2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

RFE-NLI: Shifting Perspectives: Measuring Short-Term Sentiment Change in Engineering Students Through Structured Debate on Plastic Waste from 3D Printing

Presented at NSF Grantees Poster Session II

This study investigates how structured classroom debates can influence engineering students’ short-term sentiment and systems-level understanding of sustainability issues related to plastic waste from 3D printing. Using a mixed-methods inquiry design, students engaged in a guided debate where they constructed and defended claims using the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning framework. Data were collected from initial and post-debate discussion posts, peer responses, and coded reflections. Analysis included sentiment evaluation through linguistic indicators, categorical tracking of argument positions, and content analysis for the integration of Engineering for One Planet sustainability terms such as systems thinking, life cycle, and ethical responsibility. A rubric-based assessment measured the depth of reasoning and conceptual understanding. The results are expected to reveal how participation in structured discourse promotes shifts in attitudes and sustainability framing within a short period of engagement. Findings will inform instructional strategies that embed civil discourse and critical reflection into sustainability education in engineering contexts.

Authors

Dr. Roneisha Wynette Worthy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8093-8570 Kennesaw State University [biography]

Dr. Roneisha Worthy, Ph.D. is currently the Assistant Dean of Student Success within the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University. In addition to her administrative role, she remains actively engaged in teaching and conducts research with a focus on increasing the representation of minorities in Engineering. Before joining the university, Dr. Worthy served as a Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University, contributing to a group funded by the Department of Energy. Her primary research focused on the long-term evaluation of near-surface waste disposal under climate change impacts at nuclear waste sites. With a background as an environmental engineer/planner at Gresham, Smith, and Partners, as well as General Motors Corporation, Dr. Worthy brings a wealth of industry experience to her academic roles. She has a proven track record of addressing critical environmental challenges. In her recent endeavors, Dr. Worthy is actively collaborating with the Lemelson Foundation to institutionalize the Engineering for One Planet framework at Kennesaw State University. This initiative reflects her commitment to sustainability and innovative engineering practices.
Dr. Aaron Lee Adams Kennesaw State University [biography]

Aaron Adams is a Professor and Assistant Chair in the Department of Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University. His work integrates teaching, research, and academic leadership, with a focus on advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and nuclear engineering applications.

Dr. Adams also holds a joint appointment with Idaho National Laboratory, where he collaborates on nuclear materials and reactor-related research, expanding opportunities for student engagement in national lab–level projects.

He is the founder and director of the START Lab at KSU, where he leads research on 3D-printed materials, lattice structures, and energy systems, with applications in nuclear fuel performance and advanced manufacturing.

Before entering academia, he worked in engineering and applied research roles, including experience in industry and national organizations.
Samantha Michelle Johnson Kennesaw State University

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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