In the present study, we introduce a FPGA‐based educational system called RELI‐EVA (REconfigurable‐Logic‐based system for Implementation and Evaluation of real‐time Video processing and analysis of Algorithms), which has been integrated into a Computer and Electronic Engineering course by following the “learning‐by‐doing” approach. Therefore, the aim of this system is to provide engineering students with an intuitive tool in order to understand the main algorithms for real‐time video processing and create and test some new algorithms before their real implementation in physical systems. Moreover, with the aim of demonstrating the potential of the developed FPGA‐based system, the development of a practical example for edge detection is presented in order to support the theoretical basis of real‐time video processing. Additionally, a qualitative research method was followed to evaluate the proposed tool. A high percentage of the surveyed students corroborated the success of RELI‐EVA as part of an engineering course. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 25:376–391, 2017; View this article online at http://www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI