Abstract: In order to improve the existing teaching effect of the steel structure bridges course in undergraduate colleges, and adapt to the new trends of information reform and development in the fields of education and construction industry, concerning professional, practical and difficult characteristics of the course, exploratory reform of the course’s teaching practice with combining building information models (BIM) and virtual reality (VR) technology was researched in our school. The BIM technology and VR technology were integrated into all aspects of classroom teaching and practice teaching to establish a new interactive teaching system where students autonomously study and actively explore with teachers collaboration and guidance. Taking a steel truss practical design which is a very important part of the steel structure Bridges course as an example, the necessity, feasibility and effectiveness of introducing BIM and VR technology into the steel structure bridge curriculum reform were demonstrated. The application of Revit, Navisworks and Fuzor software to establish building information model, carry out structural analysis, construction process simulation and collision check, as well as establish the practical path and practice process of virtual reality experience environment was introduced. The difficulties in applying the BIM technology and VR technology into the teaching and practice curriculum of steel bridges were summarized, and some effective countermeasures were proposed in order to optimize the teaching environment. It is hoped that this can break through the current teaching predicament, improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning, and enhance the quality of teaching and learning. At the same time, these useful explorations and practices will provide reference and guide for teaching practice of other similar related courses reform, and point out the direction for the subsequent reform and exploration of curriculum teaching practices.

Key words: steel bridge, BIM technology, VR technology, teaching and practical reform