ODK for Mobile Data Collection Training Course

Course Overview

The ODK for Mobile Data Collection Training Course is designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and hands-on skills in using Open Data Kit (ODK) for digital data collection, mobile survey programming, field data management, and real-time monitoring. As organizations increasingly adopt digital transformation and evidence-based decision-making approaches, mobile data collection technologies have become essential for research, monitoring and evaluation, public health surveillance, humanitarian assessments, market research, and development programming. This course provides participants with comprehensive knowledge of designing, deploying, and managing electronic data collection systems using ODK.

The course introduces participants to modern mobile data collection methodologies, including electronic form design, skip logic, validation rules, geospatial data collection, multimedia integration, offline and online data synchronization, and server administration. Participants will gain practical experience in building electronic questionnaires, deploying surveys on mobile devices, supervising field enumerators, monitoring survey progress, and managing high-quality datasets for reporting and decision-making. The training emphasizes practical applications that improve efficiency, minimize errors, and accelerate data-driven interventions.

Organizations today require accurate, timely, and reliable information to improve program planning, monitoring, and resource allocation. ODK provides an open-source, flexible, and scalable platform capable of supporting complex surveys in both connected and low-connectivity environments. The course enables participants to develop professional electronic questionnaires, implement large-scale data collection exercises, monitor field operations in real time, and integrate collected data into organizational information systems and analytical platforms.

Through expert presentations, practical exercises, case studies, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work, participants will develop competencies in mobile data collection technologies, digital survey management, data quality assurance, real-time analytics, and reporting. Upon successful completion, participants will possess the skills required to implement and manage mobile data collection projects across diverse sectors and geographical settings.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1.     Understand the principles and architecture of Open Data Kit (ODK).

2.     Design and develop electronic questionnaires using ODK tools.

3.     Configure skip logic, constraints, and validation rules.

4.     Deploy surveys on smartphones and tablets.

5.     Collect geospatial and multimedia data efficiently.

6.     Configure ODK servers and manage user permissions.

7.     Monitor field data collection activities in real time.

8.     Apply data quality assurance and cleaning techniques.

9.     Export and integrate data with analytical software.

10.  Design and manage digital data collection projects effectively.

Organizational Benefits

Organizations participating in this training will be able to:

1.     Reduce costs associated with paper-based surveys.

2.     Improve the speed and accuracy of data collection.

3.     Enhance real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities.

4.     Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems.

5.     Improve data quality and validation mechanisms.

6.     Increase accountability and field supervision efficiency.

7.     Facilitate evidence-based planning and decision-making.

8.     Improve emergency assessments and rapid response activities.

9.     Enhance organizational digital transformation initiatives.

10.  Strengthen research and development data management systems.

Target Participants

This course is suitable for:

·       Monitoring and Evaluation Officers

·       Researchers and Research Assistants

·       Data Managers and Data Analysts

·       Enumerators and Field Supervisors

·       Humanitarian and Development Professionals

·       Public Health Practitioners

·       Government Planning Officers

·       Project Managers and Coordinators

·       NGO Program Officers

·       Survey Consultants

·       Information Management Specialists

·       Academic Researchers and Students

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to ODK and Mobile Data Collection

·       Overview of mobile data collection technologies

·       Introduction to ODK ecosystem and architecture

·       Components of ODK Collect, ODK Central, and XLSForm

·       Advantages of digital data collection systems

·       Mobile survey workflows and implementation strategies

·       General Case Study: Baseline assessment for a community development project

Module 2: Designing Electronic Questionnaires Using XLSForms

·       Principles of questionnaire design

·       Creating survey forms using XLSForm standards

·       Question types and response formats

·       Survey structure and organization

·       Metadata and form settings

·       General Case Study: Household socioeconomic survey development

Module 3: Advanced Form Programming and Validation

·       Skip logic and conditional branching

·       Validation rules and data constraints

·       Calculations and derived variables

·       Repeating groups and nested forms

·       Multilingual survey design techniques

·       General Case Study: Public health assessment questionnaire

Module 4: Mobile Data Collection and Field Deployment

·       Installation and configuration of ODK Collect

·       Deploying forms to mobile devices

·       Offline and online data collection methods

·       Collecting GPS coordinates and multimedia data

·       Managing field enumerators and survey assignments

·       General Case Study: Humanitarian needs assessment exercise

Module 5: Data Management and Real-Time Monitoring

·       Configuring ODK Central server

·       User management and permissions administration

·       Submission synchronization and management

·       Real-time monitoring dashboards

·       Data quality assurance procedures

·       General Case Study: Monitoring a national survey implementation project

Module 6: Data Export, Analysis, and Reporting

·       Exporting data into various analytical formats

·       Data cleaning and preparation techniques

·       Integrating ODK data with statistical software

·       Generating summary reports and dashboards

·       Developing evidence-based reporting systems

·       General Case Study: Monitoring and evaluation reporting framework for development projects

General Information

1.     Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.

2.     Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.

3.     Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.

4.     Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).

5.     Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.

6.     Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.

7.     Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.

8.     Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.

9.     Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.

10.  Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.

11.  Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.

12.  Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.

13.  Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.

14.  Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.