Here at Best Buy, we’re all about providing our customers with the tools they need to keep on growing, helping them pursue their passions and enrich their lives with the help of technology. But we also recognize that in addition to the right tools, we also need the right people in our lives to guide us, teach us, and help us reach that next level in our development.
For Back to School this year, we want to celebrate those people, those teachers who faced a year of unexpected challenges and adapted to them, arming themselves with the right tech to keep teaching so that we can all keep learning.
To do so, we partnered with two prominent content creators: multidisciplinary designer Will Selviz and visual storyteller Tyler Stalman. Check out the videos below to see how we helped each of them reconnect with an influential mentor, while giving them tech and tools to fully show their appreciation to people who’ve made a huge impact in their lives.
Will Selviz, Multi-Dimensional Designer from Toronto, thanks an influential mentor who helped with his career development and discusses the value of paying it forward as a mentor himself.
Will was a co-facilitator for a program led by Jessica Yamoah, Founder and CEO of INNOVATE INC. The program gives youth access to professionals and corporate settings to raise awareness about career paths in business, innovation, and technology. Karl was one of the youth who participated in the program, and as a result Will mentors him today. Will’s organization: RENRD FOUNDATION is focused on digital design. They collaborate with Jessica, other industry leaders, and organizations who support their work to provide mentorship, direct access to industry standard equipment, and culturally diverse programming.
In the video, Will discusses how creating 3-D animations and other 3-D work requires special equipment and he knows he can count on Best Buy to have the technology he needs, like many Microsoft technologies he showed in the video including the Microsoft Surface Pro.
Tyler Stalman from Calgary thanks the high school teacher who encouraged his creativity and interest in video production
Tyler showed several devices that are ideal for anyone learning or teaching video production. These include the ideal vlogging companion, a Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 Digital Camera; the compact and light Deity D4 DUO Microphone for crystal clear audio indoors and outdoors; a Manfrotto Beefree Live Aluminum tripod and Zhiyun Weebill-S gimbal stabilizer, two products essential for high resolutions still and smooth and steady video footage; and to store the footage and enable fast data transfer to a computer for processing, a Lexar Professional 128GB memory card.
Who inspired you to learn
Having the right tech while learning is very important; but we also need to meet wonderful teachers and mentors along our educational journey. We all have a story to tell of one or more teachers who elevated our learning or inspired us. I can think of several in my life, and I also have one teacher from when my children were in school: their grade 3 teacher, Mr. Bonenfant, inspired me to be a better parent with his amazing teaching style and patience. Let us know about the tech you think is essential for learning and who inspired you. Enter below and nominate one teacher or mentor for a chance for you or the person you nominate to win a $750 Best Buy gift certificate.
How to enter
Entering this contest is easy and you can enter once for yourself and once for someone you know:
- Leave a comment below this article and tell us the first name of a mentor who helped you learn and what tech available at Best Buy do you consider to be essential for students going back to school
- Send an email to “bestbuyblog@bestbuycanada.ca“ AND CC a teacher or mentor so they are aware that you entered them in this contest. In the subject line put: “What tech will help you achieve contest” and in the body of the email tell us which teacher or mentor you are nominating to win this contest and why.
NOTE: do not put your teacher or mentor’s last name or personal email in the comments below; they should only be mentioned in the email.
What you can win
At the end of this contest we will randomly select one winner from all comments left on the blog article for this contest (French and English) AND randomly select two winners from all nominations sent via email so the person nominated can win the prize. Each winner will receive a Best Buy Canada Gift Certificate worth $750.
This contest runs from August 30th until September 30th.
Remember you can enter once for yourself in a blog comment AND once for a teacher or mentor who inspired you in an email as mentioned above.
What will tech help us achieve Contest Rules and Regulations
Good Luck
Table of Contents
my dad who always taught me working hard gets you what you need and I think the RENPHO AI Smart Exercise Bike Indoor Cycling Bike is essential to stay healthy during these difficult times
My mentor is my mom who says you need to learn how to type and use computer software and computers to get a good job. The tech that students need at school are laptop computers and iPads.
Mine was my teacher mr hills with the iPad
David was a great patient mentor. Ipads or chromebooks are great tools for students.
John, and ipads are needed
My wife of course would be my mentor
My Dad for sure!
My mentor was my niece Deb who gave me a love for all things tech
I took classes from someone named Tom at the community college. Really helped me.
dad
ipads
One of my mentors was Glen. The tech I think is essential is a good laptop.
Mr P taught computer science (programming) at my highschool.
My sister who let me play with her computer and delete things i shouldnt have. speed is key
My brother-in-law Jim gave me assistance when I have to do repairs or new purchases of equipment that I have no knowledge of
My mentor was Sue and I think a new cell is needed
My friend Kevin mentored me in film editing and helped land my first gig in post. Opened up some new doors for me. Cheers man. I think a laptop has to be the most helpful tech going back to school.
My mentors on anything technical was and still are my grandchildren. They’ve set up all my things such as TV, ipad and google mini and keep them going when I have problems.
i had a wonderful social studies teacher, ( Bavin ). he had travelled all over the world and showed photos of his adventures in class. I found him fascinating in his knowledge of so many places, and this infected me to want to do the same. I have done this somewhat also. I find with this new computer technology, that i can now from the comfort of my own home, during this time, to be able to be an armchair traveller with online searches, youtube videos and such to be able to still ‘travel’ to different countires, to keep learning about other countries!
i had a wonderful social studies teacher, his name was MR BAVIN, but he has recently passed unfortunately. he used to travel to different parts of the world, and show the class photos of all his adventures. I found this fascinating and vowed one day i would do the same and i have somewhat. it was his infectious interesting teaching of other countries and cultures that so enriched my life. With the new technlogy now with computers and searching on line finding information on many areas, watching events and such on youtube and more, still keep me entertained with information around the world.
My wife Dale was my first mentor and continues to assist me on my computer.
My first tech mentor my son Chad. He set me up with an email account and showed me the basics.It has been great,enabling me to keep touch with family and friends!
Need to learn to keep updated with technology – would use this to buy a smartphone so I could learn how to keep in contact with my relatives that live outside of the city – could face time – and see them – would love to learn how to use one
My husband, who is very computer savvy.
I Definitely have to nominate my teach Mrs. W. She really helped me turn my life around and become the best version of myself. I would definitely say a good laptop is the essential tech that I need to do a great job.
good
My parents, Jacob & Anna encouraged me to go to college. They did not have the opportunity and knew how important it was. Both students and non students require computers to further our education.
My first mentor was and will always be my mom. She is the first person to introduce computers to our family when she bought our first ever computer and was always the one to help me with my school work and help me learn and grow. The tech that I think is essential for kids going back to school is a laptop and right now I have my eye on the Apple MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar 13.3″ – Space Grey (Intel Core i5 1.4GHz/256GB SSD/8GB RAM) – EN (2019 Model) – Refurbished
My mentor was Miss Eileen and the most important tech would be a high speed laptop
Rick taught me that my computer is a tool
Ter was my mentor for everything computer for as long as I can remember, and has been essential to me every time I run into difficulties. I think current computers are a must for school these days and that keeping up with technology is so important as is learning how to make the most of the products available.
My mentor is my friend Jason, who has been a volunteer fire fighter for over 30 years! He’s taught me how being selfless can help your community and that this is the best way to give back!
I think all students should have this amazing Apple MacBook Air, especially since it’s highly rated! It will meet all of their needs:
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/apple-macbook-air-13-3-w-touch-id-fall-2020-gold-apple-m1-chip-256gb-ssd-8gb-ram-fr/15136912
Our son Ray is our mentor, helping us navigate and learning our devices. Without him, we would be lost. Lap tops IPads are just two devices that students need to help them throughout their schooling.
Sabine at my university helped me immensely when I was learning how to code. I’d consider a laptop as an indespensible piece of tech for going back to school.
my mentor was Rick and I think students need to have their on computer, probably a laptop to succeed in school. I don’t know how they can without one.
Effeciency and speed
My friend Inge was an important mentor to me when home PC’s became so popular in the early 90’s. I think any of the Mac laptops would be an invaluable asset for any student – especially ones involved in the arts (music, photography, etc.)
One of my mentors was Martha who was one of my first bosses in early in my career and taught me a lot about how to be a good manager. The tech I think is essential is a good laptop.
The librarian at school introduced me to my first computer. Now a computer is as important as a pencil for school
I think an Ipad is a must for students and I don’t really have a tech mentor. I learned by myself and some at school when i was in CEGEP. I guess i am my own mentor.
My brother Mark was my first mentor and the one that got me into computers and working with them and I think what is essential now is a good working fast computer for school
Computer teacher Mark helped me learn, and a laptop would be a good thing for a student to have for school.
Jim is a great mentor and teacher.
A chromebook from Best Buy is the best tech for my young kids for back to school this year
My mentor is Caitlin. A laptop would be so perfect!
My mentor is Kate. You are never to old to learn new things, especially true when it comes to tech. This past year she has helped me immensely with my tech skills. Every student needs a laptop.
mentor steve taylor a computer would be helpful
Marc pour connexion
Mentor Jeanne and laptop or notepad is a great asser
Rob is always so helpful with technology, and especially with my laptop which is essential for uni students
My mentor is Valerie and I believe a laptop is essential for all students
Mentor: Jean. TV tech to help with the connections
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