Abstract: In order to improve the teaching effect of the course of "medicinal botany", this paper tries to apply the semi-open teaching model into the teaching practice of this course, taking the chapter of "organs of plants" as an example. In the semi-open model, teachers guide students to learn and consolidate basic concepts describing the characteristics of plant organs by themselves, using the plant materials around. Application of the new teaching mode boosted the enthusiasm of the students‘learning, trained students’ ability to think independently and gain knowledge, and improved the students′ learning achievement. Students were actively willing to participate in the autonomous learning under the semi-open mode, and hope to extend this model into more practice of courses teaching.

Key words: semi-open model, medical botany, course teaching