Jack Schofield channels his lifelong passion for art into groundbreaking learning design, making online learning at USF engaging and relevant for today’s students.
From creating hand-drawn zines, or small magazines, to developing immersive 3D animations and computer graphics, Schofield’s focus on art and design – as much as course content – fuels his innovative approach to learning design, shaping online courses into dynamic, visually engaging experiences for students.
Schofield began his professional journey teaching 3D animation and visual effects at Full Sail University, where he soon discovered fulfillment in watching students grow. “Seeing students’ skills develop was incredibly rewarding,” he said.
When the 2008 economic crash hit, Schofield reevaluated his path. He realized he wanted a role that combined design and creativity with educating students.
“I liked teaching, but I wanted to create as well,” he said. “Learning design seemed like the best of both worlds.”
To move toward this goal, Schofield enrolled in USF’s MS in Learning Design and Technology. Shortly after completing his degree, he landed a role in the USF College of Nursing, designing courses to enhance the learning experience for nursing students.
In 2022, he embarked on a new challenge as a learning designer on the Innovative Education
Digital Learning team at USF’s St. Petersburg campus – a position that perfectly blends
his artistic expression and passion for education.
FAVORITE PROJECTS
Image created by Schofield for Data Visualization (MMC4456) course homepage.
Since joining the Digital Learning team, Schofield has enjoyed working on a wide range of courses across the university. In ‘Oceanography for the Blue Economy,’ Schofield brought learning to life by designing assignments where students role-played as resort managers tackling real-world challenges like hurricanes and red tide, preparing them for marine-focused careers with practical skills. That course is part of the online Master of Business Administration’s optional Blue Economy concentration for students interested in marine-related careers.
“We developed a semester-long assignment where students role-play as managers at a resort and are given real-world challenges to address, such as a hurricane or red tide,” Schofield said. “This made the learning feel relevant, providing immediately applicable skills.”
Another one of his recent favorites is a course on data visualization, which taught students how to analyze data and use tools to present it for easy interpretation.
“We created animated gifs that walked students through importing data into different
software, showing them how to use tools such as Tableau and Power BI,” Schofield said.
“It made the material much more digestible and visually engaging.”
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Schofield takes pride in helping faculty bring their ideas to life and opening their eyes to creative solutions they never knew were possible.
Often, faculty come to Schofield with a concept they’re unsure how to execute. That’s where he shines – transforming ideas into animated, visually dynamic course materials that push the boundaries of digital learning.
“When I give them my ideas, I see their faces light up as they realize the endless possibilities for their courses.”
Once faculty share their ideas for visual elements and the course layout, Schofield creates a theme that aligns with their vision and the overall concept of the course.
Image created by Schofield for Forest Ecology and Management (EVR4163) course storyline presentation.
“As the course development progresses and we refine our ideas, I create animations using custom artwork, storyboard out lectures, and scaffold the content to build a cohesive narrative that aligns with the course and the faculty member’s goals,” he said.
Schofield customizes his approach for each course based on the topic and the objectives of the faculty member or subject matter expert. Whether he’s using the Adobe Creative Suite to create graphics, Articulate Storyline and Rise to create interactive guides and gamification lessons, or Blender to create 3D animations, every piece of content is tailored to the specific needs of each course.
He enjoys being able to flex his creative skills to help enhance course content.
“I get to use my artistic background and focus a lot on creating animations, vector
artworks, and things like that to make the content pop.”
LIFE BEYOND WORK
Outside of work, Schofield channels his creativity through sketching and making zines, a personal project that reflects his love for storytelling and innovation – qualities he brings to every course he designs.
“My wife, Tina, and I started just drawing things that happened during the day. It’s kind of like journaling with art,” he said. “It made me realize that I don’t have to be perfect at everything, and sometimes it’s just about getting the ideas down.”
Schofield also has dreams of scenic travel excursions, particularly a train ride up
the East Coast from Florida to Maine. “I’d love to experience the coastline from a
new perspective, in a way you can’t fully appreciate from driving by car,” he said.
A LIFELONG LEARNER
After relocating from Pennsylvania to Florida as a teenager, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, setting the stage for a dynamic career in learning design and education. Schofield launched a career that would fuse art and education in dynamic ways by teaching 3D animation and visual effects at Full Sail University. Then he earned the MS in Learning Design and Technology from USF.
While those degrees helped start his career, Schofield says he might pursue an additional one, once again looking at USF for his continuing education. He is contemplating a PhD in Curriculum and Design at USF.
“I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively conduct research that will contribute to the growth of learning design,” Schofield said. “By examining past and present practices, I can identify what is working and what needs to change to meet the evolving needs of the field.”
Wherever his journey leads, he’s eager to continue shaping the future of online education and optimizing the learning experience for students across the university.