edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsBefore the Devices Turn On: Building Healthy Habits
Monday, August 31, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Laura Ogando, Tech Integration Specialist, New York City Public Schools (NY); and Jennifer Ehehalt, Former Educator, Current Senior Education Manager, Common Sense Media
Sponsored by Common Sense Education
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Your students already know how to use technology. What they need is judgment, empathy, and self-regulation to navigate it safely. The secret to a focused, respectful classroom culture isn’t just teaching tech skills; it’s building core behavioral dispositions and healthy habits before we connect through our devices.
Join Jennifer Ehehalt, Senior Education Manager at Common Sense Media, and Laura Ogando, Tech Integration Specialist at the New York City Public Schools, for an edWebinar designed for K–8 educators who want to set an intentional classroom culture from the very first day of school. We are breaking down an “Offline-to-Online Bridge” framework that anchors digital literacy and well-being in real-world, face-to-face behaviors.
Discover how to introduce skills and dispositions during morning meetings or community circles and watch them seamlessly transfer when the screens go up. You’ll leave with lessons you can use during your first 20 days of school. This edWebinar will be of interest to K–8 teachers, librarians, and school leaders.
About the Presenters
Laura Ogando began her career in education with the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) as an elementary school special educator. It was in this role as a special educator that she became an advocate for using technology to bring equity and access to all learners. After teaching in the special education classroom, she began working in her school’s media center as a digital literacy specialist, where she designed and developed her own curriculum that brought together digital literacy, computer science, and project-based learning. Currently, Laura works as an Instructional Technology Specialist with the Manhattan Division of Instructional & Information Technology (DIIT). In this role, she has been training teachers in the NYCPS system and around the country in accessibility, Google tools for education, and digital literacy and citizenship. She also holds various EdTech certifications—Google Level 1 and 2 Educator, Google Innovator, BrainPOP Educator, Common Sense Media Ambassador, Apple Teacher, and Adobe District Leader. She has presented at local conferences within the NYCPS, at ISTE, and with various international organizations. She is a technology and educational leader who has given workshops at Lehman College and has delivered numerous professional development opportunities at various school districts.
As Senior Regional Manager, Jennifer Ehehalt designs and delivers high-quality professional development opportunities for educators across the country. She spotlights thought leaders by creating and moderating conversations on timely topics relevant to digital teaching and learning. When attending Jennifer’s edWeb sessions, participants know they will leave with concrete strategies from the field, including how to build a positive school culture, use straightforward templates to guide challenging conversations, and implement family engagement ideas.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Join the Digital Learning & Leadership community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Common Sense Education develops high-quality digital citizenship programs and digital teaching resources, providing educators and students with the digital learning tools they need to harness the power of technology for life.
