i|professional development]] (PO).

===== Structure of the first semester =====

The first semester is carried out in different variants:
  - Course-based teaching method;
  - Demand-based teaching method;
  - [[..:beleid:curriculumarchitectuur_ovp|Education for Professionals]] (OvP)

The learning outcomes of these different implementation variants are the same, the different teaching methods are tailored to the target group for which the education is designed. 

==== 1. Course-based teaching method ====
This teaching method is the primary target group: international bachelor students. Course-based education focuses on clarity and predictability for students in terms of learning outcomes, educational activities and assessment criteria (determined by the study programme). See [[..:beleid:leervormen|this page]] for more information on teaching methods. The course-based first semester is in English and only leads to a bachelor's level.

In the first twelve weeks, students orientate on the five profiles, acquiring knowledge and skills relevant to all in-depth topics thereafter. From week 13 students continue in one profile of their choice and here they develop to an in-depth level.

==== 2. Demand-based teaching method ====
This teaching method is the primary target group: Dutch students who want to obtain an HBO-ICT bachelor or Associate degree diploma.  Demand-based education focuses on students who want to take their learning process into their own hands. The learning outcomes and assessment criteria are determined by the study programme. For the educational activities, the student has choices, including making his own proposal.

The demand-based first semester is divided into an orientation phase (week 1 to week 11) and an in-depth phase
(week 12 to week 19). In the orientation phase, a profile is central every day. In the in-depth phase, students work together in the in-depth professional task and can follow in-depth workshops for each profile. 

==== 3. Education for Professionals (OvP) ====
The primary target group for the Education for Professionals (OvP) first semester are professionals who want to take the next step in their development, and retrainers. As a result, from September 2020 the first semester Education for Professionals (OvP) offers professionals a broad orientation in all directions within HBO-ICT, and on the difference between the Bachelor's and Associate degree study programme. 

Education for Professionals (OvP) is a demand-based teaching method, which will work according to [[beleid:blended_learning]]. Blended learning consists of learning activities by professionals aimed at constructing learning content (insight, knowledge, skills) in a systematic combination of face-to-face and online interactions between students, lecturers and learning resources that take place in various contexts, such as professional practice, the university of applied sciences and at home. 

The Education for Professionals (OvP) first semester is divided into three periods of four weeks in which a direction of orientation is followed for each period. This means that Education for Professionals (OvP) students orient themselves in three of the five profiles. For the last six weeks the student has made a choice for an in-depth profile. There is room for students to go through both the orientation and in-depth phase at their own pace. This can be responded to flexibly, partly because individual elaborations are made.


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