APPLICATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO EDUCATION IN CROATIA

Nowadays, in a time of rapid expansion of large amounts of information, it is necessary to use information systems in almost all spheres of life, including the education process. Building a large information system is an extensive and complex process and is usually implemented through projects. Using information systems in educational institutions automates the delivery of teaching materials, facilitates information exchange and communication in general, and simplifies the recording and evaluation. In the last thirty years, due to the rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), distance learning has been increasingly developed. Virtual education computeraided network technologies in some areas have completely replaced the previously known methods of distance learning, such as correspondence schools and radio and television educational programs. Besides distance learning, in recent years the ICTs have also been used in Croatia for the development of the National Information System for registration and enrolment in secondary schools and higher education institutions (Croat. NISpVU). At the beginning of 2001 Ministry of Science, Education and Sport (Croat. MZOS) launched the Information System of Higher Education Institutions project (Croat. ISVU) as part of the computerization program of higher education institutions in the Republic of Croatia. It is primarily an online application for the computerization of operations with students at institutions of higher education which allows the editing of the database of students, teachers, courses, curricula, admissions and examinations. In addition, the application supports the standard activities of each institution of higher education, such as enrolments, exam registration, entry of examination marks, issuance of certificates and credentials and, moreover, it automatically generates summary reports, and can simultaneously coordinate the work of several educational institutions. In primary and secondary schools the centralized system of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports called e-Register is used. E-Register system is used to input key data on students and staff in primary and secondary schools, and was conceived as a digital form of school register, otherwise normally filled in manually in schools. At the end of the school year it enables the printing of certificates based on the data on students' achievements. The aim of this research was to assess the extent to which information systems are used at educational institutions in Croatia and for what purposes. The emphasis of the research is particularly placed on use of information systems in educational activities (e-learning). As the information systems are constantly being improved, it implied the analyses of the use of various modules and the development of functionality of such systems. The research was conducted on respondents from primary to secondary schools and universities, namely, among teachers and students who use these information systems on a daily basis. The data collected through questionnaires were analyzed by different methods of descriptive statistics.