Virtual Reality Applications as an Innovative Educational Practice in Adult Education

Virtual reality educational applications are supporting educational systems to provide better and more realistic training. Military training systems have incorporated such applications in their training programs having positive results in terms of training outcomes, safety, and cost efficiency. The aim of the chapter is to present the benefits of using virtual reality applications in connection to the modern learning theories. More specifically, the chapter summarizes the concepts of experiential, active and constructive learning theories conjoining them with the results of a research conducted to the Hellenic Air Force training pilots concerning their virtual reality training via flight simulators. As derived from the research, virtual reality educational applications are very helpful as far as it concerns acquiring new knowledge, developing skills, with predominant flexibility in decision making and more effective task prioritization and changing trainees' attitudes at the level of self-confidence, understanding, and self-reflection.