Using cloud-computing applications to support collaborative scientific
inquiry: Examining pre-service teachers’ perceived barriers to integration
Abstract
Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration within the scientific community.
Cloud-computing applications, such as Google Drive, can be used to model such collaboration
and support inquiry within the secondary science classroom. Little is known about pre-service
teachers’ beliefs related to the envisioned use of collaborative, cloud-based technologies. These
beliefs may influence future integration. This study finds several first-order barriers, such as
perceptions that these tools would take too much time to use. Second-order barriers include
perceptions that this technology would not promote face-to-face collaboration skills, would
create classroom management challenges, and beliefs that the technology does not help
students understand the nature of science. Suggestions for