A key challenge for higher education practitioners is to identify how to construct more engaging online environments that promote key learning skills and encourage self-directed learning. This paper discusses a study that investigated how online university courses could be designed to be more engaging. The study employed a design-based research approach in the form of an interpretive, qualitative study. A draft framework was developed to guide the design of the course and three iterations of the course were implemented and evaluated. Findings suggest that the framework was a successful alternative to models frequently used to develop online courses and provided learners with greater flexibility and control over their learning. The final model and the accompanying guidelines may provide both practical and scientific contributions to existing knowledge for designing and implementing sustainable online learning within a learning management system.