In an ever-evolving world of education, the importance of reflection and research-informed teaching has never been more urgent. That’s why the Teachers Research! Online 2025 conference—held on March 29–30, 2025—was such a powerful and timely gathering. Co-hosted by IATEFL ReSIG and MenTRnet, this global online event marked the 11th edition (and the 4th hosted virtually) of a conference that continues to champion the voices of teachers as researchers, mentors, and change-makers.
🔍 A Global Celebration of Classroom-Based Research
From pre-service teachers to seasoned educators, this year’s participants came from every corner of the globe—China, India, the UK, Turkey, Thailand, Argentina, Cameroon, Nigeria and more. With over 95 teachers and 35 mentors taking part, the energy was electric, the conversations rich, and the learning deeply meaningful.
At the heart of the event was a simple but powerful idea: teachers should be knowledge creators—for themselves, for their students, and for their schools. And the conference achieved just that. Through presentations, discussion spaces, and collaborative sessions, participants explored real-world classroom challenges, shared research findings, and reflected on their journeys as teacher-researchers and mentors.
💬 Beyond Presentations: Real Conversations
One of the standout features was the interactive discussions in breakout rooms following each teacher-research presentation. These allowed attendees to speak directly with presenters—asking questions, sharing insights, and digging deeper into the context behind the research. This turned the traditional “sit-and-listen” format into something far more dynamic and personal.
Each parallel session ended with a 15-minute reflection space, led by the session chair. Here, both the teacher-researchers and their mentors discussed the challenges they faced, the strategies they tried, and what they learned from the process. These honest, open conversations made space for both vulnerability and growth—a powerful combination.
🤝 Mentoring in Focus: Learning from Each Other
This year’s plenary sessions placing mentors and teacher-researchers at centre-stage were especially enriching. Whether you were a mentor or a teacher, there was something to take away—practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and reaffirmation that we are stronger when we learn together.
By bringing mentoring into the spotlight, the event reminded us that support and collaboration are central to meaningful teacher development. The conference didn’t just offer knowledge—it decentred it, letting it flow from teacher to teacher, mentor to mentor, across borders and backgrounds. This was knowledge created by teachers, for teachers—shared from the ground up.
📢 What’s Next?
Now that TR! Online 2025 has wrapped up, what comes next?
Well, we’re not done yet! We’ve witnessed so many compelling examples of Exploratory Action Research (EAR) and Action Research (AR)—and now it’s time to share those stories even more widely. The MenTRnet community is already gearing up for follow-up events, publications, and mentoring showcases to support those who want to disseminate their work further.
📌 Interested in staying involved? Visit mentrnet.net and become part of a growing, global community of educators passionate about research and professional development.
🙌 Join Us for TR! Online 2026
Of course, keeping the momentum going takes people—and that’s where you come in. We’re looking for volunteers to help us bring TR! Online 2026 to life. If you’ve been inspired by the event and would like to be a part of organizing the next one, we’d love to hear from you!
📧 Get in touch with us at:
- Vanita Chopra: [email protected]
- Sidney Martin Morta [email protected]
Let’s keep empowering teachers through research — together!
About the Author(s)
Vanita Chpora
Vanita Chopra has been an English language and Education consultant with the British Council, India, since 2017 and has 17+ years of experience in teacher education. She previously worked as an Assistant Professor in the teacher education department of Delhi University colleges. She enjoys exploring different CPD activities as a continuous learner. She has authored two books and published research on mentoring TR, language assessment, and teacher development. Her research interests include mentoring teacher research, language pedagogy, assessment, and teacher capacity building. She enjoys travelling, yoga, nature, fitness ventures, reading, and watching biopics for inspiration.
Sidney Martin
Sidney Martin is a teacher of English language at the Official School of Languages in Tarragona (www.eoitarragona.cat) and an online tutor at the Institut Obert de Catalunya (ioc.xtec.cat/educacio/eoi). He is interested in how students and teachers deal with feedback delivery and reception in both face-to-face and online environments, more specifically in language learning. He is also interested in pronunciation in second language learning and teaching.
The author’s report beautifully captured the spirit of the conference—highlighting teacher agency, reflective practice, and the global impact of research-informed teaching.