WIP: MEXLEfirst - a Vision for an Inclusive and Impactful Education for the Introduction to Electrical Engineering

Engineering education must adapt to evolving societal and technological demands, addressing challenges like high dropout rates, limited student engagement, and the need for inclusive, hands-on learning environments. MEXLEfirst reimagines the introduction to electrical engineering through a multimodal, scalable, and accessible learning platform. Central to the approach is the Lab-in-a-Box system: a modular hardware kit paired with an integrated Web App that supports both structured and self-guided learning. Unlike existing modular learning systems, MEXLEfirst integrates real-time nodal analysis with image recognition to provide immediate and adaptive feedback on student circuits. This paper outlines MEXLEfirst's hardware architecture, software integration, and pedagogical framework, emphasizing its innovative approach to scalable, accessible, and impactful education in electrical engineering.