A goal of engineering and architecture bachelor and master's programs is to provide students with practical and technical preparation in the mechanical characterization of materials and structures: future architects and civil engineers should be able to recognize and describe different construction materials and their behavior when used for building particular types of structures in relation with stability and safety. Effective teaching for this topic requires not only theory--physical laws that describe the behavior of structures and materials (e.g., steel or concrete, beams or slabs)--but also direct experience, in order to see the effects of forces and to observe the different tests required for certification. This article discusses the online multimedia support developed by TEMAS (experimental TEchniques on MAterials and Structures) in order to tackle these issues. The goal is to allow students to see--not only to read about--materials and structures in order to generate an experience that can pinpoint the acquisition of particular and applicative concepts. (Contains 6 figures.)