This　paper　presents　a　novel　experiment　teaching　scheme　for　the　control　plane　development　of　northbound　applications　in　software　defined　networking　(SDN).　This　scheme　is　designed　to　support　the　experiments　of　two　commonly-used　network　applications,　i.e.,　load　balancing　and　network　function　virtualization.　It　is　deployed　on　a　virtual　simulation　experiment　environment,　which　can　be　easily　established　in　a　timely　manner.　We　have　successfully　integrated　this　experiment　teaching　scheme　into　the　course　of　SDN　in　our　university.　With　the　support　of　this　scheme,　we　not　only　provide　students　with　meaningful　practical　guidance　to　learn　northbound　applications,　but　also　help　them　better　understand　the　programmable　connotation　of　SDN.　Furthermore,　students　can　exploit　the　advantages　of　SDN　to　deploy　new　network　services　based　on　our　proposed　scheme,　such　that　their　ability　of　building　practical　and　innovative　network　applications　is　enhanced.　©　2019　IEEE.