Flipped classrooms support student-centred learning and are increasingly being adopted in institutions of higher learning worldwide. This paper is a report on the findings of a two-year funded project conducted on the impact of adopting a flipped classroom approach on first-year undergraduate engineering students’ learning in a New Zealand university. A designbased methodology was adopted to allow for five iterative course refinements. Data collected through student achievement data, surveys, focus group interviews, observations and video analytics of student video-watching behaviour indicated a significant improvement in students’ learning and that they valued the flipped course components such as the lecturercreated instructional videos, in-class problem-solving exercises and continuous assessment in supporting their learning. However not all students prefer learning through this approach and more scaffolding is needed for first-year students to take up responsibility for their own learning. Implications for practice are offered.