This study used a design based-research (DBR) methodology to examine how an Instructional Systematic Design (ISD) process such as ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) can be employed to develop a web-based module to teach metacognitive learning strategies to students in higher education. The goal of the study was twofold: (a) to examine the use of a systematic ISD process, ADDIE, to develop a web-based module that would be considered valid and effective, and (b) to use the design-based research (DBR) methodology to create relevant outcomes for practitioners in the field of IT while adding to the body of IT research. As in other DBR studies, a large amount of qualitative data was collected. DBR studies usually call for a variety of data collection instrument. In this study, a total of two interviews and twelve questionnaires were used to gather data. The outcomes of the study suggested that using a systematic approach such as ADDIE to develop a valid and effective interactive web-based module was still viable. Additionally, although the outcomes from this study did not form a basis to propose a new ISD model, it highlighted five key activities that could be added to the ADDIE process to accommodate development of a quality interactive web-based product. The five activities are as follows: (1) to conduct a detailed front-end analysis, (2) to develop a prototype early in the process, (3) to integrate formative and summative evaluations, (4) to assimilate iterations of "design-evaluate-refine" cycles throughout the process, and (5) to accommodate flexibility within the process. Furthermore, using the DBR methodology yielded results that added to the body of IT research and it provided support of the use of this methodology within the instructional technology discipline.