Based on the current situation and development tendency of the steel bridge in China, the current teaching state and shortage of the steel bridge course were analyzed. On the basis of the cultivating mode of applied talents, the preliminary discussion and practice method aiming at the teaching reform of steel bridge course has been put forward. With the example of steel truss bridge teaching, using the question-heuristic teaching mode, learning initiative and self-directed learning ability of the students can then be motivated. With this teaching mode, the students can achieve knowledge by self-directed learning, and at the same time, can enhance their abilities to learn things.