Laboratory-based courses play a significant role in engineering education. Given the role of electronics in engineering and technology, laboratory experiments and circuit simulation IT tools are used in their teaching in several academic institutions. This paper discusses the characteristics and benefits of both methods. The content and structure of an introductory laboratory course in analog electronics is described. The aim of the course is a better understanding of the basic principles of analog electronic circuits without the need of specific technical and computer skills. The impact of the proposed method on the learning process is investigated. The evaluation of our proposal was based on both quantitative and qualitative data. Interesting conclusions about the teaching of electronics in undergraduate education are finally drawn.