In this paper, a computer aided education tool to understand electromagneti
c scattering phenomena is described. ''Real time" solving is performed usin
g the finite element method coupled with a first order absorbing boundary c
ondition, Computed results are displayed as a time animation. Three example
s are presented: radiation from a wire (in order to illustrate propagation
phenomena), scattering by a lossy dielectric cylinder (in order to compare
induced and displacement currents) and scattering by a parallel plate waveg
uide (in order to understand the cutoff phenomenon).