The creation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is promoting a change toward a new model of education focused on the student. It is impelling methodological innovation processes in many European universities, leading more teachers to apply methods based on active and cooperative learning in their classrooms. However, the successful implementation of these methodologies involves changes to a significant portion of the teaching process, from instructional design and organization to development of learning materials, and even teacher activity inside the classroom. Three years' experience of introducing active learning techniques in microprocessors courses have made the authors well-acquainted with these challenges. This research analyzes the importance of different factors in achieving greater student engagement and satisfaction with the learning process. (Contains 4 tables.)