The role of ChatGPT in junior high school physics education: Insights from teachers and students and guidelines for optimal use

ChatGPT is a relatively recent application, available to the public since late November 2022, rooted in Artificial Intelligence. Operating in a chatbot environment and drawing from a vast data pool, it is capable of answering user queries across a wide range of subjects. It fosters a productive dialogue with users, generating written responses that are often indistinguishable from those of a human. Teaching and learning are areas where the educational community is still debating how such a tool could be utilized, balancing the advantages it offers with the risks it presents. The purpose of this study is twofold. Firstly, it aims to investigate the extent to which students and teachers in Greece are aware of ChatGPT and whether they use it for school-related tasks. During the 2024-25 academic year, two different questionnaires were distributed to 7 teachers and 84 students from a junior high school in Athens. The responses were analyzed and both questionnaires showed high Cronbach's alpha values of 0.830 for teachers and 0.802 for students, indicating high level of reliability. Secondly, the study explores the accuracy and reliability of the free version of ChatGPT 3.5 in junior high school Physics topics and proposes methods for its responsible use. The analysis considers both the teacher's and the student's perspectives, offering a well-rounded understanding of how ChatGPT can be integrated into educational practices while mitigating potential risks. • Examines ChatGPT use by teachers and students in Greek junior high schools. • High reliability found in questionnaires with Cronbach's alpha above 0.8. • Assesses ChatGPT 3.5 accuracy in Physics, focusing on hydrostatic pressure, fractals. • Proposes guidelines for responsible ChatGPT use in Physics education. • Privacy concerns and accuracy issues noted by both students and teachers.