May 25, 2026
Review: ForUS University School Research Unit at the IALS Annual Conference in Jyväskylä, Finland
Impressive investments in school education! That's what members of the ForUS University School Research Unit observed, among other things, at the University of Jyväskylä’s teacher training school, the Jyväskylä Normal School. Here, approximately 800 students study from their first year through to graduation. Like all 10 Finnish laboratory schools, the school works closely with the university.
At the annual conference of the International Association of Laboratory Schools (IALS) in April 2026, in addition to school visits and classroom observations, there were lots of opportunities to discuss the conference theme Teaching for Tomorrow: Research-Based Practice and Global Collaboration in Laboratory Schools with approximately 130 international colleagues from educational research and school practice. For the first time the annual laboratory school meeting took place outside North America.
Integrating Theory and Practice in Teacher Education with ALSO
Prof. Anke Langner and Dr. Marlis Pesch presented the Alternative Teaching Internship ALSO as a transfer project from the Dresden University School school trial. In this new semester-long practicum format at TU Dresden, the goal is to achieve an intensive integration of theory and practice early in the teacher education program through a closely supervised practicum phase spanning several months. Participating students also implement innovative teaching and learning methods from the Dresden shool trial at schools in rural areas that more strongly promote self-regulated learning (SRL).
Not only unique in Germany—the Dresden University School pilot project
It came as a surprise to the TUD researchers that none of the laboratory schools in the IALS network featured a similarly close integration of educational research and school practice for data-driven school development. Such a real-world laboratory—which tests and explores what a school might look like that places every single student at the center of the school’s organization, from the first grade through graduation—is not only unique in Germany but also seems to have no parallel anywhere in the world.
Further links to the event
About the University School Dresden
Lessons according to a timetable - not in Dresden! There, the pupils are allowed to decide for themselves how the school day runs. logo! reporter Simone checked it out. © logo! Nachrichten
Dresden University School is a joint project of the state capital of Dresden and the TUD Dresden University of Technology. It is a public and free community school run by the city, where innovative forms of teaching and learning are tested under academic supervision. In addition, it is a training school for future teachers and, in the future, a further education school for teachers. The ForUS - University School Research Unit at TU Dresden is providing scientific support for the school trial.
Information on the research project at TU Dresden: https: //tu-dresden.de/gsw/unischule
Information on the University School Dresden: http://universitaetsschule.org
You can find insights into the University School Dresden research project and everyday school life on various social media channels under @unischuleTUD: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. News from the University School Dresden project can be found regularly in the GSW newsletter.