Douglas Barnes was Reader in Education at the University of Leeds until his retirement in 1989, having moved to Leeds after seventeen years teaching English in high schools. His research into the role of spoken and written language in learning across the curriculum led to the publication of books such as Language, the Learner and the School, (as co-author), From Communication to Curriculum, Practical Curriculum Study, and the present volume.

Frankie Todd retired as Director of Continuing Professional Education and Head of that Department at the University of Leeds. Her published work includes research on planning professional development, a study of collaborative learning in higher education, and research on the role of dialogue in police professional learning in two Canadian cities.