Abstract: A study on the cultivation of vocational students’ innovative thinking ability in the basic course of mechanical engineering. This paper explores how the basic course of mechanical engineering can cultivate the innovative thinking ability of vocational education students. Firstly, this paper analyzes the current situation and existing problems of vocational students’ innovative thinking ability cultivation in the basic course of mechanical engineering, and puts forward some methods and strategies for the cultivation of innovative thinking ability, which can effectively cultivate the innovative thinking ability of vocational education students through practical teaching, case teaching and project-driven methods. In addition, some successful cases are introduced, and the experience and enlightenment of these cases are summarized. Finally, the direction and suggestions of future research are put forward to promote the cultivation of innovative thinking ability of vocational education students.