Having solid knowledge of electronics is of major importance for a Computer Science (CS) student. The means for achieving a good level of understanding, especially of the practical aspects, is an ongoing issue (in the short time frame that is generally allocated for it in a CS program). Due to the applied nature of the subject, the authors consider that a pragmatic practice-based approach is an appropriate solution to complete the technical preparation of the students. Following the general lines of this idea, the authors implemented a series of laboratory works that are designed to ensure that students would get hands-on experience with electronic circuits. The paper will present how these will introduce basic key concepts, bridge the gap between theory and practice and lay down a solid foundation for hardware courses that follow in the CS curriculum.