CV

    

·      B.Sc. in physics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science (1988)

·      M.Sc. in atomic and molecular physics, thesis " Nonradial Pulsations of Be star ϑ Coronae Borealis" (1994)

·      Visiting scientist at Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana, USA, 2000 – 2002)

·      PhD in physics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, thesis „Comparative study of student understanding of some basic concepts in mechanics and electromagnetism“ (2005)

 

·      Physics teacher at XV. gymnasium, Zagreb (1989 – 1991)

·      Scientific novice, staff associate at University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science (1991 -2006)

·      Senior Lecturer at University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science (2007 -2017)

·      Assistant Professor at University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science (since 2017)

 

Field of research: Physics education research

 

·    Research on student understanding of basic concepts, laws and models in physics

·    Construction and evaluation of educational diagnostic instruments (tests) with the use of Rasch modeling

·    Research on student understanding and use of mathematical tools in physics (e.g. graphs, algebraic equations, proportionality, vectors)

·    Research on the development of student scientific reasoning through physics education

·    Development of physics curriculum in Croatia

 

 Projects

·      Head of the working group for the development and implementation of the State matriculation exam in physics in Croatia (2005-2010)

·      Principal investigator on the scientific project „Physics and mathematics education research“ (funded by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, 2007-2014)

·      Member of the working group for the development of the National Physics Curriculum (2015-2016)

·      Principal investigator on the project „An investigation of student understanding of graphs in physics and mathematics“ (funded by the University of Zagreb, 2013-2014)

·      Collaborator on the project at the University of Vienna „Implementation of Rasch modeling in physics education research“ (funded by the Austrian Academy of Science, under programme Joint Excellence in Science and Humanities 2015)

·      Principal investigator on the scientific project „Effect of inclusion of students' investigative experiments in secondary school teaching on the development of scientific reasoning and conceptual understanding“ (funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, 2018 -2022)

 

 Selected publications

 

Journal articles

Ivanjek, L., Shaffer, P., Planinic, M. & McDermott, L. C. (2020). Probing student understanding of spectra through the use of a typical experiment used in teaching introductory modern physics Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16, 010102

Planinic M., Boone, W. J., Susac, A. & Ivanjek, L. (2019). Rasch analysis in physics education research: Why measurement matters, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 15, 020111

Susac, A., Planinic, M., Klemencic, D. & Milin Sipus, Z. (2018). Using the Rasch model to analyze the test of understanding of vectors, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14, 023101

Susac, A., Bubic, A., Planinic, M., Movre, M. & Palmovic, M. (2018). The role of diagrams in problem solving: an evaluation of eye-tracking parameters as a measure of visual attention Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 15, 013101

Susac, A., Bubic, A., Kazotti, E., Planinic, M. & Palmovic, M. (2018). Student understanding of graph slope and area under a graph: A comparison of physics and nonphysics students, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14, 020109

Susac, A., Bubic, A., Martinjak, P., Planinic, M. & Palmovic, M. (2017). Graphical representations of data improve student understanding of  measurement and uncertainty: An eye-tracking study, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 13, 020125

Jelicic, K., Planinic, M. & Planinsic, G. (2017). Analyzing high school students’ reasoning about electromagnetic induction, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 13, 010112

Ivanjek, L., Susac, A., Planinic, M. , Milin-Sipuš, Z. & Andrasevic, A. (2016). Student reasoning about graphs in different contexts, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 12, 010106.

Ivanjek, L., Shaffer, P.S., McDermott, L.C., Planinic, M., & Veza, D. (2015). Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory spectroscopy. Part I:  Identifying student difficulties with atomic emission spectra, American Journal of Physics, 83 (1), 85-90.

 Ivanjek, L., Shaffer, P.S., McDermott, L.C., Planinic, M., & Veza, D. (2015). Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory spectroscopy. Part II:  Addressing student difficulties with atomic emission spectra, American Journal of Physics, 83 (2), 171-178.

Susac, A., Bubic, A., Kaponja, J., Planinic, M., & Palmovic, M. (2014). Eye movements reveal students' strategies in simple equation solving. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 12 (3) 555- 577.

Susac, A., Bubic, A., Vrbanc  A. & Planinic, M. (2014). Development of abstract mathematical reasoning: the case of algebra, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Vol 8, 679.

Planinic, M., Ivanjek, L., Susac, A. & Milin – Sipus, Z. (2013). Comparison of university students' understanding of graphs in different contexts, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Rev. 9, 020103.

Planinic, M., Milin – Sipus, Z., Katic, H., Susac, A. & Ivanjek, L. (2012) Comparison of student understanding of line graph slope in physics and mathematics, International Journal of Science and Mathematics  Education , 10, 1393–1414.

Vecchiato, G., Susac, A., Margeti, S., De Vico Fallani, F., Maglione, A. G., Supek, S., Planinic, M. & Babiloni, F. (2012). High resolution EEG analysis of power spectral density maps and coherence networks in a proportional reasoning task, Brain Topography 26 (2), 303 – 314.

Planinic, M., Ivanjek, L. & Sušac, A. Rasch model based analysis of the Force Concept Inventory, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res, 6, 010103 (2010).

Planinic, M., Boone, W. J., Krsnik, R. & Beilfuss, M. (2006). Exploring alternative conceptions from Newtonian dynamics and simple DC circuits: Links between item difficulty and item confidence, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 43, 150 - 171.18.

Planinic, M. (2006). Assessment of difficulties of some conceptual areas from the domain of electricity and magnetism with the use of the Conceptual Survey in Electricity and Magnetism,  American Journal of Physics, 74 (12), 1143 - 1148.

 

 

Book chapters

 

Planinic, M., Susac, A., Ivanjek, L. & Milin Sipus, Z. (2019). Comparing Student Understanding of Graphs in Physics and Mathematics in Mathematics in Physics Education, GIREP (Eds. G. Pospiech, M. Michelini, B. Eylon), Springer,  233 - 246.

Ivanjek, L., Planinic, M., Hopf, M.& Susac, A. (2017). Student difficulties with graphs in different contexts, in Cognitive and affective aspects in science education research, Selected papers from the ESERA 2015 Conference (Eds. Hahl, K., Juuti, K., Lampiselka, J., Uitto, A, & Lavonen, J.), Springer, 167 – 178.