1. The national assessment of mathematics in high schools in Italy with Slovene as the language of instructionDaniel Doz, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: In the following paper, we analyzed the question types in the INVALSI national mathematics assessments in Italian high schools with Slovene as the language of instruction. Through a statistical analysis, we found that closed-type questions were more frequent than open-type questions. A greater presence of closed-type questions could lead to the issue of guessing and cheating. Moreover, a greater quantity of closed-type questions could lead to a partial evaluation of knowledge, since procedures and other mathematical competences are not considered. In our research, we also considered the topics of the questions that were presented in national assessments. Keywords: mathematics, Slovene education in Italy, national examinations, testing Published in DKUM: 10.06.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
Full text (256,15 KB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Factors influencing mathematics achievement of university students of social sciencesAlenka Brezavšček, Janja Jerebic, Gregor Rus, Anja Žnidaršič, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The paper aims to investigate the main factors influencing the mathematics achievement of social sciences university students in Slovenia. A conceptual model was derived where three categories of variables were taken into account: attitude towards mathematics and math anxiety, engagement in learning activities, and attitude towards involving technology in learning mathematics. Data were collected for seven consecutive academic years and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed a very high coefficient of determination for mathematics achievement (0.801), indicating that variables “Perceived Level of Math Anxiety”, “Self-Engagement in Mathematics Course at University”, and “Perceived Usefulness of Technology in Learning Mathematics”, together, explain 80.1% of the total variance. Based on our findings, we can conclude that teaching in secondary school is a crucial determinant for success in mathematics at university. It is essential to identify the best methods for secondary school math teachers which will help them give future students better entry-level knowledge for universities. These methods will, hopefully, also improve the level of mathematics self-confidence, as well as lower the level of math anxiety, which all considerably affect the performance of students in university mathematics. Keywords: mathematical education, good practices in mathematics, mathematics achievement, education, influencing factors, university, social sciences, structural equation modelling (SEM) Published in DKUM: 14.01.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
Full text (963,28 KB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected mathematics achievement? : a case study of university students in social sciencesAnja Žnidaršič, Alenka Brezavšček, Gregor Rus, Janja Jerebic, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: This study examines the effects of COVID-19-related measures on the mathematics achievement of university students in social sciences in Slovenia. Our particular concern was to compare two student populations (pre-pandemic and pandemic) in terms of factors affecting student performance in mathematics courses. Data were collected over nine consecutive academic years (from 2013–2014 to 2020–2021) and analyzed using two-stage structural equation modelling (SEM). The analyses confirmed that the conceptual model developed before the pandemic was applicable during the pandemic period. For both populations (pre-pandemic and pandemic), mathematics confidence, perceived level of math anxiety, background knowledge from secondary school, and self-engagement in mathematics courses at university were confirmed as factors influencing mathematics achievement. Moreover, both populations perceived the effects of the factors in the same way, and the magnitude of the effects is comparable. The rather high values of determination coefficient for mathematics achievement (greater than 0.66 for both student populations) indicate that the variables “Perceived Level of Math Anxiety” and “Self-Engagement in Mathematics Course at University” together explain a significant proportion of the total variance before and during the pandemic. Consequently, the results of our case study indicated that pandemic measures did not have a significant impact on our students’ mathematics achievement. Although a more in-depth study of a broader sample of academic courses would be needed to confirm our findings, our experience indicates that mathematics courses at the tertiary level of education can be successfully delivered online. Keywords: COVID-19, mathematics achievement, university students, social sciences, pre-pandemic population, pandemic population, comparison, multi-group structural equation modeling (MG-SEM) Published in DKUM: 09.07.2024; Views: 112; Downloads: 11
Full text (1,64 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Analysis of higher-order bézier curves for approximation of the static magnetic properties of NO electrical steelsErmin Rahmanović, Martin Petrun, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Adequate mathematical description of magnetization curves is indispensable in engineering. The accuracy of the description has a significant impact on the design of electric machines and devices. The aim of this paper was to analyze the capability of Bézier curves systematically, to describe the nonlinear static magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steels, and to compare this approach versus the established mathematical descriptions. First, analytic functions versus measurements were analyzed. The Bézier curves were then compared systematically with the most adequate analytic functions. Next, the most suitable orders of Bézier curves were determined for the approximation of nonlinear magnetic properties, where the influence of the range of the input measurement dataset on the approximation process was analyzed. Last, the extrapolation capabilities of the Bézier curves and analytic functions were evaluated. The general conclusion is that Bézier curves have adequate flexibility and significant potential for the approximation and extrapolation of nonlinear properties of non-oriented electrical steels. Keywords: analytical modeling, anhysteretic curve, applied mathematics, Bézier curve, curve fitting, first magnetization curve, major loop, mathematical modeling, non-oriented electrical steel Published in DKUM: 01.02.2024; Views: 382; Downloads: 29
Full text (4,90 MB) |
5. Hereditarnia 2019 : Book of Abstracts, Maribor, 21st & 22nd June, 20192019, other monographs and other completed works Abstract: The booklet contains the abstracts of the talks given at the 22th Hereditarnia Workshop on Graph Properties that was held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Maribor on 21st and 22nd of June, 2019. The workshop attracted 22 participants from 8 countries. All of the participants are researchers in di˙erent areas of graph theory, but at this event they all presented topics connected with (hereditary) graph properties. Themes of the talks encompass a wide range of contemporary graph theory research, notably, various types of graph colorings, graph domination, some graph dimensions matchings and graph products. Beside the abstracts of the plenary speaker (Roman Sotak) and three invited speakers (Tanja Gologranc, Michael A. Henning and Ismael G. Yero), the booklet also contains the abstracts of 7 contributed talks given at the event. Keywords: mathematics, graph theory, Hereditarnia, Maribor, Slovenia Published in DKUM: 13.12.2019; Views: 1350; Downloads: 357
Full text (1,08 MB) This document has many files! More... |
6. Testing the sustainability of growth of the LJSEX in the January 2000 to May 2010 periodAleš Ahčan, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: In this paper we analyse the behaviour of the LJSEX, the main index of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, in the period from January 2000 till May 2010. More precisely, we test for the presence of bubbles and antibubbles and try to determine whether or not a bubble could have been predicted (both the formation and the date of the bubble burst). Second, we also employ techniques used to model antibubbles to forecast the future behaviour of the LJSE index. Besides modelling index dynamics for the aforementioned period, we also seek to determine the factors that led to the bubble forming and later bursting. We find that the bubble could have been forecasted at least several months in advance. On the other hand, a very precise date of the crash seems harder to identify. By more closely analysing the interplay between interest rates, credit activity and the LJSEX, we conclude that there is a clear connection between decreasing interest rates, increased credit activity and the formation of a stock bubble. If there is a clear correlation between the early phase of a bubble and increased credit activity of the banking sector, the link between the end of the bubble and the restriction of credit activity is less pronounced. By fitting the extended antibubble model from (Johansen 1999a) we obtain the values of parameters that give us some indication of the future behaviour of the LJSEX. Based on these results we conclude that in the next few years we are likely to experience a period of increased volatility with no clear increasing or decreasing growth pattern. Keywords: exchange, interest rate, business mathematics, calculations, models Published in DKUM: 22.01.2018; Views: 1237; Downloads: 371
Full text (698,29 KB) This document has many files! More... |
7. Modernizing mathematics education in Slovenia : a teacher friendly approachBojan Hvala, 2009, original scientific article Abstract: Nowadays, we are facing a large number of varied educational projects which aim to direct and modernize mathematics education. Many institutions (from university bodies and institutes to individual secondary and elementary schools, networks of schools and private enterprises) make an appearance on the project market and contribute their ideas. Such quantity can cause confusion among teachers. Encouraged by the article, a mathematician's lament, by Paul Lockhard, we present some simple principles for classroom work that, in our opinion, would enhance the efficiency of mathematics classes in the long term. Thus we try to help mathematics teachers build a strategy for a fruitful approach to the ideas, recommendations and advertisements on the educational market. Showing the respect towards the quality mathematics teachers and avoiding discouraging and confusing them are some of the leading ideas that we should pursue in our attempt to improve mathematics education. At the end, we also offer some recommendations about the teacher training system. Keywords: education, mathematics education, pedagogical approach, ICT Published in DKUM: 15.12.2017; Views: 1314; Downloads: 112
Full text (1,24 MB) This document has many files! More... |
8. Interactive e-learning materials in the mathematics classroom in SloveniaSamo Repolusk, 2009, original scientific article Abstract: This article presents the current development of e-learning in Slovenia, with an emphasis on the domestic E-um web portal (URL: www.e-um.si) for teaching mathematics in primary and secondary schools. Based on findings from recent scientific research, the strengths and weaknesses of e-learning materials in education, particularly in mathematics classes, are analyzed. We are particularly interested in the advantages and disadvantages of interactive e-learning materials in comparison to traditional learning materials as well as in the quality of the E-um web portal in comparison to similar educational web portals at home and abroad. Theoretical findings are tightly interwoven with examples of teaching practice using the E-um interactive materials. Keywords: education, e-learning, blended learning, interactive e-learning, E-um, e-learning materials, mathematics, mathematics classes Published in DKUM: 15.12.2017; Views: 1796; Downloads: 97
Full text (1,11 MB) This document has many files! More... |
9. Ljubljana-Leoben graph theory seminar : Maribor, 13.-15. September, 2017. Book of abstracts2017, other monographs and other completed works Abstract: The booklet contains the abstracts of the talks given at the 30th Ljubljana-Leoben Graph Theory Seminar that was held at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Maribor between 13-15 September, 2017. The seminar attracted more than 30 participants from eight countries, all of which are researchers in different areas of graph theory. The topics of the talks encompass a wide range of contemporary graph theory research, notably, various types of graph colorings (b-coloring, packing coloring, edge colorings), graph domination (rainbow domination, Grundy domination, graph security), distinguishing problems, algebraic graph theory, graph algorithms, chemical graph theory, coverings, matchings and also some classical extremal problems. Beside the abstracts of the four invited speakers (Csilla Bujtás, Premysl Holub, Jakub Przybyło, Zsolt Tuza), the booklet contains also the abstracts of 18 contributed talks given at the event. Keywords: mathematics, discrete mathematics, graph theory, Ljubljana-Leoben seminar, Maribor, Slovenia Published in DKUM: 08.12.2017; Views: 1625; Downloads: 219
Full text (457,62 KB) This document has many files! More... |
10. Omega polynomial revisitedMircea V. Diudea, Sandi Klavžar, 2010, original scientific article Abstract: Omega polynomial was proposed by Diudea (Omega Polynomial, Carpath. J. Math., 2006, 22, 43-47) to count the opposite topologically parallel edges in graphs, particularly to describe the polyhedral nanostructures. In this paper, the main definitions are re-analyzed and clear relations with other three related polynomials are established. These relations are supported by close formulas and appropriate examples. Keywords: mathematics, chemical graph theory, counting polynomials, Ommega polynomial, Theta polynomial, Pi polynomial, PI index, Sadhana polynomial, Cluj-Ilmenau index, CI index Published in DKUM: 24.08.2017; Views: 1064; Downloads: 120
Full text (263,85 KB) This document has many files! More... |