Exploration and Practice of Innovative Teaching of the Course Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

Based on the analysis of the status quo in experimental teaching of soil mechanics, this paper discusses the disadvantages of the content setting and teaching mode. It proposes to reform the experimental teaching of soil mechanics in light of local characteristics with the aim to improve the quality of experimental teaching of soil mechanics, cultivate the hands-on skills and innovation ability of students, and strengthen experiment data processing and analysis. To provoke reflective thoughts and arouse the interests of the students and improve the level of experimental teaching of soil mechanics, the author attaches great importance to the shear strength test of ischolar_main-soil composite by gathering soil samples in the field, preparing remolded soil samples, conducting the test on the basis of direct shear principles of soil, and processing and analyzing the data. To clear up the confusion among students over the calculation of punching shear bearing capacity of shallow foundation, the author independently develops a demo model for punching shear of shallow foundation in light of actual conditions of the school, and uses the model to teach Class 3 and Class 4 students, who major in civil engineering and enrolled in 2013, how the calculate punching shear bearing capacity of foundation and the optimal foundation height. The teaching results show that the two classes do better in calculating the punching shear bearing capacity of shallow foundation during the final exam than Class 1 and Class 2, and the x² test p<0.01. Hence, the self-made demo model for punching shear bearing capacity of shallow foundation can help students learn about the principles of punching shear calculation, and carry out punching shear calculation skillfully. Thus, the teaching pattern both arouses the interest in learning and improves the learning efficiency.