Audio rooms are one of the core features of ARC. These rooms are casual, conversational spaces to get to know the community, exchange ideas and discuss collaborations.

All members are highly encouraged to join scheduled rooms, start their own spontaneous rooms, or even host their own regular series of scheduled rooms. Here are some tips to get you started.

Audio Rooms 101

• How do audio rooms work?
• What roles can users have in a room?
• What types of rooms are there?
• Can I share feedback or request audio room topics?
• Can I host my own series of scheduled audio rooms?

Room Etiquette

In addition to our formal Community Guidelines, here are some helpful reminders to ensure that audio rooms are inclusive and safe for all.

• Be kind and respectful. This is fundamental to all interactions on ARC. Keep it casual, but stay considerate of others. Use the ‘raise hand’ function to signal that you want to speak. In busy rooms, remember to mute your mic when you are not speaking to limit disruptions and background noise.
• Welcome others. ARC is building a culture of encouragement and support. All members should feel like a valuable part of the conversation and can operate in good faith that they will be received kindly. Public speaking can sometimes feel intimidating and uncomfortable, but we hope this becomes second nature as the ARC community grows in familiarity.
• Share the stage. Create space for others to speak, and practice active listening as the conversation flows. Moderators and more experienced speakers may chime in to fill gaps, manage the discussion and pass the mic to others who have yet to contribute.
• Treat everyone equally. Be mindful of diverse backgrounds and perspectives in the ARC community. Some users may be notable for their expertise in a specific field, but no one should be cast under the spotlight for their status. ARC believes in the intrinsic value of human connection, which means that all conversations have great potential.
• No pressure. Interacting on ARC should be enjoyable! Don’t feel pressured to stick around as a speaker or listener if you have to leave. You are free to opt-in and out of rooms as you wish.

Hosting A Room

• How can I start a room?
• How do I cancel or delete a room?
• How do I add an event to my Google or Outlook calendar?
• How can I share an event with others?
• What is the best way to engage with others after an audio room?
• How do I use the ‘raise hand’ function?
• How do I use the ‘:)’ function
• What can I do if there is a disruption or conflict in a room?

Moderation Tips

As a moderator, you are essentially the host of an audio room event. Ideally, you are part of the conversation while simultaneously playing a role in moving the discussion towards the specified agenda. You should never come off as an interrogator or interviewer engaging in a monotonous back-and-forth.

In order to hold space for a productive conversation, good moderators have to curate the group, actively manage the conversation and consider the audience experience.

• Be clear on the purpose of the room. Whether it is to discuss a specific topic or simply an open chat to get to know other members, moderators keep the room on track and help the room participants get the most out of the conversation.
• Set the foundations. Introduce the room, welcome the participants and reiterate the house rules. Listeners may come and go, so make brief reminders during the session to get new joiners up to speed.
• Share the stage. Bring in more perspectives, balance them and allow the discussion to evolve naturally. Conversations are richer and if more people are involved! Keep things flowing, call on speakers to chime in, or even respond to feedback from the text chat.
• Manage the room. Bring the room back to its purpose if the stage is getting too hectic or derailed. Don’t be afraid to politely interrupt speakers if they are dominating, rambling, or disruptive. If the conversation is going into thorny territory that might spark conflict, exercise your right to steer back to safer waters.
• Do it your own way. Have fun with the rooms to figure out what works for you. Experiment with different styles. Explore various modes of conversation to build connections and unlock collaborative potential with ARC.