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

Mobile data collection has transformed how organizations gather, manage, and analyze field data by replacing paper-based systems with efficient, real-time digital solutions. Open Data Kit (ODK) is a widely used open-source platform that enables reliable data collection even in low-connectivity environments.

This course provides a practical, hands-on introduction to mobile data collection using ODK, focusing on the full data lifecycle—from survey design to data analysis. Participants will learn how to configure ODK tools to create digital forms, deploy surveys in the field, and manage data synchronization across devices and servers.

The program covers key components of the ODK ecosystem, including form building, data validation, offline data capture, and secure data storage. Participants will also explore how to structure questionnaires for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), field research, humanitarian response, and project reporting.

Emphasis is placed on data quality assurance, workflow optimization, and real-time reporting. Learners will gain experience in deploying mobile data collection systems that improve accuracy, reduce operational costs, and enhance decision-making through timely insights.

Through practical exercises and field-based case scenarios, participants will develop the skills needed to implement scalable and reliable digital data collection systems in diverse operational environments.

Duration

 5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officers
• Data collection and field survey teams
• Research assistants and field enumerators
• Public health and development practitioners
• Humanitarian and NGO field staff
• Data managers and program officers
• Professionals involved in survey design and field data systems

Organisational Impact

• Improves data collection efficiency by replacing paper-based methods with accurate, real-time mobile solutions.

• Enhances monitoring and evaluation systems through streamlined data gathering and reporting processes.

• Reduces operational costs associated with manual data entry, errors, and delayed reporting.

• Strengthens decision-making by providing timely, reliable, and high-quality field data.

• Builds institutional capacity for large-scale surveys, project tracking, and humanitarian or development work.

Personal Impact

• Equips participants with practical skills to design, deploy, and manage mobile surveys using ODK.

• Enhances accuracy and confidence in data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Improves efficiency in monitoring and evaluation roles through automation and mobile integration.

• Builds transferable skills applicable in research, development projects, humanitarian work, and consultancy.

• Empowers participants to contribute to data-driven decision-making in their organizations and projects.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Create survey forms using Build or XLSForms
• Set up ODK Build, Collect and Aggregate
• Upload forms to an Aggregate server
• Load forms into Collect on an Android device
• Use ODK Collect to fill out forms with field participants
• Upload survey data from Collect to Aggregate
• Export and Analyse data from Aggregate

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