mWater Training Overview and Resource Requirements
The deliverables of the training engagement are to:
Conduct a needs assessment to identify the purpose and objectives of the program monitoring visits along with key indicators.
Create and integrate the monitoring survey and other surveys as needed.
Train staff in using smartphones, using the mWater Surveyor app, and conducting standard enumerations.
Brief agenda of training
Training dates: TBD
mWater training approach
mWater uses each training event as a learning opportunity to collect data about how to perform mobile data collection programs more effectively. Previous experiences have helped define the current model, which incorporates best practices such as:
Limited classroom-style lectures with an emphasis instead on hands-on field experience.
Identify clear roles and responsibilities with senior management buy-in.
Identify key individuals to act as future local trainers who can help teach new team members or assist members who are experiencing difficulty.
Enumerators are allowed access to their tablets/phones at all times, as opposed to having to check out phones each day. They are encouraged to use the phones for email and social media and install apps to build more familiarity with smartphone technology.
Field work
Participant engagement to reinforce training of the trainers
Logistics
Required materials
The program office should provide wifi, power strips, extension cords, training room, slide projector, tablets or smartphones for enumerators, laptops for portal administrators, snacks and coffee for meetings, participant per diem payments and accommodation as needed.
Venues
The primary training venue for the training should be a classroom-like or boardroom setting with tables, power outlets and power strips (for charging each mobile phone), a projector and tea/coffee for breaks. The venue should have wifi or, if that is not possible, a set of portable wifi hotspots should be procured. The initial setup of devices can be very expensive if conducted on mobile data networks.
The venue for the field-based data collection training should be a site near the primary training venue. Individuals that can serve as model participants for household surveys should be identified in advance.
Purchase sufficient quantities for the enumerators and field managers (note: if government is involved, be sure to purchase devices for government officials attending)
Register SIM cards and add mobile data bundles (500 MB minimum recommended per month of enumeration)
Rent or secure permission for the main training site
Secure catering for two tea breaks and one lunch for each day of training. Please schedule morning tea at 10 am.
Be sure the training venue has a high quality projector (inform mWater staff if not available)
Make a list of first, last names and email of each participant. Share this and user names (see next) with mWater staff in the format of a Google Doc.
If possible, request users set up mWater accounts using real names and email in advance (do not make accounts that are nameless, such as “enumerator 1”). Instructions for making an account can be found here.
Note: some users are unable to make a username or email on their own. This is an important metric we use internally for planning the training. Please do not worry if you can only get some users to make accounts in advance.
Note: some users used to platforms that charge per user are motivated to make one account to share among different enumerators. Please instruct them to make one account per enumerator.
If possible, begin organizing all users in an org chart in the mWater Portal (Portal/Manage/Organizations/New). Instructions can be found here.
Plan local field visit to practice enumeration skills in the real world setting. A nearby community is ideal to reduce transportation costs. Contact mWater if you have difficulty with this task.
Financial checklist
The following costs should be expected for the training:
Mobile devices, SIM cards and initial data bundles
Rental fees for the training venue
Snacks and tea/coffee for training and workshop days
Transportation for the field practice
Transportation for mWater staff (see below)
Preparation for mWater staff
mWater staff occasionally need assistance with arranging lodging. When possible, we try to stay at the same location as the training venue if the venue is a hotel. We will need you to provide arrangements for transportation to/from the airport and from the hotel to the training venue. mWater staff require transport in a recent model vehicle with airbags and seatbelts. In the rare event that security is appropriate in the region we are training, we require that the hosting partner provide security personnel.
Course content
Course objectives
Train enumerators to conduct surveys on mobile devices
Train high-level M&E personnel and supervisors to manage data as it is collected
Train system administrators to create, edit, and manage surveys and platform
Train approvers on data approval process
Identify key personnel that can train future trainers
Detailed learning objectives
Smartphone and/or tablet basics
Hand out devices
Introduction to using devices - basics such as powering on/off, accessing settings, installing apps, restarting and force quitting apps, managing phone/wifi networks
Signing up for an email account (if participants do not have email) - required for mWater account signup
Update Android version, update critical apps (e.g. Google Maps and Play Services), install mWater app
mWater Surveyor basics
Creating an account, logging in and using the menu
Sites - creating a new site, locating an existing site from the list, using the map
Surveys - creating a new survey, adding a new survey to a site, viewing previous surveys, drafts vs submitted surveys, types of survey questions
Offline operations and understanding synchronization
Reporting an issue and using the remote debugging mode
Mobile data collection
Introduction to surveys in mWater
Sites - practice creating and locating sites in the app
Surveys - practice using the surveys in a field setting
