Information and communication technologies (ICT) are an integral part of everyday life including the teaching process. The level of teaching equipment in Croatian schools ranges from chalk and board to the latest smartboards and other equipment. High level of ICT is foreseen as a prerequisite for successful teaching and, as such, an integral tool of contemporary schools. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the application of ICT tools in teaching primary school mathematics. The students' success in the mathematics exam, in the Linear function unit, was evaluated in two groups of 7th grade students of the primary school Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Zagreb, based on their test scores. The first group, 90 students, attended mathematics classes without ICT tools in teaching (school years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010). The second group, 110 students, (school years 2012/1013 and 2013/2014) attended mathematics classes with an extensive use of ICT in the teaching process. The first group of students successfully solved (4826)% of the Linear function test, while the second group successfully solved (5826)% of the same test. The results showed a significantly higher solving rate in the group of students who attended classes in mathematics where ICT was used in teaching (p=0.005). ICT supported mathematics classes, in the example of Linear function unit, significantly improved students' results in written exams. The results of this study support the hypothesis that using ICT in teaching leads to better learning and knowledge acquisition in primary schools. Key words: information support; mathematics; teaching; teaching process.---SažetakInformacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije (IKT) sastavni su dio svakodnevnice pa tako i nastavnih procesa. Razina opremljenosti u hrvatskim kolama varira od krede i ploče do najsuvremenijih pametnih ploča i opreme, no može se očekivati da će uskoro visoka razina IKT postati standard u svim kolama te neophodan dio nastavnih procesa. Svrha je ovog istraživanja ispitati utjecaj primjene IKT u nastavi matematike na uspjenost učenika na pismenom ispitu iz matematike, u nastavnoj cjelini Linearna funkcija. Za potrebe ovog istraživanja analizirani su rezultati pismenog ispita dvije skupine učenika 7. razreda osnovne kole Josipa Jurja Strossmayera iz Zagreba. Prva skupina sastoji se od 90 učenika u k. god. 2008./2009. i 2009./2010. koji su pohađali nastavu matematike bez upotrebe IKT. Druga je skupina od 110 učenika u k. god. 2012./1013. i 2013./2014., uz intenzivnu upotrebu IKT. Postotak rijeenosti kod učenika prve skupine bio je (4826) %, a kod druge je skupine bio (5826) %. Rezultati su pokazali statistički značajno bolje rezultate testa učenika koji su pohađali nastavu matematike s intenzivnom upotrebom IKT-a u nastavi (p=0,005). Primjenom IKT-a u nastavi matematike, na primjeru nastavne cjeline Linearna funkcija, poboljan je uspjeh učenika na pismenim ispitima, to govori u prilog boljem usvajanju nastavnih sadržaja uz primjenu nastavnih pomagala podržanih IKT-om.Ključne riječi: informacijska potpora; matematika; nastava; nastavni proces

The paper proposes an approach to development of higher education enrollment policies based on system dynamics as an appropriate mathematical modelling method for modelling nonlinearity, time delays and feedback loops. The model of teacher education students’ population in Croatia is presented, to enhance forecasting, planning and support the decision-making process. Simulation is conducted for the period from 2016 to 2021 based on historical data for the period from 2010 to 2015. The results show that system dynamics modelling can support decision making regarding enrollment policies by presenting simulated data and providing recommendations to teacher education faculties and education authorities.