Is your lesson preparation underway and the textbook outdated? OER, or Open Educational Resources on the web, can be a great alternative. Whether it's worksheets, photos, or graphics: Depending on the license, educators not only can use the materials but also adapt them directly for their class. This video explains exactly how that works.
So far, there is no quality seal for OER materials. Many educators find this unsettling. Similar to Wikipedia, however, members of online communities oversee OER materials. And as these communities grow larger, more subject matter expertise and pedagogical knowledge come together.