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Web Craft: A Degree Field to Sustain the Web Ecosystem

The Open Web Education Alliance (OWEA) seeks to establish a new field of study in Web Craft to sustain and continue the evolution of the open Web for the benefit of society. OWEA’s activities are in harmony with the Web Science Research Initiative begun in 2006.

The Need for Web Craft

The web is one of the most significant inventions in human history because it allows individuals to freely share and build knowledge. Invented in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee, the web is the largest information construct of human civilization and has been growing at an exponential rate. It has found its way into our offices, our homes, our pockets, and even our appliances.

However, because the Web is still so young, the people who built it never received a formal education in how to work on the Web. For most, that educational option simply didn’t exist. And in many cases, it still doesn’t.

The Web cannot reach its full potential if it doesn’t master the art of cultivating new talent. This requires close ties between researchers, practitioners and educators. The field of Web Craft needs to be established in formal education systems worldwide. Establishing a Web Craft curriculum allows us to purposefully study and thoughtfully evolve the future of the Web for the benefit of both the industry and society.

OWEA Motto

Web Education: A better web for a better world.

OWEA Vision

Our shared vision of the desired future state of web education.

• Web Craft Degree– A new field of study in Web Craft in Universities, Community Colleges and High Schools worldwide.
• Web Craft Curriculum - A living curriculum framework that emphasizes best practice and open web standards. Curriculum is adaptable to the needs of Universities, Community Colleges and High School.
• Sustainable Web Ecosystem - The web is an ecosystem of interdependent disciplines. A universally beneficial web is based on a collaborative model that balances the needs of education, research and industry.
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• Usable and Practical Web Standards - Web Craft educators provide valuable feedback on how to make web standards as teachable, learnable and intuitive as possible. Industry and practitioners advocate for web standards that are feasible and solve real world problems.
• Web Career Pathways - Clear definitions of roles and competencies refine the web profession. Individuals understand how to enter, successfully develop and navigate within the web profession.

OWEA Values

Qualities that are the foundation of OWEA and support forward movement.

First and foremost, we believe in the open web.

We desire to be and promote being:

• Adaptable
• Collaborative
• Diverse
• Helpful
• Inspirational
• Respectful

We seek to build productive solutions that are relevant and sustainable.

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