The module of Mechanical Principles aims to foster students’ abilities both of mechanical design and creative thinking, by providing students with a foundation in the knowledge and principles of mechanical mechanisms. Focusing on the teaching and learning of the design and analysis of linkage mechanisms in the module, this paper proposes a new linkage mechanism with controllable linkage length. The new linkage mechanism is synthesized by adding length-control electromechanical components on the traditional linkage mechanisms with constant linkage length. The motion characteristics of the new linkage mechanism is verified by experimental testing and Matlab simulations. The new linkage mechanism is employ as an experimental setup in the lectures of Mechanical Principles, and the application can foster student creative thinking ability to meet the requirements of the New Engineering education.