Mobile Data Collection using ODK & KoboToolBox for Monitoring and Evaluation Course

INTRODUCTION

Data collection and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) have always been an integral part of development work. In the past, these tasks were performed with paper and pen, which made them prone to error, difficult to conduct on a large scale, and high in transaction costs.

ICT tools such as mobile devices and software that allows users to create surveys, collect, manage and upload data to storage facilities in real-time, have reduced the conventional challenges associated with remote data collection and M&E.

If you have always wanted to learn how to collect, manage and analyze project data using mobile devices, this training course is for you. This training course also comes with additional M&E and GIS modules to help participants put the skills acquired into perspective. The GIS module will help participants to work with spatial data.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The course is designed for different representatives: government, project teams, NGOs, multi and bilateral development organizations, consultancies, etc, that are typically employed as project managers and directors, M&E specialists, technical specialists, and researchers.

DURATION

5 Days

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course gives the participants the knowledge, tools and techniques to gather data for project/programme using innovative Mobile data gathering Technology.

At the end of the course, you will become familiar with using ICT tools and methods to conduct data collection, statistical analysis, and reporting.

REQUIREMENTS

This training is designed for participants who are reasonably proficient in English and have basic ICT knowledge.

COURSE CONTENT

Section I

M&E and Mobile data collection

Benefits of Mobile data collection for M&E

Introduction to common mobile based data collection platforms

Challenges of Mobile Based Data Collection

Data aggregation, storage, and dissemination

Section II

Overview of available mobile phone based data collection platforms.

Types of questions and their data types.

Questionnaire/Form logic

Extended data types geoid, image, and multimedia

Survey Authoring

Design forms using a web interfaces using:

Hands-on Exercise

ODK Build

KoboToolBox

Preparing mobile devices for data collection

Installing application: ODK Collect

Configuring the device (Mobile Phones)

Uploading the form into the mobile devices

Hands-on Exercise

Section III

Advanced survey Authoring: XLSForms

Introduction to XLSforms syntax

New data types

Notes and dates

Multiple choice Questions

Multiple Language Support

Hints and Metadata

Hands-on Exercise

Conditional Survey Branching

Required questions

Constraining responses

Skip: Asking Relevant Questions

The specify other

Grouping questions

Skipping many questions at once (Skipping a section)

Repeating a set of questions

Special formatting

Making dynamic calculations

Section IV

Hosting survey data: Cloud Hosting

Google Apps Engine

ODK Aggregate

KoboToolbox

Formhub

Hosting Survey Data: Local Server Hosting

Configuring ODK Aggregate on a local server

Downloading data

Manual download (ODK Briefcase)

Using the online server interface

Hands-on Exercise

Section V (GIS)

Introduction to GIS

Working with Spatial data (GPS Coordinates)

Spatial Mapping

Introduction to Fusion Table

Exporting GPS Coordinates (Google maps) to Fusion tables

Exporting data to Fusion tables using QGIS

Converting data to shape files

Hand-on Exercise

Choice of Platform

Discussion on the Choice of Platform

Integrating Mobile Data Collection tools into projects