The 23rd Annual History Teacher Conference, an event focusing on innovative ways to teach history and social science, will happen from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday on the third floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The conference is primarily aimed at secondary and middle school level history and social studies teachers, said Charles Titus, assistant professor of history.

Guest speakers specializing in a wide variety of expertise will present sessions centered on the conference theme of “New Dimensions: New Directions: Expanding the Boundaries of Your History and Social Studies Classroom,” a press release stated.

Examples of workshops include “Hands on History: Research for Students,” “Integrating Women and Gender Into the Classroom,” “Strategies for Using State and Local History” and “Readings in American Democracy,” a press release stated.

“From these sessions, people will come away with techniques and ideas of how to teach history and social studies,” Titus said.

A popular session titled “Swap Shop of Ideas” also will be held at the conference. Vince Walk, a Mattoon High School teacher, will host the session.

“People who attended the conference and have ideas or lesson plans can bring them to this session and trade ideas,” Titus said.

A luncheon in the Grand Ballroom is also part of the conference. The luncheon will feature Edna Bay, a trained historian of Africa and associate professor in the graduate institute of the liberal arts at Emory University in Atlanta, a press release said.

More information is available from the School of Continuing Education at 581-5116 or (800) 446-8918.