The project replaced a traditional publisher textbook with an OER-centered curriculum emphasizing inquiry, collaboration, and technology-infused learning experiences to move beyond rote memorization and towards rigor and creativity in the Earth Science classroom. A comparative analysis was used to measure change in exam scores to gauge student success for three major summative assessments and final course grades across six semesters at Broward College in Earth Science blended courses. Average Exam 1 scores showed only a modest increase after OER implementation (about 2 percentage points), while Exam 2 and Exam 3 averages increased dramatically by approximately 16 and 22 percentage points, respectively, alongside an overall final-grade increase of about 13 percentage points. These results suggest that a no-cost, OER-based curriculum can substantially improve student assessment performance and may positively influence course completion, GPA, and degree progression, warranting continued monitoring of outcomes and expanded integration of interactive, experiential learning tools in Earth Science curricula.
