PDA Malawi mobile data collection survey education data database

1. PDA Assessment - Summary
Malawi CO - January 2008

2. PDA Assessment - Summary
Malawi CO – January 2008
Objective for Malawi CO:
Conduct an assessment for the potential of mobile data
collection technology using Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s)
Provide training in use of the hardware and software and
evaluate with an in-field visit
Provide recommendations if value for mobile data collection is
indicated

3. Mobile information collection systems
PDA’s now have high memory and power capacities.
They can be used for long periods in the field with
portable battery packs
PDA’s are able to collect and store thousands of
records.
Latest Windows Mobile devices will not lose data
during power loss
PDA’s can be protected from wide range of
environmental conditions in the field.

4. Paper Data Systems
Philippines

5. Paper Data Systems
Philippines

6. Paper Data Systems
Philippines

7. Paper Data Systems
Philippines

8. Paper Data Systems
Haiti

9. Paper Data Systems
Bolivia

10. Paper Data Systems
Bolivia

11. “Alimentos” - Food Security

12. Paper Data Systems
Bolivia

13. Mobile Information Collection Systems
Existing database or paper survey forms provide the
initial PDA form design.
The form designs are distributed to the PDA’s.
Data is typed directly into the PDA form by field
workers at the data source.
PDA data is then synchronized from PDA to a central
data collection location (laptop, PC, cell phone,
server, etc.)
Data is reviewed and distributed to analysis software
(SPSS, Epi Info, Excel, MS Access.)

14. Form Design

15. Input Constraints

16. Data Synchronization

17. Data Storage

18. Data Transmission

19. Additional PDA Form Capabilities
Date selections display on-screen calendar

20. Data
Age and other numeric values can be calculated on-
screen.

21. Data
Sensitive data can be digitally signed for.

22. Data
…and captured as a long binary object in the databa

23. The values of PDA data collection technology
Eliminate paper survey form costs.
Eliminate hand transcription of data
Transcription errors from paper forms are eliminated
Data is permanently stored - no more lost paper forms
Choice lists are unabbreviated (code and description display)
Forms remind interviewer of what data can be entered resulting
in increased data accuracy and quality at the point of interview
Reduce the time from data collection to data analysis.
PDA’s can carry data to the field - data is bi-directional

24. PDA Project - Summary
Malawi CO Activities
Mangochi Office
Hardware and software training for Program, M&E and IT
personnel
Survey Form evaluation and design
Field testing of Sponsorship Primary Education Program (SPEP)
Teacher Interview PDA form in Nasite and Kausi schools.
Activity review, final training, transfer of assets and documentation
Recommendations

25. Mangochi Training

26. Mangochi Training

27. Mangochi Training

28. Sponsorship Primary Education Program (SPEP)
Teacher Interview Form
Save the Children
Sponsorship Primary Education Program
2007 Standard 4 Data Collection
Headteacher Interview
School:___________________________ Name of Interviewer: _____________________________
Head’s Name: ________________ __________Sex: 0__Male /1 __Female: School Code: 19/__ __
Standard(s) teaching _____________
What is your highest academic qualification? 1) JCE/ 2) MSCE/ 3) "A” levels/ 4) Other (Specify): ___
What is your professional qualification? 0) TT/ 1) T4/ 2) T3/ 3) T2 /) Other (Specify): ___________
How many teachers are in this school? 1) Male_________2) Female_______ 3) Total_________
How many pupils are in this school? 1) Boys ________ 2) Girls _______ 3) Total__________
Out of the total enrolment that you have, how many of these are orphans vulnerable children (OVC)? 1)
Boys________ 2) Girls_______ 3)Total_______ (Allow the teacher to verify).
7. How many in-service training sessions have you attended this school session?
8. List the organizer and the month of each in-service session you have attended
9. How many school based in-service courses have you conducted this school year? ______
10.How many times has the PEA supervised your school this school session? _____
11. In the past month, have you observed any teachers’ lessons? 1) ___YES 0) __NO
12. How many times this year have you held staff meetings at this school? _______

29. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

30. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

31. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

32. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

33. SPEP Teacher Interview Form
Drop-down Lookup
Lists reduce typing and
ensure data accuracy

34. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

35. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

36. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

37. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

38. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

39. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

40. SPEP Teacher Interview Form
if answer == Y then
goto [PQ]
Else
show [OQ]
goto [OQ]
endif

41. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

42. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

43. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

44. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

45. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

46. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

47. SPEP Teacher Interview Form

48. PDA Field Testing - Nasite

49. PDA Field Testing - Nasite

50. PDA Field Testing - Nasite

51. PDA Field Testing - Nasite

52. PDA Field Testing - Nasite

53. PDA Field Testing - Kausi

54. PDA Field Testing - Kausi

55. PDA Field Testing - Kausi

56. PDA Field Testing - Kausi

57. PDA Field Testing - Kausi

58. Collected Data
SPEP Teacher Interview Form
May I
Begin
The What Is Your
User Survey First Last School Standard Academic Professional Total Total OVC
Name Time Stamp Now School Name Of Interviewer Name Name Code Teaching Qualifications Qualification Male Female Teachers Boys Girls Students
SC_0018 1/30/2008 9:13 Y Kausi Lloyd Msiska Lucy Mwandida 1901 Std 5 1 4 4 8 12 9 10 19
SC_0018 1/30/2008 8:58 Y Kausi Mary Makaula Basaniel Kachere 1901 Std 5;Std 6 2 4 4 8 12 42 52 94
SC_0018 1/30/2008 8:10 Y Kausi Mary Makaula Henry Kachere 1901 Std 2;Std 5;Std 7 2 2 3 6 9 78 42 120
SC_0010 1/30/2008 9:18 Y Nasite Oddoi Chimpembe Charles Makungwa 1901 Std 1 2 2 5 7 12 33 12 45
SC_0010 1/30/2008 9:00 Y Kausi Kriss Chinkhota Hope Msiska 1901 Std 8 2 4 6 5 11 42 52 94
SC_0010 1/30/2008 8:09 Y Nasite Kriss Chinkhota Patrick Gatoma 1902 Std 1;Std 6;Std 8 2 2 16 6 22 89 65 154
SC_0015 1/30/2008 9:18 Y Nasite Jean Nkhonjera Stella Mamboma 1902 Std 5 1 3 5 4 9 0
SC_0015 1/30/2008 8:56 Y Nasite Humphreys Kalengamaliro Gerald Kamulanje 1902 Std 7 1 2 4 5 9 100 178 278
SC_0016 1/29/2008 23:34 Y Nasite Titus Kachingwe Welington Uladi 1902 Std 1 2 4 4 4 8 0 6 6
SC_0016 1/29/2008 23:11 Y Nasite Catherine Nderemani Cliff Mjojo 1902 Std 8 1 2 5 4 9 50 50 100
SC_0016 1/29/2008 22:48 Y Nasite Francis Mabeti Noel Chekani 1902 Std 8 2 4 5 4 9 75 86 161
SC_0016 1/29/2008 22:12 Y Nasite Francis Mabeti Tyyy Hfg 1902 Std 5;None 2 1 22 33 55 33 44 77

59. Field Test Feedback
PDA’s accepted by respondents
Better interviewer-to-respondent positioning
More easily engaged than paper forms
Quick and easy to use
Screen can be difficult to see outdoors (illumination)
Block sun with body shadow
Survey usually inside building/under tree
Form design and navigation
Several questions irrelevant (librarian) to respondent
Data privacy concerns
Effective field form use largely based on understanding of form structure
Average 13% power usage over 2.3 hour use
portable battery pack not needed

60. Recommendations
Procure licensed copy of software and 4 additional PDA’s
Conduct a PDA pilot in parallel with paper-based survey
M&E indicators => database design => PDA form design
Continue to develop centralized data management strategy
Consider GIS value – possibility of Westport-based enterprise
Arc GIS availability
Gradually extend PDA data collection to additional MwCO
program(s) with Africa Area strategic direction
Evaluate 1 PDA w/ bar code scanner for asset management
Dedicate Mangochi IT function

61. Qty Item Description Price
4 PDA (Ipaq 110) $1,020.00
4 2 gigabyte memory card (SDC) $168.00
4 mobile battery pack $392.00
Pendragon Forms software & 1 license
4 @ $54 ea. * $491.00
Total: $2,071.00
* Pendragon Forms software contains
one PDA license

62. Mangochi PDA Team

63. Comments?