We have evaluated a new pedagogical approach, pure question-based learning, or rather, amodern, digitized version of a really old approach: the Socratic method of learning. The pedagogicalapproach was evaluated and improved using a design-based research methodology. An onlinecourse was developed with pure question-based learning to explain its predecessor: questionbased learning. The course was successively taken by students, researchers, and practitioners, anddiscussed in four group seminars. Feedback from each iteration was integrated into the next versionand the course is still in use, see link below. Results from the design-based research process werepositive (n ≈ 78 participants, over four iterations) with the main negative results coming from theunfamiliarity of the format and feelings of exam-like stress during the first encounter. While purequestion-based learning is new, it builds upon well-tested pedagogical methods. The method hasseveral potential advantages: learning can be broken down into smaller modules, there is lesspassive learning for the students, less learning material needs to be created and AI could be used forthis creation.