Since 2004 the International Association “Interactive open schools” (MIOS) is an unavoidable name among many schools in the region of Tuzla, Osijek and Novi Sad. That year a project “The Development of Interactive Open Schools” has started in which 12 schools from Tuzla Canton, Osijek and Novi Sad have participated. The project resulted by establishment of MIOS. For years MIOS works successfully on development of open schools while constantly emphasizing that children are the key actors in the process of school transformation into open schools in community.
The Association proudly highlights that through school development teams and teachers MIOS has supported projects in which thousands of pupils have participated, while the number is increasing annually. The results of their work are various, depending on what they have defined as needs in their respective communities. Pupils have researched traditions of their neighborhoods, researched salt, created spelling books for preschool children, renovated an old community center for teaching process, researched medieval tombstones (stećak), cleaned river banks, prevented bullying etc.
At the same time pupils and teachers have connected with local communities, which have worked together with children on projects for the benefit of the community.
Many teachers have participated in professional education with MIOS where they have been introduced to new teaching methods and innovations in connecting the teaching process with the community as a resource for learning, and which they have used in their work, which is one of the priorities of MIOS.
The Association works as a network and wants to support development of open schools by using methods of interactive learning, to provide professional training about new methods of interactive learning, to provide professional training about new methods of teaching and learning, to promote democratic development and implementation of open school standards in communities as a tool for school development.
MIOS’ work is based on mutual understanding and dialogue among different regions, states and cultures, where MIOS understands the differences as an opportunity for progress. The values MIOS is based on, the organization promotes together with a global family of organizations which build open schools in communities in different parts of the world – in southeast and central Europe, central Asia, south part of Africa, and with partners from Ukraine, Canada, Great Britain, Moldova, Armenia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Russia, Mongolia and Poland with whom MIOS works on topics related to school development in communities.
Mission
International Association “Interactive open schools” (MIOS) strengthens open schools in community as effective organizations of learning and teaching that places pupils in the center of the activity.
Vision
International Association “Interactive open schools” (MIOS) is an agency for development of schools and professional development of teachers, incubator of innovative methods in teaching process with child in the center of the activity.
Goals
- Improvement of development of open schools, guided by the principles of openness, tolerance and innovations.
- Advancement of the learning and teaching processes, in which children will be taught creativity and communication, build interest in democratic living and inclusion into the community and active democratic participation of parents and local community.
- To define MIOS as an agency for development of open schools and professional development of teachers.
