Game Guide.

Do I need prior AI experience to play?

No prior AI experience is required. The game is designed to teach AI tools through the process of completing the missions. Each Treasure Trove introduces new tools progressively — you learn by doing, not by studying.

Do I need a social media account to participate?

All deliverables are submitted directly through the TopKpop.io portal. Following @topkpopio on Instagram is encouraged to receive mission videos and clue drops — these are posted to Instagram when each Trove opens. Posting on Instagram earns bonus points but is never required. All four Instagram options (including website-only) count equally for rubric scoring.

Do I need to sing or dance?

No. In Treasure Trove 03, teams use AI video tools to create a choreographed dance video, then design an interdisciplinary lesson plan for students. The dance video is optional — submitting one earns an automatic +10 bonus, but it is not required to earn full rubric points.

How are teams formed?

Teams of 2–4 educators register together. You can form teams with colleagues from the same school or across different schools in the same district. Each team designates a team captain who manages submissions and the final accusation. Only the captain needs to register — additional members are added during registration.

How does the Oracle of the Rubric work?

The Oracle of the Rubric is a Custom GPT trained on the TopKpop.io scoring rubric. When you submit an artifact through the portal, the Oracle evaluates it against explicit quality criteria and returns detailed formative feedback. Use the Practice Oracle (linked on each Trove page) to refine your work before locking in your official submission. Once officially submitted, the Trove is locked.

How does the Instagram private account option work?

Create a new Instagram account using your K-Pop idol stage name. Set it to Private in Settings. Follow @topkpopio — the game admin will follow your persona account back. You approve the follow request. Then post your Trove work tagging @topkpopio with #TopKpopSleuth. Paste the post URL in your submission form. This keeps your real account completely private while still participating in the community.

What happens if two teams tie on points?

The tie-breaker is the Final Accusation. If two teams have equal points and both name the correct saboteur, the team that submitted their Treasure Trove 01 earliest wins. If neither team names the correct saboteur, the team with the highest score wins.

Can I change my Final Accusation after submitting?

No. The Final Accusation is locked once submitted. Use the Practice Oracle, review all your clues, and discuss with your team before filing. You have 48 hours from Day 22 at 7 PM PT to Day 24 at 7 PM PT to submit.

When does the game start?

The start date is set by your school or district administrator. Games can begin on any Monday with as little as two weeks of advance registration. There is no fixed annual calendar — each game is run on-demand for your district or cohort.

Can the game be run for an entire school district?

Yes — the game is designed to scale to district-wide professional development. Teams from multiple schools compete on the same leaderboard. Contact us through the registration form to discuss district licensing and facilitation options.

What is the Early Submission Bonus Prize?

Teams that submit Trove 01 before the end of Week 1 (before Day 8) earn an early submission bonus prize. The system detects this automatically and sends a congratulations email to the team captain within 48 hours. Prize details are included in that email.

Do I need a paid ChatGPT account?

No. Free tier ChatGPT is sufficient for most missions. We recommend activating ChatGPT for Teachers (free) through chatgpt.com/edu using your school district email. Other AI platforms (Gemini, Copilot) are also permitted.