Abstract Nowadays high schools should teach students how to use the software that they will use at work. This article shows the importance to promote a closer relationship between the engineering computer programs offered by companies like Aspen Technology Inc., and the chemical engineering students. The methodology consists of creating a tutorial which illustrates, in an interesting way, subjects through engineering software packages. The main theme treated in this tutorial is distillation column simulation and design; it also includes a brief look into distillation column control by means of dynamic simulations. This article presents an interactive guide with three case studies, where the subjects of design and control for a binary simple system and the development of a simulation for a complex ternary system are studied. These guides were implemented in Separation Processes and Process Design courses and the guide evaluation results show an acceptance by the students. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 621–630, 2011