Purpose
CommCare is a mobile data collection and management platform that allows users to create and deploy mobile applications for data collection and management in low-resource settings. The platform is designed to work offline, making it useful in areas with limited or unreliable internet connectivity. The platform also features tools for data analysis, visualization, and export, as well as the ability to integrate with other systems and platforms. CommCare is often used in healthcare, social services, and development programs to collect and manage data on patients, clients, and program participants.
Course Objectives
- Understand the basics of mobile data collection and management, including the challenges and benefits of using mobile technology in these contexts.
- Learn how to use the CommCare platform to create, deploy, and manage mobile applications for data collection and management.
- Gain experience creating forms and questionnaires, setting up workflows and case management, and integrating data with other systems and platforms.
- Learn how to analyze, visualize, and export data collected using CommCare, including using the built-in reports and dashboards and integrating with external data analysis tools.
- Understand best practices for using mobile data collection and management in low-resource settings, including considerations for data security, privacy, and ethics.
- Learn how to troubleshoot common issues that may arise when using CommCare and understand the technical details of the platform.
- Understand the practical use cases of mobile data collection and management using CommCare in various sectors such as healthcare, social service, and development program.
- Understand the role of mobile data collection and management in improving service delivery and decision-making.
- Understand the role of CommCare in improving program monitoring and evaluation.
Target Audience
- Healthcare professionals and public health workers who want to use mobile technology to improve data collection and management in healthcare settings.
- Social service workers and development professionals who want to use mobile technology to improve data collection and management in social service and development programs.
- Researchers and academics who want to use mobile technology to collect and manage data for research purposes.
- IT professionals and programmers who want to learn how to use the CommCare platform to create and manage mobile applications for data collection and management.
- Non-profit organizations and government agencies that are looking for ways to improve data collection and management in their programs.
- Project Managers who are looking for ways to improve data collection and management in their projects.
- Monitoring and Evaluation professionals who want to learn how to use mobile data collection and management to improve program monitoring and evaluation.
- Individuals or organizations who are working in low-resource settings, where traditional data collection and management methods may be challenging, and want to improve their data collection and management capabilities.
Program Outline
Topic 1. Introduction to Mobile Data Collection
Overview of the challenges and benefits of using mobile technology for data collection and management, including an introduction to the CommCare platform.
Topic 2. Setting up a CommCare Account
Overview of the process for setting up a CommCare account, including creating a project, adding users, and configuring settings.
Topic 3. Creating Forms and Questionnaires
Overview of the process for creating forms and questionnaires in CommCare, including creating questions, adding logic and skip patterns, and testing forms.
Topic 4. Setting up Workflows and Case Management
Overview of the process for setting up workflows and case management in CommCare, including creating and managing cases, creating and managing forms, and creating and managing reminders.
Topic 5. Data Analysis and Visualization
Overview of the process for analyzing and visualizing data in CommCare, including creating and using reports and dashboards, and integrating data with external data analysis tools.
Topic 6. Data Security, Privacy and Ethics
Overview of best practices for data security, privacy and ethics when using mobile data collection and management in low-resource settings.
Topic 7. Troubleshooting and Technical Details
Overview of common issues that may arise when using CommCare and understanding the technical details of the platform.
Topic 8. Practical Use Cases
Overview of the practical use cases of mobile data collection and management using CommCare in various sectors such as healthcare, social service, and development program.
Topic 9. Improving service delivery and decision-making
Overview of the role of mobile data collection and management in improving service delivery and decision-making.
Topic 10. Improving Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Overview of the role of CommCare in improving program monitoring and evaluation.
Topic 11. Hands-on practice and case studies
Hands-on practice and case studies to apply the concepts learned in the course and to understand how to implement them in real-life situations.