The finite element method is now a standard numerical procedure for solving electric or magnetic fields. In this paper, we describe a simple interactive finite element processor used in a student environment to teach the finite element method, and its use in the design of electrical devices. This processor allows students to describe the main finite element concepts (mesh generation, region properties, boundary conditions) and to realise some numerical experiments in field computation. A particular attention is given to the influence of the finite elment discretization on the quality of the field solution. This processor is also a good introduction to CAD techniques. Students describe the device under study by means of interactive graphic procedures using a graphic display and digitizer. The canonical structure of the geometric and mesh data base is an example of the use of the modern concepts in data structures. The geometric structure chosen allows quick interactive modification of the representation of the device under study. Because this processor is especially built for teaching purposes, it is very easy to learn and to use. This point is very essential and will be developed in the full paper.