In geography education, practical teaching is crucial for cultivating students' comprehensive abilities. With the continuous development of information technology, virtual simulation technology is attracting increasing academic attention. This study aims to explore the integration effects of online and offline teaching in geography practical teaching and changes in student needs. Questionnaire surveys were conducted on geography majors at a certain university in 2022 and 2024, and the data were analysed for correlations. The results indicate that students prefer practical teaching, with increased recognition of online simulation teaching, while the demand for offline teaching persists, and hybrid teaching models are more widely accepted. Overall, online virtual simulation practical teaching and offline concentrated practical teaching each have their advantages, and their organic integration can enhance teaching effectiveness; teachers should optimise teaching methods based on student needs to promote the development of geography practical teaching and provide references for geography practical course reforms.

Lan Li, Yumeng Wang, Yushan Wang, Jingzhi Wang. Virtual Simulation-enabled Online-Offline Blended Practical Teaching of Biogeography. Frontiers in Educational Research (2026), Vol. 9, Issue 5: 115-126. https://doi.org/10.25236/FER.2026.090516.

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