I chose Jamie’s Task 1 to reflect on because we are colleagues at Maywood Community School and often collaborate closely, especially when team teaching a variety of subjects, including PHE. One thing we both carry in our daily work bags is a whistle on a lanyard. This got me thinking—could a whistle be considered a text technology?
After reflecting on the prompt proposed by Ernesto, I believe that a whistle can be seen as a form of text technology, particularly for conveying conventional meaning. Having played competitive soccer my entire life, I’ve come to understand the various whistle signals used in the sport. Each whistle sound carries a specific and agreed-upon message for players, coaches, and referees. For instance, a short, sharp whistle indicates a foul and stops play immediately, while one long whistle signals a penalty kick.
Jamie and I use a similar system to manage sports and ensure safe play with 60 intermediate students. For example, in our practice, one whistle means “stop,” two whistles mean “stop and sit down,” and three whistles mean “stop and line up.” This shared understanding of whistle signals allows us to maintain order and safety during activities, reinforcing how whistles serve as a meaningful communication tool.