Research · 6 min read
Educational Research - First UNIKlasse in Saxony
First UNIKlasse in Saxony, Germany – Innovation Meets Inclusion
A Milestone for Teacher Education
With the opening of the first UNIKlasse in Saxony, Germany, at Chemnitz University of Technology, a model project has been launched that more closely links schools, universities, and educational research. At the Weststraße Elementary School, a dedicated classroom has been equipped to support regular teaching while simultaneously serving as a space for observation and professional reflection in teacher education. Since April 2025, it has been used to authentically document teaching practice and examine it through a research-based lens. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Chair of Primary School Education led by Prof. Dr. Sarah Désirée Lange, and is supported by the State Office for Schools and Education as well as the School Authority of the City of Chemnitz. As the first initiative of its kind in Saxony, the UNIKlasse sets an important precedent for practice-oriented and research-informed teacher education.
“The UNIKlasse allows us to gain deeper insights into inclusive learning processes and to support and evaluate how students develop their competencies in inclusive teaching.”
Prof. Dr. habil. Sarah Désirée Lange, TU Chemnitz
What Is a UNIKlasse?
The term UNIKlasse combines the German words Universität (university) and Klasse (school class). It refers to a collaborative format in which a fully equipped classroom becomes a shared space for teaching, observation, and academic reflection.
In a UNIKlasse, regular lessons are recorded, transmitted in real time to an adjacent observation room, and made available for later analysis. Students in teacher education programs follow the lessons live from the observation room without disrupting classroom activity. The multi-perspective recordings offer a reliable foundation for systematically examining teaching practice and linking it with theoretical content.
Key benefits include:
- increased practical relevance in teacher preparation
- stronger alignment between theory and classroom practice
- impulses for school development, particularly in inclusive education
- structured observation and research-oriented analysis of instructional processes
In addition, the UNIKlasse aims to enhance teaching quality at both university and school levels. Student teachers not only observe live classroom instruction, but also conduct their own teaching trials, which are recorded and later reviewed together with school teachers and university educators.
Technology for Professional Observation
The technical setup was implemented jointly by Mangold International and Chemnitz University of Technology. The goal was to enable reliable, unobtrusive documentation of classroom activities and support precise observation.
The classroom is equipped with:
- four controllable PTZ cameras
- three ceiling microphones and a lavalier microphone for the teacher
- a loudspeaker for the intercom system
The observation room includes:
- a VideoSyncPro Studio workstation for audio and video recording
- VideoSyncPro recording and control software
- two flat-panel monitors, PC peripherals, and a push-to-talk microphone
- a preconfigured system enclosure with all required components
This setup provides clear, synchronous, and uninterrupted audiovisual documentation. The resulting recordings give teaching and research teams a high-quality basis for analyzing instructional processes.
Practice and Reflection in Teacher Education
While lessons are underway, student teachers follow the instruction in real time from the observation room. They see and hear classroom activities from multiple perspectives. Afterwards, the recordings are used to jointly analyze instructional decisions and student responses. In addition to observing regular lessons, student teachers conduct their own teaching attempts, which are likewise recorded and reviewed with teachers and university staff. This approach connects practical experience with scholarly reflection.
Focus on Inclusion and Computer Science Education
The project addresses two central areas. First, it supports the development of inclusive instruction. Children with diverse learning needs are taught together, and teaching strategies are examined with respect to inclusive practice. Second, the project introduces children to foundational aspects of computer science education, including how digital tools work and what computational thinking means in everyday contexts. These topics are embedded in the curriculum in age-appropriate ways.
The Role of Mangold International
Mangold International provided the technical solution for recording and observation. The VideoSyncPro system enables synchronized multi-perspective recordings and direct control of the recording process during instruction. This infrastructure forms a reliable basis for the scientific analysis of teaching and supports both research and university education within the UNIKlasse.
“The collaboration with Mangold has been highly constructive and supportive. The video and audio lab infrastructure provided by Mangold allows us, on the one hand, to experience classroom observation almost as if we were present live, yet without disrupting the lesson. On the other hand, the ability to analyze the recorded video data directly using INTERACT enables us to start working immediately, without the need for time-consuming synchronization of video and audio data, as is often required in other setups.”
Prof. Dr. habil. Sarah Désirée Lange, TU Chemnitz
Benefits for All Participants
The UNIKlasse offers advantages for multiple groups:
- student teachers gain authentic insights into real classroom situations and can analyze them systematically
- university educators use the recordings for seminars and research purposes
- school teachers benefit from professional exchange and collaboration with the university
- children experience instruction that is more closely aligned with their individual learning needs
The UNIKlasse thus brings together schools, teacher education, and research in a shared working environment.
Outlook
The first seminars took place during the 2025 summer term, and the positive feedback from teacher education confirms the value of the format. In the 2025/26 winter term, the project will be expanded to include additional classes and participating teachers. The UNIKlasse now also has access to Mangold INTERACT. With this software, classroom recordings can be systematically coded, annotated, and analyzed for research questions. This allows researchers to examine interactions, instructional phases, and specific behavioral patterns with high precision. As a result, the UNIKlasse gains an additional empirical foundation for studying and reflecting on teaching.
INTERACT: One Software for Your Entire Observational Research Workflow
From audio/video-based content-coding and transcription to analysis - INTERACT has you covered.
Conclusion
The first UNIKlasse in Saxony, Germany, demonstrates how technical infrastructure, pedagogical development, and academic research can be effectively connected. It provides an innovative learning environment for children and a modern training space for future teachers. Mangold International is pleased to support this pioneering project and contribute to the continuing advancement of teacher education.
Further information on the UNIKlasse is available on the project page of Chemnitz University of Technology: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/zlb/professuren/schulpaedagogik_der_primarstufe/#uniklasse
Information on Weststraße Elementary School as a cooperating partner: http://ws.lernsax.de/info/.ws_gen/48/index.htm
Mangold Observation Labs
Mangold Observation Labs are comprehensive turn-key solution for conducting behavioral research and observation.
