Introduction

This chapter introduces the key themes of this book, explains why improvisation is understood to be a characteristic of great teaching and introduces the concept of the improvising teacher. The aims and objectives of the book are outlined, which is to create a conceptual framework that builds on common sense knowledge of teacher improvisation and reconceptualises our understanding of pedagogy, expertise and professionalism. A first-person account explains the rationale and motivation to undertake research into the improvisatory nature of expert teaching and the chapter concludes with an overview of the contents of the book.