 In the library at Forest View Middle School in Baxter is a room where students are able to work hands-on with new technologies such as virtual reality, 3D printing and more. The makerspace is a popular new concept that allows students to explore and challenge their creativity. With this week's Golden Apple reporter Rachel Johnson has more. Virtual reality, 3D printing and augmented reality typography are just a few things that fill Forest View Middle School's makerspace. My favorite station is probably like the GoPro or the PEN stands and I like the GoPro because you can move around the library and it's like a weird scavenger hunt. The makerspace is a new addition to the middle school this year. We had an extra space where we used to have a computer lab and we've got a planetarium upstairs and we had people coming in from outside the district coming in and the planetarium director wanted to have a separate space. The makerspace lets the students learn and create on their own with adults stepping in only when they need help. A lot of it is learn on your own. You know I'm not going to tell you how to do it and you try to figure it out. If you can't figure it out we'll help you. But I like the thinking harder about things and trying to come up with answers. There are a variety of activities available centering around STEM and the arts. 3D printing is really big, 3D pens are huge. We've got green screen where they can create little plays and things like that. They can create a computer, they can work with circuits. Just a wide variety of art, tech and video. One of the favorite activities in the makerspace is called the virtual reality sandbox where students are able to move the sand to create different typography. It's fun to make mountains and valleys and rivers and lakes. The makerspace offers the students a unique opportunity to explore what interests them. You know when I was growing up I got to experiment and do things and I think that had a big impact on me so this kind of fits what I knew of education and I love seeing kids just pop out of the what do you want me to do into what do I want to do. Along with being educational the makerspace is fun and has been a huge hit with the students. It's just been so fun you know I it's kind of stepping out of my my usual position and just kind of just letting them go and it's amazing how they just pick it up and run with it and sometimes I'll walk behind them and say do you need help no we're fine we're fine you know so it's really been fun to see them just take it on their own. It's awesome yeah reporting from Baxter with this week's Golden Apple Rachel Johnson Lakeland News. Any classes in the area are welcome to use the the makerspace contact the media center at Fortview Middle School for more information. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.