[469 Clip] Revamped E-class, Student Satisfaction Still Lacking

   This year, Dongguk University’s primary Learning Management System (LMS), E-class, was officially upgraded and rebranded, moving from “E-class 2” to a newly enhanced version. The transition was part of the university’s Open Online Learning Platform Development Project and was launched at the start of the 2025 academic year. According to the university, the purpose of the overhaul was to provide a more efficient and user-friendly learning environment. However, feedback from actual users suggests that the outcome has not fully met expectations.

Purpose of the system upgrade

   According to the Information Management Office, the system update was a core infrastructure improvement aimed at enhancing the quality of the digital learning environment. The main goals included improving mobile accessibility, refining the user interface and user experience, integrating Single Sign-On with the university portal, and streamlining tools for managing course content and attendance.

   To support the transition, the university provided user manuals and instructional videos, particularly targeting instructors. Meanwhile, the previous version of E-class remains accessible through a separate URL for one year, allowing continued access to past materials before eventual deletion.

Student-reported issues

   Despite the intended improvements, students have reported a number of usability issues. One of the most frequently mentioned concerns involves the notification system. When multiple announcements or assignments are posted, opening just one notification automatically marks all others as read and removes them from view. As a result, students must access the full notification history manually to confirm what they may have missed. This differs from the previous system, which allowed for more precise management of individual alerts.

   Assignment display is another point of confusion. Submitted assignments remain visible on the main assignment page, causing students to repeatedly verify whether their work has been properly uploaded. Previously, submitted assignments would disappear from the list, making it easier to track remaining tasks. The lack of clear separation between completed and pending items has led to additional frustration.

   The process for checking attendance in online lectures has also become more cumbersome. Students must navigate through multiple tabs—from “Integrated Attendance” to “Cyber Lecture Attendance”—to verify lecture completion. Many described this as unnecessarily complicated compared to the previous version, where attendance was immediately visible on the first page.

   In addition, students have raised concerns about slow loading times, upload errors, and limited functionality on mobile devices. While certain aspects of the platform have improved, some user experience appears to have been negatively affected in key areas.

   The E-class upgrade was clearly intended to create a more modern and functional learning environment. However, repeated feedback from students indicates that the changes have introduced new challenges while failing to fully resolve longstanding issues. Moving forward, Dongguk University is advised to closely monitor actual user experiences and incorporate student feedback more actively. Rather than initiating another large-scale overhaul, the university should focus on targeted refinements and consistent system maintenance.