Abstract: Aligned with engineering education accreditation standards, our research team developed the “experimental structural mechanics” course to address the lack of experimental components and limited teaching effectiveness in traditional “structural mechanics” programs. The reformed curriculum establishes a comprehensive “experiment-theory-innovation” pedagogical framework. The course features a self-developed modular testing platform and five experiment categories, including statically determinate/indeterminate structure analysis and reciprocal theorem validation. It adopts a flexible, student-driven learning model to stimulate innovation. By redefining instructor roles, implementing a diversified evaluation framework, and publishing China’s first specialized textbook for the discipline, the program enhances students’ engineering practice skills and self-learning abilities. Outcomes include national innovation awards for students, recognition as a Shandong Province First-Class Undergraduate Course, and institutional teaching excellence awards. This model offers a scalable solution for foundational engineering course reform, bridging theory and practical application.