The Tropical Prediction Center in Miami, FL keeps a constant watch on oceanic storm-breeding grounds. Once a system with counterclockwise circulation and wind speeds of 39 mph or greater is identified, Center gives storm a name from list for current year. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not included because of scarcity of names beginning with those letters. Names associated with storms that have caused significant death and/or damage are usually retired from list.

For a list of allocated hurricane names visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml.

One final note on origin of word hurricane itself. The native Caribs lived in Yucatan region and worshipped their God of storms which was named Hurican. The Mayans of Guatemala also worshiped Hurican, for them he was God of sky and creator of storms. When region was invaded by Spanish, violent storms started to be named huracans. Since this type of storm does not occur in Europe, it is after contact with this region that English finally adopted hurricane word in their vocabulary.

The Gain Score of Concept Mapping Method is given by GC = CPO - CPR where GC is gain score of Concept Mapping Method CPO is post-test score of Concept Mapping Method CPR is pre-test score of Concept Mapping Method

Analysis of Critical Ratios

Critical Ratios were calculated to test significance of difference between pre-test and post-test scores in Lecture Method and Concept Mapping Method.

Critical Ratio between pre-test and post-test scores in Lecture Method

The Critical Ratio calculated in respect of pre-test and post-test scores of Control Group taught by Lecture Method is given in Table 2.

Table 2

Test MeanS.D.?t? value L.S.

Pretest 8.151.27610.49 P<0.01

Posttest 14.952.519

Where L.S stand for Level of Significance.

The results of Table 2 indicate that there is significant difference between post-test and pre-test scores of students of Control Group taught by Lecture Method. Since post-test score is greater than pre-test score we can conclude that performance of students is significantly higher than their performance in pre-test.

Critical Ratio between pre-test and post-test scores in Concept Mapping Method

The Critical Ratio calculated in respect of pre-test scores of Experimental Group taught by Concept Mapping Method is given in Table 3.

Table 3

TestMeanS.D.?t? value L.S

Pretest9.40.8 19.60 P<0.01

Posttest 19.72.147

The results of Table 3 indicate that there is significant difference between post-test and pre-test scores of students of Experimental Group taught by Concept Mapping Method. Since post-test score is greater than pre-test score, we can conclude that performance of students in post-test is significantly higher than their performance in pre-test.

Analysis of Gain Scores

The Critical Ratio calculated in respect of Gain Scores of two groups subjected to two different methods of teaching is presented in Table 4

Table 4

GroupsMeanS.D.?t? value L.S

L.M6.81.3646.675P<0.01

C.M.M.10.31.792

where L.M. stand for Lecture Method C.M.M. stand for Concept Mapping Method

The results indicate that there is significant difference between gain scores of two groups namely Lecture Method and Concept Mapping Method. Since gain score of Concept Mapping Method is significantly greater than gain score of Lecture Method it may be concluded that teaching through Concept Mapping strategy has helped students in Experimental Group to achieve high scores in test.

Coefficient of Correlation 'r' between gain scores of Lecture Method and Science Attitude Scale

The product moment coefficient of correlation 'r' calculated in respect of gain scores of Lecture Method and Science Attitude Scale (SAS) scores is given in Table 5.

Table 5

Scores MeanS.D. r G.S.L.M.6.81.3640.9181

SAS Score5.85.598

where G.S.L.M. stand for Gain Score of Lecture Method

The high value of positive correlation indicate that Science Attitude and performance of students are positively correlated. That is, students with better attitude in science score better marks in science.

Coefficient of correlation r between gain scores of Concept Mapping Method and Science Attitude Scale

The product moment coefficient of correlation r calculated in respect of gain scores of Concept Mapping Method and Science Attitude Scale is given in Table 6

Table 6

Scores Mean S.D. r

C.M.M. 10.3 1.7920.8049

SASScore 66.4 3.904

where

C.M.M. stand for Concept Mapping Method

The high value of r indicate that Science Attitude and performance of students are positively correlated. That is students with better attitude in science score better marks in science.

The findings of study

1.The gain scores of students taught through Concept Mapping Method is significantly higher than gain score of students taught through Lecture Method.

2.The students with better attitudes in Science have scored better marks in their Achievement Test in Control Group taught by Lecture Method

3.The students with better attitudes in Science have scored better marks in their Achievement Test in Experimental Group taught by Concept Mapping Method

4.It was observed that time factor involved in teaching / learning through Concept Mapping Method was less than time taken for Lecture Method. Hence considerable time could be saved apart from enhancing teaching / learning through Concept Mapping Method.

References

Books

Garrett. Henry E & R.S. Woodworth, (1979). Statistics in Psychology and Education. Hyderabad : International Book Bureau

Novak, Joseph D & D.Bob Gowin (1984) Learning How to Learn. England : Cambridge University Press.

Semiconductor Heterostructures, IC Win Nobel. Press release of Hindu, Oct 19, 2000

Websites

http://www.nobel.se/announcement/2000/phyinfoen.html

The author is a science educationalist as she has done M.Sc. in Physics and Ph.D. in Science Education. She is a gold medalist as she has obtained I Rank during M.Phil (Education) of University of Madras and is a First Prize Winner of the BOLT (Broad Outlook Learner Teacher) Award organized by Air India, The Hindu & Dina Malar and is teaching Physics for Higher Secondary classes in Chennai, India.