When Phillip Alcock was a young student in Australia, he considered long hours in a classroom a unique form of torture. Struggling with ADHD, Anxiety, and suspected dyslexia, he felt different from the other kids, and his condition led to a sense of isolation.
These early, painful experiences inspired him to become a better educator, and he has succeeded.
Alcock is an education specialist and the young founder of AIxPBL, a company that approaches inclusive education through project-based learning. It uses artificial intelligence to help design a more engaging, personalized, and ethical program.
“For much of my life, I didn’t fit the standard molds of success. That sense of not quite belonging, while challenging, was also strangely freeing,” Alcock said.
He questioned why he was forcing himself down a conventional path that didn’t feel designed for people like him.
“Being an outsider drew me to innovative thinking in education, specifically project-based and game-based learning. These methods made intuitive sense to me. Understanding those approaches from the inside out became my mission, driven by a deep need to understand others and myself.”
A primary school teacher recognized Alcock’s potential and the unique way neurodivergence shaped his thought process.
His teacher said to him, “Your brain works differently, and that difference makes your research shine.”
Since then, Alcock has learned to celebrate his differences. He was inspired by history’s “oddballs,” like Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci. These quirky geniuses spoke to him.
“Witnessing them succeed because of, not despite, their differences was a lightbulb moment. It hinted that being different held power, not just disadvantage.”
Alcock emphasizes that neurodivergent individuals must understand that the world doesn’t cater to individuality. Teachers will rarely point out a student’s unconventional strengths, so neurodivergent students must do their own self-analysis.
“Are you a whiz at spotting patterns? Do you recognize how crowds cause meltdowns? Own that skill!” Alcock said.
Throughout his professional career, Alcock has gained over ten years of experience teaching elementary school and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Australia, Vietnam, and Mexico.
Unsurprisingly, a person like Phillip, who experienced only conventional ways of learning, has dedicated his life to helping students embrace their strengths and creating classrooms that cater to their individuality.
“Celebrate your differences,” Alcock said. “There’s no one right way to have a brain. Embracing your uniqueness is freedom and helps you find where you thrive. It’s tough, but neurodiverse paths are going to look different. Let go of conventional goals. Chart your course. Trying to be neurotypical is a pointless waste of a beautiful, divergent mind.”
About the Author:
John Stanton