Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy

Technology and engineering are pervasive in all aspects of our lives. Every human activity is dependent upon the products, systems, and processes created to help grow food, provide shelter, communicate, work, and recreate. As the world grows more complex, it is increasingly important for everyone to understand more about technology and engineering. People need to understand technology’s impacts on their lives, on society, and on the environment, as well as how to use and develop technological products, systems, and processes to extend human capabilities.

These understandings are all important elements of technological and engineering literacy. Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy provides a vision of what students should know and be able to do in order to be technologically and engineering literate.

Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) provides an up-to-date roadmap for classroom teachers, district supervisors, administrators, states, and curriculum developers to promote technology and engineering education program development and curriculum design from Pre-K through twelfth grade.

DOWNLOAD the STEL Executive Summary


Basic Structure of Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy

Three organizers used within STEL, when embedded into courses and activities, work together as an effective framework for teaching technological and engineering literacy.These include the core disciplinary standards, technology and engineering practices, and technology and engineering contexts. This graphical depiction can be imagined as a set of three octagons that can be rotated to indicate application of the core standards across a range of disciplinary contexts and using a variety of technology and engineering practices.

STEL APA Citation:

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. (2020). Standards for technological and engineering literacy: The role of technology and engineering in STEM education. https://www.iteea.org/STEL.aspx