Navigation: Separate Discussions from TKB or Separate by Topic (with corresponding forum and TKB)

[calebmt]

As we are developing the new navigation for our community, we are wavering between two primary forms of navigation for our forums and TKBs. I'd like to know which option makes most sense to you and why. If it helps, this community is for online instructors at BYU-Idaho who will use it primarily for training and idea collaboration.  

Option 1: A category for all forums and a separate category for all TKBs

Purpose: Provide instructors distinct navigation and clear difference between colleague-based discussion and official guide/answer from Home Office
Practical Example: Lithium's own Community in treatment of "Discussions" and "Knowledge & Support" tabs    

Basic navigation structure: 
Forums/Discussions

• Grading & Feedback
• LMS Help
• Student Engagement

TKB

• Grading & Feedback
• LMS Help
• Student Engagement

Option 2: A category that contains all popular topics and associated forums and TKBs tied to each topic

Purpose: Provide discussions, TKBs and suggested training all tied to one topic

Practical Example: Anaplan Community - "Topics" section (click into any individual topic to see the categorization of "Forums," "Training," etc.)

Basic navigation structure: 

• Topics
  • Grading &Feedback
    • Discussions
    • TKB
  • LMS Help
    • Discussions
    • TKB
  • Student Engagement
    • Discussions
    • TKB

Your insights are appreciated! 

[VarunGrazitti · Accepted solution]

@calebmt - I would actually prefer going with option 2, not only because it encapsulates each type of content to it but is also easily accessible and is user-friendly. Not to forget, probably easiest of the navigations to scale. That is why a lot of communities which have different content types like TKB, Blogs, Ideas and LMS etc. decide to go with this type. 

https://community.optimizely.com/optiverse  

https://community.talend.com/ 

https://community.alteryx.com/

anaplan which you mentioned also has this type of navigation.  Also, there are infinite ways we can design and change the UI/ UX of this navigation. 

I hope this helps.