This study aimed to compare (1) nursing students’ knowledge in the gerontological nursing course and (2) self-directed learning (SDL) characteristics before and after a flipped classroom combined with case study application approach. A quasi-experimental, one group pretest-posttest design was employed. The sample consisted of 74 third-year nursing students enrolled in the Gerontological Nursing course (NUR3205) during the second semester of the 2025 academic year at the Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, selected by purposive sampling. Instruments included a 20-item four-option multiplechoice knowledge test and a 50-item, 8-dimension SDL questionnaire, both with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability of 0.86. The intervention was implemented over 2 weeks, with students studying foundational content through Google Classroom before class and engaging in analysis of case studies alongside concept mapping during class, covering nursing care for older adults with geriatric syndromes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Paired t-test at a significance level of .05. The results revealed that nursing students had a significantly higher mean knowledge score after the intervention (Mean = 16.45, SD = 2.73) than before (Mean = 13.12, SD = 2.24) (t = 7.186, p < .001), representing a 25.38% increase. The overall mean SDL score after the intervention (Mean = 208.68, SD = 28.46) was also significantly higher than before (Mean = 175.14, SD = 24.28) (t = 12.948, p < .001). All 8 SDL dimensions showed statistically significant improvement (p < .001), with the highest postintervention score in the Learning Awareness dimension (Mean = 29.03) and the lowest in the Desire to Learn dimension (Mean = 24.68). Accordingly, the flipped classroom combined with case study application is an effective instructional approach for simultaneously developing both knowledge and SDL characteristics among nursing students. It is recommended that this instructional model be adapted for other courses by preparing case studies aligned with real clinical situations to foster critical thinking and self-directed learning as essential competencies of professional nurses. Future research should employ a controlled experimental design with long-term follow-up to confirm the sustainability of learning outcomes.
Keywords: Flipped Classroom, Case-based Learning, Self-Directed Learning, Knowledge, Gerontological Nursing