ICT4D Courses

Training Course in Mobile Data Collection Using SurveyCTO

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SurveyCTO is a set of tools that are used for field data collection either online and offline using android devices (phones and tablets) or web browsers and allows data submission to an online cloud server. These tools include SurveyCTO Server, XLSForms, SurveyCTO Sync, SurveyCTO Collect for mobile (android) data collection and SurveyCTO web based data collection for online data collection using a web browser.

SurveyCTO is part of a large collection of mobile data collection tools that were inspired by the ODK Open Rosa Consortium. ODK tools include ODK Collect, ODK Build, XLSForm, ODK Aggregate and ODK Manage as the major components. Other tools in the ODK ecosystem include ODK Briefcase, ODK Aggregate VM, ODK XLSForm Converter, ODK Validate, GEOODK, ODK Scanner, ODK Printers and the ODK Sensor Framework.

Other mobile data collection tools that were inspired by the ODK ecosystem include but are not limited to: Kobo tool box which is also free and open source, Ona.io and Magpi which have a free trial period and a premium version with added functionalities and unlimited survey data storage capacity.

Other commonly used mobile data collection tools include CSPro for android (CS Entry), Magpi (Regular data collection and also supports SMS data Collection), fulcrum, mobenzi, visitbasis, dimagi, zapier amongst many others.

This training course will teach learners how to author surveys, about field mobile data collection applications, and how to submit data to an online SurveyCTO server. The other mobile data collection tools available will be mentioned as well.

If you have always wanted to learn how to collect, manage, visualize and analyze project field data using mobile phones and devices, this training course is for you.

Introduction

Data collection has 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.

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 an additional GIS module to help participants put the skills acquired into perspective. The GIS module will help participants work with spatial data.

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for people who want to learn how to:

Learn and apply best practices in mobile data collection setup and administration
Setup an account in SurveyCTO
Get familiar with the SurveyCTO platform
Author/Digitize surveys using SurveyCTO
Setup, manage and administer mobile data collection system in SurveyCTO
Collect data on Mobile devices using the SurveyCTO Collect
Collect data using surveyCTO using a web browser
Conduct case management using surveyCTO
Manage enumerators
Collect Geo data and develop maps using QGIS
Manage, visualize and analyze data on the SurveyCTO platform
Extract/export data from SurveyCTO server in useful formats such as KML, csv, Json and others for analysis
Learn how to consume the SurveyCTO API via external applications.
Learn about other similar mobile data collection tools and technologies

Requirements

This training is designed for participants who are reasonably proficient in English and have an understanding of basic ICT concepts.

Duration

5 Days

Course objectives

This course will teach learners how to implement a mobile data collection survey using the SurveyCTO platform.

At the end of the course, learners will be able to setup, implement, manage and administer mobile data collection using the SurveyCTO platform and develop maps using QGIS. Additionally, learners will be exposed to other available mobile data collection platforms.

Course content

Module I

Introduction to the course

ICT refresher
Introduction to mobile data collection systems architecture.
Introduction to common mobile based data collection tools, techniques and platform.
Benefits of mobile data collection.
Challenges of Mobile Based Data Collection.
Best Practices.

Module II

Survey Authoring/Digitization

Field types in surveyCTO
Survey authoring using surveyCTO online form builder
Survey authoring using spreadsheet software applications
Downloading form definition from surveyCTO
Editing the form definitions using spreadsheet software (eg. MS Excel)
Uploading xls forms to surveyCTO server console
Testing forms

Advanced Survey Authoring

Geo data
Grouping
Repeating a group of questions
Skip logic (relevance)
Enforcing constraints
Select_one and select_multiple
Preloading data into your survey forms

Hand-on Exercise

Module III

Data Collection

Data collection using android devices (phones and tablets)
Installing and configuring surveyCTO Collect
Getting blank forms from surveyCTO server
Editing saved forms
Deleting saved forms
Filling and submitting finalized forms
Data collection using web browser
Enabling web data collection
Sharing the web form URL
Disabling anonymous access to the web form

Hands-on Exercise

Module IV

Data Management and Monitoring

Managing users and user roles
Managing internal support queries
Managing data
Monitoring incoming data
Case management in surveyCTO
Using Data explorer to monitor incoming data
Automated quality checks
Reviewing and correcting incoming data
Configuring external authentication
Backing up surveyCTO data

Hands-on Exercise

Module V

Exporting, exploring and publishing data

Using Data explorer to generate summaries
Exporting data using SurveyCTO sync
Downloading survey data for further visualization and analysis with tools such as Stata
Downloading and installing surveyCTO sync
Configuring surveyCTO sync
Using SurveyCTO Sync to export data
Google Drive integration
Streaming data to Google Sheets

Publishing data to the cloud

Publishing to Google Sheets
Publishing to Google Fusion Tables
Publishing to Zapier
Publishing to other sytems via webhooks

Advanced publishing with datasets

Introduction to advanced dataset usage
Publishing form data into server datasets
Publishing server datasets to the cloud
Monitoring server datasets for data quality

SurveyCTO intergrations

Automated integrations
Zapier
OpenFn
Google Sheets
Develop your own integrations
REST API
Webhooks

Hands-on Exercise

GIS and QGIS

Also Read: Training Course in Installation Use and Management of Data Using Open HDS and ODK

Methodology

The instructor led trainings are delivered using a blended learning approach and comprise of presentations, guided sessions of practical exercise, web based tutorials and group work. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working as professionals and trainers in these fields.

All facilitation and course materials will be offered in English. The participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

Accreditation

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a certificate of participation.

Training venue

The training is residential and will be held at T4D Training Centre in Westlands Nairobi, Kenya. The course fees cover the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, lunch, and study visits.

All participants will additionally cater for their, travel expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

Tailor- made

We can also tailor-make our courses for you. This way, you/your organization will benefit by:

Using own tools during the training
Being able to choose areas of interest you wish the trainer to put more emphasis on
Taking the course in-house or at a venue of choice
Cutting on the cost of transport and accommodation

For further inquiries, please contact us on details below:

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +254 706909947

Accommodation

Accommodation is arranged upon request. For reservations contact the Training Officer.

Email: [email protected]

Mobile Number: +254 706909947

Training fee

The course fee is KES 75,000.00 or USD 1,100.00 exclusive of VAT. The course fees covers the course tuition, training materials, two (2) break refreshments, lunch and study visits. Participants will cater for their travel and accommodation costs.