The teaching of theoretical knowledge and the teaching of experiments in the course GIS Principles for surveying and mapping engineering is an organic and integrated unity.In the current instruction,this paper aims to address the problem of neglecting the mutual promotion and unity of these two kinds of teaching and the difficulty of meeting the requirements of the construction of"new engineering profession".Based on the existing"instillation by the teacher,imitation by the students"experimental teaching and the theoretical teaching mode which emphasizes knowledge but not competence,and the low efficiency of transferring knowledge to practical competence,we are seeking to explore a teaching mode that will change this situation.Therefore,it can form a project-based teaching mode of"Teacher-guided thinking and exploration",which combines theory teaching with practice,and integrates knowledge,ability and practice.This pattern will enable the experiments in the course to enrich the theory and internalise it into knowledge,make the theoretical knowledge guide the experimental teaching and transform it into practical ability,thus finally achieve the organic unity and deep integration of the theory and experimental teaching of the course GIS Principles.