What is the difference between the NIMAS format and the more general term of ACMs?
ACMs are instructional materials designed in ways that allow all students, regardless of ability, to understand and learn from them. These materials are often in digital format and accessed using computers to take advantage of such things as voice output, video, simulations and other technologies. ACMs are not solely dependent on technology and can be as simple as instructional manipulatives such as counting blocks or picture cards. NIMAS is a national file format standard that requires publishers to produce their instructional materials such as textbooks and related core materials in XML format. This new industry standard (i.e. NIMAS) will allow publishers to move further into standardizing the creation of instructional materials in digital formats that benefit all learners.
