Training on Mobile Data Collection using ODK (Open Data Kit)

Module 1: Introduction to Mobile Data Collection and ODK Basics

• Introduction to mobile phone data collection

• Common mobile-based data collection platforms

• Data aggregation, storage, and dissemination

• Understanding question types and forming a questionnaire

• Introduction to Open Data Kit (ODK)

  • Components of ODK: ODK Form, ODK Collect Application Interface, ODK Aggregate, ODK Manage

  • ODK platforms and formats

• Practical Exercise: Explore and navigate ODK Collect interface and basic form creation

• Case Study: Successful mobile data collection in field surveys

Module 2: Setting up ODK Collect and Aggregate Server

• ODK Collect Installation from Google Play

• Manual installation of ODK

• ODK Collect Menus, Settings, and Security

• Best practices for ODK Collect

• ODK Aggregate Server

  • Setting up your own Aggregate server using Google App Engine

  • Configuring ODK Aggregate Server

  • Setting up a local server

  • Uploading forms to Aggregate Server

  • Managing forms and submitted data in Aggregate

  • Administering Aggregate

• Practical Exercise: Install ODK Collect and set up a local Aggregate server

• Case Study: Implementing ODK Aggregate in a community survey

Module 3: Designing and Creating Forms

• Using ODK Build

  • Designing forms directly on ODK Build, KoboForm Builder, PurcForms

  • Uploading forms to Aggregate

  • Form properties

• Using XLSForm

  • Introduction to XLSForm

  • Components, question types, logic, styling, language

  • Form operators, functions, constraints & skips, validation

  • Uploading forms to Aggregate Server

• Practical Exercise: Create and upload a sample survey form using ODK Build and XLSForm

• Case Study: Form design for accurate data collection in health surveys

Module 4: Field Data Collection with ODK Collect

• Filling forms in ODK Collect

• Managing forms in ODK Collect

• Collecting different types of data (text, numeric, GPS, media)

• Advanced use and best practices

• Submitting data to ODK Aggregate

• Practical Exercise: Conduct a mock field survey using ODK Collect

• Case Study: Lessons learned from mobile field data collection projects

Module 5: Data Management and Visualization

• Exporting data from ODK Aggregate as CSV

• Downloading data in different formats

• Formatting data for analysis using statistical applications

• Outputting data through Google Spreadsheet

• Visualizing Geographic Data

  • Exporting GPS coordinates to Google Maps

  • Exporting GPS data for mapping/visualizing

  • Visualizing GIS data using QGIS

• Practical Exercise: Analyze collected data and visualize GPS coordinates on maps

• Case Study: Using mobile-collected data for GIS-based decision making