How these teaching shifts are helping students thrive
The 2023 NAPLAN results indicated that one in 10 students struggled with basic literacy and numeracy, and another 23 per cent were underperforming for their age.
As educators look for ways to better support today’s learners, even simple changes can make a meaningful impact.
Flinders University research has shown that flipped classrooms and gamified learning are helping to bridge the gap between old methods and modern needs.
A flipped classroom provides recorded lectures for students to watch before class, which allows them to prepare at their own pace.
“It gives them the opportunity to pause, rewind and review the content as often as needed,” says Flinders’ Dr Zamzami Zainuddin, a senior lecturer in Education at Flinders.
“Some students grasp concepts quickly, but others may require more time so by sharing content in advance, all students can come to class with a similar level of preparation.”
Students have responded by saying that flipped learning helps them feel more prepared and less anxious in class, which builds their confidence to engage in discussions and ask questions.
Gamification adds another layer of impact. Platforms such as Kahoot, Quizizz and Class Dojo — along with team challenges and self-paced goals — are turning lessons into interactive experiences. The result? More collaboration, more motivation, and a stronger sense of personal progress.
Mental health program helps kids to speak up and feel stronger
Helping kids manage their mental health can in turn enable them to have a more positive experience at school. And now a new program called ‘Big Talks for Little People’, initially funded by Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and Little Heroes, is making a real difference in how young children understand and care for their mental health and wellbeing.
Developed by Flinders University researchers, the program, linked to the Australian curriculum, uses fun digital animations, games, and activities to help kids learn about emotions, relationships, and wellbeing. Each of the six lessons focuses on an aspect of social and emotional learning - teaching children how to understand their own feelings, respect others, and build healthy friendships.
In the first semester of 2025, over 260 South Australian government primary schools asked for access to the program. The program is now being developed for use in sporting clubs and Out of School Hours Care.
Following its remarkable success in Australia, researchers at Flinders University are collaborating with the University of Thessaly in Greece to roll out a translated, culturally appropriate adapted program for schools. At the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, researchers are collaborating with Turkish colleagues to use a translated version of the program with children traumatised by earthquakes in the region.
At Flinders University, we are dedicated to finding solutions to complex challenges with research that matters. In a groundbreaking initiative, we asked 30,000 Australians from across the nation to voice the problems that matter to them the most in their local communities, resulting in The Flinders Wicked Problems Report. Read more here.
